The Seattle Seahawks have made it difficult recently to determine what they might need in the 2025 NFL draft. Prior to the last couple of games, there was little doubt that the team needed to get an interior offensive lineman early in the draft. At least, in theory. Right guard Sataoa Laumea may have changed that to some degree since he became a starter in Week 13.
There is a greater likelihood that Seattle will choose a quarterback in the first round of next year's draft than a center or guard. Seattle should still have Geno Smith (and Sam Howell) under contract in 2025, but the team could still draft someone they hope will be Smith's eventual long-term replacement. That sounds like something general manager John Schneider might do.
What Schneider is less likely to do is take a guard in the first round. This past offseason, Schneider claimed guards were often overdrafted and then overpaid. The last time Seattle took an interior lineman in the first round was in 2016. That draft choice is a little misleading, though. The first-round pick, Germain Ifedi, was moved to offensive tackle in his second season and stayed there for the rest of his Seahawks career.
ESPN messes up the Seattle Seahawks 2025 NFL draft (though we wish they were correct)
ESPN's Field Yates recently did a 2025 mock draft where he eschews Schneider's words and tendencies and has Seattle taking University of Alabama guard Tyler Booker at projected pick number 23. This is not meant as any disrespect to Yates because his thinking is sound. Seattle does need a guard if only to replace Laken Tomlinson. But Yates is thinking foolishly if he thinks Schneider will actually do that.
Booker would be a good choice, especially taking him in the 20s. He is 6'5" and 325 pounds, and he has allowed zero sacks this season. He is also strong enough to be a bulldozer in terms of run blocking. The assumption is he would be a Week 1 starter next season for whatever team takes him.
Seattle simply will not. John Schneider is extremely unlikely (here is hoping Yates is correct in his mock, however) to take an interior offensive lineman. Heck, if Laumea continues to improve then Schneider could point to how the Seahawks potentially found a long-term starter in the sixth round. Laumea was the 179th choice in the 2024 draft.
Or maybe Seattle goes in a completely different direction and takes a cornerback to go along with Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. Maybe the team chooses a receiver and moves away from Tyler Lockett. Those might not happen either, but they are more likely than the Seahawks taking a center or guard in the first round.