Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald shared some updates with beat reporters today in Orlando at the owners meetings. For one thing, he says there is currently no timetable for right tackle Abe Lucas to return from the knee surgery he recently underwent. Lucas missed 11 games last season due to chronic knee soreness. Seattle has brought back George Fant for some insurance, but the team has to hope Lucas can make a fully recovery, otherwise the offensive line may buckle once again on the right flank.
Macdonald also told the media that the team isn’t done building up this unit. He called the offensive line a work in progress, per Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times.
Specifically, it’s the interior that still needs a lot of work. Gone are all three 2023 starters in Damien Lewis, Evan Brown and Phil Haynes. If the season were to start today the Seahawks would likely start Nick Harris, Olu Oluwatimi and Tremayne Anchrum in their place, and together they have combined for just six NFL starts.
Building a more experienced offensive line made mostly of veterans would have been the way we went about it, but after their work in the first two weeks of free agency the Seahawks have less cap space than any other team and can’t afford any quality vets. That means Seattle will have to draft multiple linemen up front. Fans should keep an eye out for prospects who can play either center or guard in particular.
Getting those picks right will be critical for the team’s success, both in 2024 and beyond. For what it’s worth, Mike Clay’s annual unit rankings has their offensive line as the worst in the league.
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