Seahawks Offensive Line Predicted to Be Among Worst in NFL

The Seattle Seahawks could have a lot of youth on their offensive line - and Pro Football Focus believes that could lead to difficulties protecting quarterback Geno Smith.

When the Seattle Seahawks drafted left guard Damien Lewis in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they did so anticipating he'd be an early impact player - and by all accounts, Lewis was exactly that, starting all 16 games as a rookie.

But what Seattle might not have expected is that after just three years in the league, Lewis would be the team's longest-tenured starter on the offensive line.

Now set to enter his fourth season, Lewis leads a unit that features left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abraham Lucas but has question marks at center and right guard.

Free agent signee Evan Brown and fifth-round pick Olu Oluwatimi are expected to compete for the starting center job, while veteran Phil Haynes and fourth-round pick Anthony Bradford battle to start at the right guard spot.

On paper, the Seahawks have an intriguing offensive line with a high ceiling - but Pro Football Focus doesn't see it that way, ranking the group at No. 30 league-wide.

"Seattle’s line largely rests on the development of its young tackles, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas," PFF writes. "While both played well early, each fell off substantially as their rookie seasons wore on. If those tackles play well, this ranking is too low.

"But if they don’t improve, this is a group that could struggle badly given its interior personnel."

The Seahawks tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the ninth-most sacks allowed last year at 46, a number they'll certainly look to improve on this fall but still comes in 13 sacks below the Los Angeles Rams, who allowed the third-most at 59.

Seattle expects to have an explosive offense this year, with quarterback Geno Smith having a wealth of his targets at his disposal - but the unit’s success could ultimately come down to how well the offensive line gels together.

And if PFF’s predictions come true, Seattle may be battling an uphill climb … but there are 17 games to prove otherwise.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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