Seahawks may have completely different offensive line in 2016

Although two of the names might be familiar, both would be at new positions; The Seahawks could have 5 new starters along the offensive line in 2016.

As it stands right now, the Seattle Seahawks look like they are going to have a completely knew offensive line next season. There is a good chance that all five positions will have new starters.

It all hinges on center Patrick Lewis. He’s the only returning starter from 2015 that is actually vying for the job he had last season. He has to hold off four players that are also battling for a chance to play that position.

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Given how offensive line coach Tom Cable likes to play his favorites, the odds are stacked against Lewis. Just look back to last season when Drew Nowak won the center job despite not having any clue how to actually block people. No matter how things look in training camp, the odds on favorite to win that job has to be Justin Britt.

Of course, there are two players that are changing positions, so we aren’t talking about five completely new faces in front of Russell Wilson. On top of Britt moving to center, Gary Gilliam has moved from right tackle over to left tackle. Gilliam will be filling the void left by Russell Okung who left in free agency.

Next to Gilliam at left guard will almost certainly be Mark Glowinski. Glow is technically in a competition with rookie Rees Odhiambo. Odhiambo isn’t fully healthy, and thus this doesn’t look like it’ll end up being much of a competition.

At right guard, J.R. Sweezy left in free agency and has been replaced by rookie Germain Ifedi. Ifedi’s future is likely outside at right tackle, but the Seahawks want him to play inside at guard for a year first.

With Gilliam no longer at right tackle, Marcus Webb was signed to be a bridge until Ifedi is ready to take over the spot. Webb doesn’t face much in the way of competition at the spot either. Terry Poole is also there, but he showed last season that he simply isn’t quick enough to play OT in the NFL.

And that leaves us with just Patrick Lewis at center as the only possible option for an unchanged position from the end of last season to the beginning of this one. If he cannot hold off Britt and all the others competing for that spot, then Seattle will have an entirely new offensive line in 2016.

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Given how terrible the 2015 line was, having a completely new group isn’t necessarily a bad thing.