It seems like a match made in heaven. On the one hand, a team in dire need of interior help on the offensive line and a general manager who seems preternaturally opposed to paying for the position. (Let's call this team the Seattle Seahawks.)
On the other, an athletically gifted interior lineman who came out of college too early and struggled mightily to adapt to the pro game. Then, just as he was getting a fresh start with a new team, he abruptly retired from the game.
Now, that lineman, Saahdiq Charles, is ready to return. Most teams would be leery of a player who walked away from his team and who, quite frankly, was never all that productive to begin with. But that’s why he’ll come cheap. And that’s why John Schneider may be on the phone with his agent as we speak.
A dream offensive lineman free agent target for Seahawks' John Schneider just became available
Charles was selected as a tackle out of LSU in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. The team that chose him is now called the Washington Commanders. He was only 20 years old when drafted, but at 6’4”, 320, he looked like an ideal developmental lineman. The idea was to slowly work him into the lineup.
His career in Washington was plagued by a couple of things. First, he was hurt for almost all of his rookie year, which severely delayed his progress. Second, Washington, at that point, had one of the worst coaching staffs in the league. With the exception of Sam Cosmi, they failed to develop a single young lineman, whether acquired through the draft or via free agency.
After four undistinguished seasons in Washington, in which he made 18 starts, Charles signed a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans in the 2024 offseason. Tennessee penciled him in as their starting right guard. Then, as quickly as he arrived, Saahdiq Charles announced his retirement. There was little explanation. Tennessee moved on.
Charles announced he was returning to the NFL last week, and the Titans agreed to release him, thus making him an unrestricted free agent. He is still only 25 years old. His college experience at tackle means he could provide help on the outside in a pinch. And despite the rather abrupt ending to his time in Tennessee, there has never been any suggestion that he has attitude problems.
Charles’ problems til now have been entirely related to injury and underperformance. If that’s not a John Schneider offensive line prospect, I don’t know what is.
Charles was originally drafted with the 2nd pick in the 4th round. A half-dozen legitimate interior linemen were selected later in that round (including Washington’s current starting center, Tyler Biadasz). That served to highlight how little impact Charles was able to make during the first four years of his career.
However, there is no doubting his physical gifts. If his time away from the game has helped him heal his body and mature as an individual, some team may be getting a nice little steal should they take a chance.
In Seattle, he could help fill a major hole and he would cost very little. I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t already been signed.