The Seattle Seahawks have won double-digit games in each of the past two seasons, and, even better, a Super Bowl this past one, but many fans still want starting right guard Anthony Bradford replaced. Those hoping rookie Beau Stephens is the guy to take Bradford's place might not be getting their wish just yet.
Could that still happen before Week 1? Absolutely, but there is one key thing to keep in mind. No player has been able to unseat Bradford at right guard in the last three seasons, so clearly the team has some belief in him.
As for Stephens, he went through rookie minicamp after being taken in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft and did get a lot of reps at right guard in the two-day camp, but he also saw reps at left guard, where he most certainly would not take the spot of Grey Zabel.
Seattle Seahawks rookie Beau Stephens might not be supplanting right guard Anthony Bradford just yet
Speaking after camp, head coach Mike Macdonald was asked about Stephens. The coach responded, "Beau's on the right side right now, but we're going to train him in both spots. We'll see how it goes. You need flexibility across the interior of your O-line. He's played both in his career. Right now he's playing right guard, but we'll be training him right and left."
In his college career at Iowa, Stephens played both right and left guard, but solely on the left side in his last two seasons. He appeared to be more of a natural fit on the left side, but his efficiency might also simply stem from his maturation as a player and human being.
What is clear is that he was elite in 2025, earning First-Team All-America at his position, allowing only four quarterback pressures and being flagged for a penalty just once. The latter was also true in 2024, which proves how good a technique Stephens has. He also didn't allow a sack in either of his last two years. He allowed four in the season he mostly played right guard (2022).
The difference between college and the NFL is also vast, of course, so expecting Beau Stephens to have the same level of success that he had at Iowa to begin his career with the Seattle Seahawks would be putting too much pressure on the player.
He might not yet take the spot of Anthony Bradford, a player who gave up a career-high 38 QB pressures in 2025, just yet, but that might be good for Stephens. Sitting for a bit might help him acclimate to the NFL better once he is asked to get a lot more reps. Once he plays, he might not give up the starting right guard gig for a long time.
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