Seahawks need to sign T.J. Lang to fill need at guard

The Seahawks might need to replace both guards this offseason. Signing T.J. Lang might not only be an answer but an upgrade.

T.J. Lang is a really good guard. The Seahawks could have signed him prior to the 2017 season and made him a long-term starter. Before we get too excited about signing a better player than J.R. Sweezy and D.J. Fluker are, one has to remember Lang has missed a bunch of games the last two years.

Still, Lang is a two-time Pro Bowl player and is still just 31 years old. He was released by the Detroit Lions on Friday. Offensive linemen can play good football well into their 30s. And guards have to have a little less athletic ability than do tackles. Lang is definitely worth signing for Seattle.

After missing two games between 2011 and 2015, however, Lang has missed 16 games in the last three years. If you are doing the math at home, 16 games add up to an entire season in the NFL.

Lang is still a better option than Sweezy or Fluker, the two guards that were the normal starters for the Seahawks in 2018. According to Pro Football Focus, Sweezy and Fluker had the lowest grades of their careers with Seattle last season. And this still seemed to be better production from the guards than in previous Seahawk seasons. The highest grade in a season for either Fluker or Sweezy is Fluker’s 2015 year when he graded at 73.7.

Lang has had four years higher than Fluker’s highest grade. In 2015, Lang had a grade of 91.6. That is elite. I am not saying Lang is one of the five best guards in the NFL, but he is better than Fluker or Sweezy.

Will Seattle spend a bit more to sign Lang than they would Sweezy or Fluker? Probably. But Seattle has a little money to spend this offseason and because of his recent injuries Lang’s dollar value will be suppressed. Adding Lang to a line with Duane Brown and Justin Britt only strengthens Seattle’s offense. The Seahawks should make a strong push to sign Lang before some other team makes the wise decision to get him.