What a Seahawks contract for star OT Mitchell Schwartz could look like
By Geoff Shull
Who is Mitchell Schwartz, and why do the Seahawks want him?
Mitchell Schwartz has been one of the most underappreciated offensive linemen of the 2010s. A K.J. Wright of the offensive line, if you will. He isn’t flashy. He doesn’t get the mass media attention. However, those who know the game see a dominant player who is amongst the best in his field.
Between 2017 and 2020, Schwartz has logged 3475 offensive snaps. During this period, he has amassed a total of just 15 penalties and 8 sacks. Split that across four seasons, and you’ve got 870 snaps, 3 penalties, and 2 sacks per year.
As a tackle, those are elite numbers. However, let me put these numbers further into context. Left tackle Duane Brown’s four-year average with the Seahawks is 882 snaps, 2.75 penalties, and 2 sacks allowed per season. Nearly identical numbers to Schwartz. Duane Brown has been by far Seattle’s best offensive lineman since his acquisition in 2017. Adding Schwartz would be kind of like adding a second, slightly younger (32-years-old compared to 35) Duane Brown.
So, many would ask why is such a gifted and talented player still available? He suffered an injury in 2020 that forced him to miss most of the year. This led to an off-season procedure to alleviate the issue.
From what has been published, the surgery was a success. Schwartz should be healthy to start the season. This is also the first major injury of his career. He is in no way, shape, or form injury prone. In fact, he did not miss a single game through his first eight seasons in the league.
Now entering his age 32 season (the same age as we acquired Duane Brown from the Texans), he is looking to rebound on a contender. Schwartz’s ceiling is at an All-Pro level. His floor is a very solid starter. He is simply taking his time making sure the next landing spot is the right one. Seattle needs to show him that they are the can’t miss team he has been looking for.