On the opening series of their first preseason game, the Seattle Seahawks used their entire second-team offensive line. Josh Jones and Bobby Hart were at tackle, Mason Richman and Christian Haynes at guard, and Olu Oluwatimi was the center. They moved the ball briskly on that first drive and scored a touchdown.
That same group stayed for a few more less-successful drives before line coach John Benton began mixing and matching. The offense sputtered badly over the last three quarters, and several things became apparent about the depth positions on the offensive line.
It is too early to conclude, and injuries could play a major role in how it all shakes out, but after just one game, I think eight of Seattle’s nine or ten offensive linemen are already in place. A ninth probably is as well. So the only real question – again, barring injury – is whether the Hawks will opt to keep a tenth lineman on the final roster.
After just one preseason game, the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line is coming into clear focus
In the first quarter, the left side of the line – Jones at tackle and Richman at guard - was rock solid. They seem to be the Seahawks’ obvious top choices at backup tackle and guard.
Jones is not the least bit surprising. He was very good last season when called upon and will be a reliable presence should either Charles Cross or Abraham Lucas miss time.
Richman, on the other hand, is more of a surprise. He was chosen in the final round of the 2025 draft, number 234 overall. Several other guards – Christian Haynes, Bryce Cabeldue – currently competing for backup roles had a higher draft pedigree. But after playing primarily at tackle last season, Richman appears to have emerged as Seattle’s best reserve guard this year.
He was outstanding in run blocking early on and looked very comfortable passing off stunts and twists on passing downs. He and Jones looked like a reasonable starting tandem.
Oluwatimi did not stand out, and I suppose there is an outside chance that Federico Maranges could surpass him this preseason. But I don’t think that is likely. Olutwatimi, Richman, and Jones are likely to be Seattle’s primary backup linemen this year.
That leaves at least four other players fighting for one or two spots. It is difficult to imagine rookie Beau Stephens not taking one of those positions. He is currently listed behind Haynes on the depth chart, and Haynes did get the start on Saturday.
But Stephens’ upside is obvious. He has the potential to develop into a reliable starter. Haynes moved well on Saturday, but the right side of the line didn’t get nearly enough push on running plays when he was on the field.
Cabeldue, who seemed to have established himself as a key reserve midway through his rookie season, would appear to have a pretty big hill to climb given the rise of both Richman and Stephens.
If Mike Macdonald decides to keep a fourth tackle, it would seem to be a battle between the youngster Amari Kight and the veteran Bobby Hart. Neither was especially good on Saturday. Nor was Logan Brown, who spent time on Seattle’s practice squad most of last year.
I would think that Kight has the edge for that final spot. Late in the game, when Hart and Brown were playing tackles, Seattle’s line appeared to be at its worst. Both Kight and Stephens may benefit from the fact that neither will be the next-man-up should a starter go down.
With Jones and Richman in place, the Hawks can roll the dice a little bit and develop a couple of younger players with higher upsides, as opposed to sticking with veterans who may be slightly more reliable early on but also may have a lower ceiling.
Abraham Lucas is currently the old man on Seattle’s starting O line. He is 27. That bodes very well for the future. That starting unit should only get better over time. With Jones, Richman, and Oluwatimi, they have a solid group of primary reserves as well. Barring a catastrophic injury situation this year, the line should be just fine.
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