The Seattle Seahawks need to find some interior offensive line help early in the 2025 NFL draft. What is partly an issue and partly a dream scenario for general manager John Schneider is that there appears to be great depth at guard and center in the draft. This means teams can wait a bit before choosing those spots, as there will still be talent left.
Expecting Seattle to take a guard or center in the first round is likely foolish anyway. The team might do that, but Schneider seemingly is only willing to take offensive tackles high. Guards and centers are a much lower priority, even though that is what the team truly needs currently.
Schneider is more likely to take the best player available. There is nothing wrong with that approach, as the player should help for several seasons, but the draftee might only be adding to a talented position group already instead of fixing a weakness. This is how Seattle ended up running back Rashaad Penny. Seattle should have gone with an offensive lineman even then, and Penny was a bust.
NFL expert believes the Seahawks should target tight end Colston Loveland in the 2025 NFL draft
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah believes Seattle won't go with an interior offensive lineman in the first round of 2025, either. Instead, the Seahawks will go with a player who might be the best available, but could also be a long-time anchor for a position group that would have needed help as soon as 2026.
In his most recent 2025 mock draft, Jeremiah has Schneider and the Seahawks taking Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland is a lot like current Seahawk Noah Fant. Fant is not a fantastic blocker, though he isn't atrocious, but he is capable of catching passes and running well. He has not been able to maximize his productivity with Seattle, though.
The team could also still release Fant this offseason and save nearly $9 million, though this is unlikely. He is still entering the final year of his contract. Should Seattle take Loveland, Fant becomes expendable.
There is little doubt about Loveland's ability to catch and run, though. He will almost certainly be more productive in the NFL, as he was somewhat limited by how the Wolverines run their offense. But he can run any route at any level, and he has the speed to get separation. Seattle could also use more pure pass catchers as well, even after signing Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
NASTY stiff arm from Colston Loveland 💪 @UMichFootball#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/SyjfIyXewc
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 2, 2024
The tight end is 6'6" and 248 pounds. He could gain a bit more in the NFL, but that extra weight probably will not turn him into a much better blocker. He will only get better there with proper coaching and better technique.
Another reason to choose Loveland is that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak uses tight ends extremely well in his scheme. Instead of playing under Ryan Grubb or Shane Waldron's scheme that was focused on wide receiver production, Kubiak is going to spread the ball around more. This means Loveland could have an immediately positive impact on the Seahawks' offense.
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