The Seattle Seahawks may have the added bonus of their Super Bowl championship as they try to show the NFL they can compete for a ring in 2026, but those who are seeking sources of Seattle pessimism will point to a suspect offensive line as perhaps the main reason a title won't be in the cards.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell was not thrilled with the Seahawks largely choosing to keep the line as is ahead of the 2026 season, showing some disappointment in the fact that fifth-round rookie Beau Stephens was the only addition of note on the interior offensive line. Barnwell wanted more competition for Anthony Bradford.
However, Barnwell was quick to note that their non-Grey Zabel interior offensive line was the biggest issue he had with the team last year, and it impacted them not one iota as they pushed their way through to a championship. Still, Seattle needs to stamp out any area of weakness as they try to repeat.
ESPN rips the Seattle Seahawks for not addressing the offensive line
Bradford and Jalen Sundell make for a functional right guard and center duo, but no one is going to head into games with Seattle scared of what the Seahawks are throwing at them. Even right tackle Abraham Lucas is a question due to his health, even though he played all 17 regular season games last year.
Seattle is leaning on the fight that the left side of their offensive line is rock-solid, as the recently extended left tackle Charles Cross and former first-round left guard Grey Zabel have both performed about as well as one could expect from two young players with that level of responsibility. Those two made up for what could be an average line elsewhere.
Without offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and with rookie Jadarian Price coming in to replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in the backfield, there's a chance that Seattle may need to lean more on Sam Darnold's arm than ever before. Such a task will be impossible unless he is kept clean in pass protection.
Seattle will eventually need to make a big-name addition to this group, but it appears as though they are fine riding with what they have in 2026. Barnwell remains skeptical of the thought they can produce two quality offensive lines with the available talent on hand, but the Seahawks have proven they can overcome those doubts in the past.
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