Seattle Seahawks: 3 starters who could lose their jobs this season
By Lee Vowell
Mike Iupati
Mike Iupati was re-signed to play right guard for 2020. This will be his last season with the Seahawks. Seattle needs to get younger on the line for the long-term success of the team and Iupati has a history of injuries.
When healthy, Iupati is still a pretty good guard and fits Seattle’s system to help run the ball. But Iupati will also be pushed by younger guards like Phil Haynes and Jamarco Jones. Haynes is a big and strong player who is more of a road-grader for the run game than a pass-protector. At least, that is what he projects to be.
Jones actually played decently in 2019 when he was forced into action after Iupati was hurt for a short time. Jones was drafted to play tackle, however, and he might be a better fit there. But his versatility to play guard makes Iupati expendable too.
Iupati isn’t expensive, however. He has a cap hit of just $2.5 so it would be money that could keep him out of a job. It will be his health and injury history and the fact that Phil Haynes is just as big and strong as he is with younger legs.