Who the Seahawks could take on the offensive line based on NFL Draft decisions

With the NFL Draft less than five weeks away, the 2025 draft feels like a fork in the road moment for not just the Seattle Seahawks, but for John Schneider. The success or failure of these selections, as well as the necessity for these players to bring an immediate impact, could make or break this franchise and Schneider’s future in Seattle.

Throughout the past few weeks, we have seen a wide variety of mock drafts that have showed the Seahawks going in a multitude of directions at pick 18. We’ve seen versatile linebackers, tight ends and DK Metcalf replacements mocked to Seattle every other day it seems. Heck, even last week I mocked Michigan’s Kenneth Grant to Seattle with their first pick.

While I’d love to see head coach Mike Macdonald continue to build a championship level defense with their first round selection, I think the path is clear as to where the Seahawks are going with their pick in round one. I would be surprised at this point to hear any name other than an offensive lineman with Seattle’s first pick in the draft.

The inability in free agency to lock up guard Will Fries was a disappointment, but the lack of any meaningful signings (sorry Josh Jones) has left many fans dumbfounded and concerned. We have seen multiple free agent guards visit Seattle and leave to sign elsewhere. Last week in his weekly interview on the John Schneider Show, Schneider stated that, “The draft is strong. It feels like a really nice group,”.

Now that might not mean much to some, but I took that as a pretty loud statement by Schneider. Right now, this team feels like they could easily go 12-5 or 5-12, and hitting on an interior offensive line draft pick could go a long ways to hitting the former. If Seattle does indeed attack the trenches early in the draft, these are the three players for three different draft paths that the Seahawks could take.

Option No. 1: Stick and pick with Grey Zabel

Every year the Baltimore Ravens “hit doubles” with their draft picks. Whenever they make their selection, everyone talks about what a perfect fit and how solid of a draft pick that is. If Seattle decides to stick with the 18th pick in the draft, I believe Grey Zabel would be that Ravens type of pick.

Zabel, the best player on North Dakota State’s FCS national championship team, is the most versatile IOL prospect in this draft. At 6-6, 312 lbs, Zabel has over a 1,000 snaps at both the tackle spots, while also a small amount of experience at the guards and center spot during his three years getting snaps for the Bison.

A star at the Senior Bowl, Zabel looks the part of someone that would bring the attitude and grit that seems to follow NDSU O-linemen, and he would immediately be the best IOL on the roster. The only knocks on him that I see are the fact that he played at the FCS level and that his arm length is below average.

While arm length has been a sticking point for a lot of prospects in the Schneider era, I think that Zabel moving away from left tackle and inside on the line negates that concern. As for the concern about the competition level, look at the success that Cody Mauch has had in Tampa Bay. Mauch was a star LT for the Bison, was drafted in the seconnd round by Tampa Bay and has been a key contributor at guard for the four-time defending NFC South champs.

Zabel is better than Mauch based on my evaluation, and I believe Zabel can come in as a Guard or (my preference) Center and immediately change the decade long narrative about this offensive line.

Option No. 2: Slight trade back, draft Donovan Jackson

What makes this draft so great for Seattle is the depth of talent at the offensive line, and so if an opportunity presented itself, say the Chargers or Texans wanted to trade up for wide receiver, then Seattle could pick up a fourth-round pick potentially, while also still getting an offensive lineman on Day 1.

In this scenario, I believe that Donovan Jackson slots in as the perfect selection. Jackson is one of the more decorated offensive linemen to be entering the NFL draft. With 40 starts under his belt, Donovan was Second-team All-Big Ten in 2022 and First-team All-Big Ten in 2023 at left guard. About this time last year I was bummed he decided to stay in school, as I had him ranked as one of my best IOL options for the 2024 draft.

Instead, Jackson and that Ohio State Buckeyes team decided to return and went on to win the national championship, with Jackson having a dominant season. The Second-team AP All-American and First-team all conference again, Donovan was the arguably the best LG in his five starts at the position, before being asked to finish the year at LT for the injured Josh Simmons.

His first game was a start on the road at Penn State against some guy named Abdul Carter. And while the Buckeyes won, Jackson gave up a couple of sacks and struggled. For the rest of the year, Donovan was nearly perfect. Zero sacks the rest of the way, and hardly any pressures allowed, while facing some of the difficult competition possible in the expanded playoffs.

I believed that Jackson was the most impressive offensive lineman in college football this year, and he was the best player not named Jeremiah Smith on the Buckeyes title team. With 40 starts and proven versatility at the highest level of college football, you can make a legitimate case he should be selected at pick 18. I wouldn’t fight you, but I do believe you can try for a four to seven pick trade back, and he could absolutely be there, during what should be the wide receiver run we’ll see in the draft.

Option #3: Aggressive Day 2 trade up, selecting Tate Ratledge

This is probably the craziest and most dangerous route, so expect this to be the path that Schneider takes. John has been adamant about sticking to a “BPA” mindset with the draft, and it has helped with some notable draft hits in the past three seasons. Even with the angry mob of Seahawks fans that want an offensive lineman preparing to bang down the doors at the VMAC, Schneider could have an edge rusher, a wide receiver (maybe a quarterback even?) ranked higher on his board, and go that route. Remember, he believes the position is strong in this draft.

Whether you like it or not, this would create a fascinating storyline for Seattle heading into Day 2 of the draft. With picks No. 50 and No. 52, Seattle could be tempted to wait and hope for their guy to be there, but I can’t see how that would be worth the risk. That type of roulette has LJ Collier written all over it. No, you would likely see the Seahawks have to package one of those two picks, plus pick No. 92 or No. 137 to get into the 40’s or 30’s and get a guy I think could be a really good player, and maybe even a better leader in Tate Ratledge.

Ratledge is a national champion right guard with one hell of a mullet out of Georgia. When healthy, Ratledge has been arguably the best guard in the best conference in college football. Unfortunately injuries have hampered and limited his play at multiple times throughout his collegiate career. Healthy now, Tate was the most impressive offensive lineman at the combine and arguably the biggest winner of the event.

Ratledge has all the physical tools necessary to excel in Klint Kubiak’s offense, and has all the intangibles that you want for a positive locker room, while also bringing an attitude and nastiness to field on game day, something I think a lot Seahawks fans would agree has been missing from the Seattle’s O-line for too long.

Health is something you need to make sure you’re comfortable signing off, as you’re probably going to have to trade up to get this guy. The other concern is that while he did do some drills at center during the combine, he’s primarily been a RG, which is where Christian Haynes was expected to get a shot with Kubiak in.

Like I said, I’d be pretty surprised at this point if Seattle doesn’t draft an offensive lineman with their early-round picks, but don’t be surprised if we see two O-line picks in the first two days of the draft. I wouldn’t be stunned to see two of these three guys in Seahawks uniforms soon.

Time will tell, but it really feels like this is the best shot Seattle is taking to fix the offensive line in years. Hopefully, they choose right.