NFL Hall of Famer clearly sold on Seahawks rookie Christian Haynes' potential

The Seattle Seahawks still might not have a top-ten offensive line, but the team is certainly in much better shape than they were a couple of months ago. You remember those dark days, right? That is when the offensive line looked somewhat like this: LT Charles Cross, LG Who knows, C Olu Oluwatimi, RG (likely) Anthony Bradford, RT Abe Lucas or George Fant.

Now 12s can assume the line is more Cross-Laken Tomlinson-Oluwatimi-Christian Haynes-Lucas/Fant. Sure, there are still a lot of question marks involved, but the left side of the line looks solid, at least. Oluwatimi could be good with more playing time. Lucas should be good if healthy and if he is not, Fant would be fine.

Haynes has not yet played a down in the NFL, of course, and maybe once real games begin he will not be good. That is a worst-case scenario, however, as Haynes seems to have been a higher-ranked offensive lineman coming into the NFL than Bradford was. Haynes had lots of starting experience in college, a reported mean streak, and is sound fundamentally. He has the size - 6'3" and 317 pounds - to play right away and has excellent athleticism.

Seattle Seahawks might have found a long-term starter in right guard Christian Haynes

Haynes should be expected to step in and be the Week 1 starter for Seattle in 2024. That may be unfair to Bradford, but Haynes seems better.

Plus, former Seahawks left guard and current Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson appears to be a huge fan of Haynes. Hutchinson works for the Seahawks as a consultant but specifically tries to help Seattle figure out which offensive linemen to draft. General manager John Schneider, according to a recent article by Seahawks.com reporter John Boyle, really wanted to take Haynes, but he also sought Hutchinson's approval of the choice as well.

Hutchinson also did not mince words on day two of the 2024 NFL draft when Schneider asked for Hutchinson's opinion. Hutchinson said, "I think he's going to be a really good (expletive) player."

If that does not scream that Haynes should be an immediate starter in Seattle then what would? Possibly what Hutchinson said puts unfair expectations on Haynes, but the player comes across as if he wants to prove his excellence. In other words, the situation is a win-win for the Seahawks.

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