Seahawks Beef Up Offensive Line With Physical LSU G Anthony Bradford
Addressing the trenches for the first time so far in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks hope to provide a spark for their run game with the selection of LSU guard Anthony Bradford with the 108th overall pick in the fourth round.
Becoming the third Tiger offensive lineman to be selected by Seattle since 2017, Bradford will reunite with guard Damien Lewis, who the team drafted with a third-round pick in 2020.
A versatile lineman with starting experience at three different positions at LSU, the 334-pound Bradford spent most of his time inside at guard where he earned a reputation as a mauling road grader in the run game. With his strength and physicality being his best attributes, he played at his best in gap concepts where he was able to shoot out of his stance and quickly take defenders for a ride with his immense power.
While he isn't the most fleet of foot among this year's guard prospects, Bradford executes pulling assignments with fury, taking good angles to blow up defenders when he turns upfield or kicks out ends. He also tested surprisingly well at the combine, posting a respectable 1.74 10-yard split in the 40 and a 7.84 3-cone drill, showing unexpected burst and change of direction skills.
Those traits don't necessarily show up on film consistently, however. He struggled at times sliding his feet to stay in front of quicker interior pass rushers, allowing four sacks during his junior season. When tasked with reach blocks on zone concepts, he was often a tick slow out of his stance and his lateral mobility didn't reflect athletic testing as he often wasn't able to move himself into position quick enough to execute the block.
Additionally, Bradford's second-level blocking has been hit-and-miss with linebackers often eluding his block attempt and inconsistent angles to defenders being a persistent problem for him.
With that said, Bradford's athletic profile suggests the Seahawks can coach him up and improve upon those deficiencies at the next level. His nasty demeanor and penchant for cooking up pancakes fits Seattle's desire to get back to running the ball at a high level and he plays with great effort snap-to-snap, giving him a shot to eventually start at either guard spot.
Heading into his rookie season, Bradford should have a chance to battle for reps right away against projected starter Phil Haynes, who re-signed with Seattle on a one-year deal in March. If he's able to handle NFL speed and quickness in the interior as a pass protector and zone blocker, it's possible he could be a day-one starter playing across from Lewis, giving the team two big-bodied, athletic guards in the center of their rebuilt offensive line.
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