The Seattle Seahawks are focusing on size and experience along their offensive line as they approach the 2025 season. The projected starting five offensive linemen for Week Three of the preseason have an average height of six feet, six inches.
General manager John Schneider has been with the organization for 15 years. Although he has found overall success, building a stable offensive line has remained a challenge. In recent seasons, the team had difficulty protecting former quarterback Russell Wilson and turned to draft tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas to improve protection for Geno Smith. While both Cross and Lucas have developed well, Lucas has only played 13 of a possible 34 games over the last two years. Stability at center and guard positions continues to be an issue.
Cross and Lucas stand at six feet, five inches and six feet, seven inches respectively at left and right tackle. Grey Zabel is listed at six feet, six inches at left guard. Jalen Sundell (six feet, five inches) is leading the center competition while Olu Oluwatimi recovers from injury, with Anthony Bradford (six feet, five inches) favored at right guard. Veteran Josh Jones (six feet, six inches) is also in contention as the main alternate.
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach John Benton bring new ideas to the group for this season. Last year in New Orleans, their coaching style led to strong early performances including victories over Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys before narrowly losing to the Philadelphia Eagles by three points. Despite injuries that later impacted performance, adjustments on the offensive line helped them start strong.
The staff drafted Tacoma-area native Taliese Fuaga (six feet, six inches) with the 14th overall pick for left tackle duties while moving Trevor Penning (six feet, seven inches) from left to right tackle before the season began. Penning improved his Pro Football Focus grade from 53.6 in 2023 to 60.2 in 2024 as Fuaga recorded a grade of 65.7 as a rookie. Even after losing Ryan Ramczyk for the season in July, Benton made lineup changes that helped maintain early momentum.
Benton started his National Football League coaching career with the St. Louis Rams in 2004-05 alongside Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Orlando Pace—who stood six feet seven inches tall—and worked with future Hall of Famer Trent Williams as well.
According to Dom Skene of Seahawks Wire: “Benton began his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams in 2004-05 alongside Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace who was listed at 6’7” 323 himself (…) He also worked with future Hall of Famer 6’5” 318 Trent Williams, who despite his size ran a 4.81 40-yd dash at the 2010 NFL Combine.”
Skene continued: “Benton may not find another hall of famer in his first season here, but he certainly has seen the recipe succeed before- and could still be collecting ingredients before his vision truly takes hold (…) The Seahawks’ offensive line looks as bright on paper as it has during Schneider’s tenure in Seattle.”
The Seahawks enter this season seeking better stability up front under Benton’s guidance.
