Seahawks will pick offensive lineman first, says Mel Kiper

For once the Seahawks have greater needs than the offensive line this offseason. But Mel Kiper predicts Seattle will choose an offensive lineman with their first pick.

The Seahawks need some real help in certain areas. Seattle will not go deep in the playoffs unless it gets another consistent pass rusher this offseason. The team also has a need at receiver and safety. Unlike in years past, Seattle’s offensive line is not the biggest problem area. But Mel Kiper, Jr. of ESPN thinks with Seattle’s first pick in the NFL Draft they will go with an offensive lineman.

Seattle re-signed D.J. Fluker and signed Mike Iupati in free agency. These two players would seem to be penciled in as the starting guards in 2019. Kiper believes that Seattle gets a guard early in the draft anyway. If Seattle stands at pick number 21, they will take Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom.

Lindstrom is a really freaky athlete for a guy his size. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.91 40 yard dash, for instance. He is also quick and able to match defensive linemen in their movements to get pressure.

Lindstrom, though, isn’t the strongest guard in this year’s draft. He is well made for a zone blocking scheme and while Seattle certainly still does a lot of that under Mike Solari, they don’t do it as much as when Tom Cable was the offensive line coach. Seattle wants to run the ball a lot and that doesn’t seem to be Lindstrom strength.

That said, he had a great Combine and his athletic ability should help offset any kind of weaknesses. He will build strength through an NFL weight program too. Plus, Kiper knows a lot more about football than I do. If Kiper thinks Lindstrom could go to the Seahawks, who am I to question?