Football-starved fans like me can be excused if we overreact to every little nuance of training camp. Each interception, each miscommunication in the secondary, each blown assignment on the O line... they all take on mammoth proportions. You know how it goes. Sam through a pick in practice today. Time to start Jalen.
Still, it’s all we really have to go on right now, so overreacting becomes commonplace. When we finally get to see who is practicing at which positions, and with whom, we react. If Nick Emmanwori lines up at the edge with the first-teamers, you can bet that will become a topic of conversation.
This is especially true for positions in a state of flux. And nothing says “flux” like the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line.
The Seahawks are experimenting with interesting combinations along the offensive line
Three of the five spots along the line seem set. We have a pretty good idea of who will be playing both tackle positions and at left guard. That leaves center and right guard up in the air.
Early in training camp, three different players have been getting first-team reps at both spots. Olu Oluwaitimi is a slight betting favorite to be the Hawks’ starting center on opening day. Second-year player Christian Haynes is an even shakier favorite at right guard.
Both players have been lining up with the ones, but several others have gotten reps as well.
At center, Jalen Sundell, who took over the backup role last season after the retirement of Connor Williams, is getting a long look. That isn’t too surprising. Sundell was an excellent college center at North Dakota State (where he teamed with 2025 first-round pick Grey Zabel).
He moved to left tackle for his senior year because the Bison didn’t have anyone better at the crucial spot. He is an experienced, polished center who looks comfortable on the field.
What may be more surprising is that Haynes has also taken first-team reps at center. Haynes played a lot of games for Connecticut in college, all at right guard. Physically, he does seem to have every attribute you might want in a center, so it makes sense that Seattle’s coaches would audition him there.
This is probably a case of exploring deep depth. Haynes is unlikely to be Seattle’s starting center any time soon, but if both Oluwatimi and Sundell were to go down with injury, it would be reassuring to know Haynes has at least snapped the ball a few times in practice. This is the perfect time to get him those reps.
It is even more surprising that Sundell has gotten some snaps with the first-teamers at right guard. That’s one of the spots he did not play in college. And Seattle has a true logjam of prospects battling for that spot. In addition to Haynes, last year’s starter, Anthony Bradford, has received some good reports this offseason. Sataoa Laumea, who finished the season at right guard, is still around, as are two other ’25 draft picks who could be in the mix.
But Sundell has gotten those reps, along with Haynes and Bradford. This probably figures to be the same scenario as with Haynes at center. Haynes and Bradford, in some order, are the top two right guards. Sundell may be getting some time to provide deep depth.
Nonetheless, it is interesting that he seems to be getting those snaps ahead of the other more natural guards on the roster, and it may be an indication that the coaches are looking for ways to take advantage of Sundell’s skills.
Training camp is a time to experiment, so as I said, let’s not over-analyze. Not yet. There’ll be time for that later. I think one thing we can say at this point is that come opening day, Olu Oluwaitimi, Jalen Sundell, Christian Haynes, and Anthony Bradford will form the core of Seattle’s interior offensive line(along with Zabel.)
That didn’t work out very well last year. But these are all very young players. With better coaching and a better scheme, any or all could take a step forward. They are certainly getting the chance to compete in this year’s training camp.