The Seattle Seahawks didn't trade out of the first round, but general manager John Schneider made some sneaky moves to make the draft board go his way. That included flipping a 2027 fourth-round pick to acquire a 2026 fifth-rounder and, with it, Beau Stephens.
Stephens, a fifth-year senior out of Iowa, gives them a potential option to start at right guard if Anthony Bradford continues to struggle. Moreover, he gives head coach Mike Macdonald a versatile and somewhat positionless lineman with a relentless work ethic and plenty of collegiate experience.
That's why Iowa Hawkeyes expert Jordan Underwood of Dear Old Gold believes the Seahawks may have landed a true steal with the No. 148 pick. Even as an older prospect, he has the tape and the skills of a late-day-two selection.
The Seattle Seahawks landed a dynamic lineman in Beau Stephens
"He is a solid veteran leader who has the versatility to play at guard or tackle," Underwood said. "Stephens is a very good blocker who doesn't get pushed off his spot often and excels in a zone-blocking scheme. He is most likely taken in the fourth or fifth round, but could easily go sooner."
The Seahawks had more than enough draft capital in 2027, so they could afford to give a more valuable selection to add another selection to their 2026 war chest. More than that, they found someone who played an instrumental role in helping Iowa secure the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation's best offensive line unit.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he's not the most athletic guy at the position, but he makes up for that with top-notch hand placement, IQ, and coachability. Also, the fact that he can play multiple positions should help him get on the field early and often and maybe even compete for a starting spot at some point.
He's not going to pop up when compared to other OL prospects, but he can be overly physical as a second-level blocker to open up running lanes. He's also a disciplined player, as shown by getting called for just one penalty in his final season in college.
Pro Football Focus gave him the highest pass-blocking grade among 686 eligible guards (92.5), and he drew the third-highest overall grade (87.7). His run-block grade (85.1) was the fifth-best. As flawed as that algorithm might be at times, the tape and the numbers actually back up his case.
All in all, Stephens allowed a grand total of 25 pressures over five years (and just 4 in 2025) with the Hawkeyes, per PFF (subscription required). Despite playing 1,644 total snaps, he didn't allow a single sack in four of his five seasons, with all 4 sacks allowed coming in 2022. That's an absolute steal of a player in the fifth round.
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