3 guards the Seattle Seahawks must target on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft

It's time for the Seattle Seahawks to stop waiting until day three to build the offensive line. If they draft one in the first round they still need another. These are the three best options they'll find on day two.

It's no secret to the 12s who've been keeping up with the Seahawks' roster developments that the team needs some serious upgrades at the guard position. With Charles Cross, Abe Lucas, and George Fant, they're in good shape at tackle even if Lucas's health is still in doubt. Maybe not in great shape, but compared to their situation at guard, the Hawks have Hall of Famers at those spots. Who knows, Cross and Lucas could still fulfill their rookie promise.

The Hawks still just have three players under contract guard, though. Between Anthony Bradford, Tremayne Anchrum, and McClendon Curtis, Seattle has a total of 762 snaps of experience on the roster. Bradford had over 85 percent of those snaps and was ranked 99th among in blocking among guards by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That's not at the 99th percentile, but as in 98 guards were ranked higher than him. We all know by now that John Schneider has said guards are overvalued, but somebody has to block on the interior.

Seattle Seahawks can find real value at guard on Day Two of the 2024 NFL draft

At this point in free agency, it's more likely the Hawks will find players with the talent to not just start, but to shine, in the draft. Many of the best guard prospects will likely be taken in the first round. Tackles like Duke's Graham Barton or Washington's Troy Fautanu most often project as guards in the NFL, as does Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. Who knows, Schneider may be adjusting his outlook on guards, as Bob Condotta reported:

I know this much; signing Max Pircher isn't likely to solve the issue. If you don't know - and really, why would you? - Pircher is a tackle with zero regular season snaps after one season each with the Rams and Lions practice squads. Even if Schneider doesn't take Fautanu in the first round, there are several solid prospects the Seahawks could take on day 2 of the draft. A couple of these guys will likely go in the second round, but it wouldn't be too surprising to see Seattle move back and pick up multiple picks for the 16th overall selection. Here then are my top three solutions to the Seahawks' need at guard. They could even take two with their first two picks.

Cooper Beebe, guard, Kansas State

PFF rates him lower than virtually every other draft board, fifth among guards and 126 overall. Other sites, including nfldraftbuzz.com, nfl.com, and the consensus Big Board of nflmockdraftdatabse.com, all rank him as the top collegiate guard. They all project the 6'3" 322 lb fifth-year senior to go in the mid to late-second round. I've already written about him, and our own Lee Vowell has provided even more detail here. Beebe would start on week one.

Christian Haynes, guard, UConn

PFF rates the 6'3" 317 senior first among this year's true guards. Draft gurus NFL Draft Buzz, The Athletic (subscription required), and the consensus big board all rank him second behind Beebe. Haynes logged an elite 49 consecutive games at Connecticut, with all 3,319 snaps at right guard. I guess we know where he'd be playing, especially as Beebe had over 1,700 snaps on the left side. Per nfldraftbuzz.com, Haynes excels in run-blocking, and his pass-blocking is almost at the same level. With Beebe, he could help anchor the Seahawks for years.

Christian Mahogany, guard, Boston College

I stayed on the East Coast for my third option for the 6'3" 314 lb senior mauler. Mahogany is PFF's second-ranked guard behind Haynes, while NFL Draft Buzz ranks him third. The Athletic and the consensus board see him a few spots further back, but I'll take the guy that's called an eraser (PFF) and a mauler (nfldraftbuzz.com and nfl.com). Draft Buzz noted that BC almost always ran their short-yardage plays behind Mahogany, and the Athletic says he "plays like a bouncer outside of a club, looking to bash heads with power and forceful hands." A savage downhill blocker? Yes, I'll take him.

So we have Beebe, Haynes, and Mahogany: all the same height and about one good meal separating all three of these guys; the NCAA must be cloning guards this year. I'd be happy to see the Seahawks draft someone like DT Byron Murphy or edge Dallas Turner in the first round. But it would be even better to move back and get a couple of these guys. By the way, between the three of them, they've allowed just six sacks over 6,633 snaps. The Hawks could use that kind of protection.

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