Seahawks Free Agent Targets at Guard: 6 to Watch
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Beating the odds after being projected to finish dead last in the NFC West by most experts, the Seattle Seahawks surprised everyone by making the playoffs last season and boasted a top-10 scoring offense in the process.
With three new starters, including two rookies in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas at the tackle spots, Seattle's offensive line was expected to be one of the worst in the league. Though the group endured growing pains, the unit outperformed low expectations, helping quarterback Geno Smith set several franchise records and rookie Ken Walker III eclipse the 1,000-yard running mark.
While the Seahawks have plenty to be excited about for the future with their offensive line anchored by Cross and Lucas, the unit still could use reinforcements in the interior. In 2022, veteran right guard Gabe Jackson struggled in a platoon with Phil Haynes, giving up 31 quarterback pressures and posting a 95.8 percent efficiency rate.
Next to him at center, in his first season with the organization, center Austin Blythe brought familiarity and superb communication skills to Seattle's line. But the 298-pound blocker also was a hinderance in the run game, struggling to hold up physically against bigger, stronger defensive tackles and often getting overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage.
With Haynes heading to free agency and a big decision on Jackson's future needing to be made in the near future, the Seahawks could be on the hunt for a new right guard in 2023. Here's a list of six veterans the team could consider at different price ranges estimated by Spotrac.
Isaac Seumalo, Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Market Value: $12.1 million/year
2022 Stats: 20 pressures, one sack allowed
Finally stomping on the injury bug that had nipped him in two previous years, the 303-pound Seumalo turned in the finest season of his career while helping guide the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII. Starting all 17 regular season and three postseason games at right guard, he posted a strong 98.3 pass block efficiency rate according to Pro Football Focus, tied for 10th best among qualified guards.
Yielding only one sack all season long, Seumalo excelled protecting quarterback Jalen Hurts while also earning a top-15 grade as a run blocker as well. His value on the free agent market may be capped since he missed 21 combined games in 2020 and 2021 with knee and foot injuries, but with him still being on the right side of 30 and an excellent zone blocker, he would be a quality upgrade over Jackson and Haynes in Seattle.
In the right place at the right time, Dalton Risner scored a touchdown recovering a fumble in the end zone against the Seahawks in the preseason in 2021.
Dalton Risner, Denver Broncos
Projected Market Value: $9.5 million/year
2022 Stats: 29 pressures, three sacks allowed
Named a day one starter upon his arrival in Denver as a second-round pick in 2019, Risner has been one of the most consistent pass protecting guards in the NFL over the past four seasons. Never allowing more than four sacks in a season, including surrendering none on 612 pass blocking snaps in 2020, he has posted pass protection efficiency rates above 97 percent every year he has been in the league, protecting a bevy of different quarterbacks while missing four games total due to injury.
Where the 312-pound Risner has been far more inconsistent, however, has been in the run blocking department. An average athlete at best for the position and lacking the bulk to maul opponents, PFF has never graded him better than 39th among qualified guards in his career. While that may curtail a team like the Seahawks from pursuing him, he's only 27 years old and his pass blocking prowess could justify a multi-year investment in him.
Nate Davis, Tennessee Titans
Projected Market Value: $7.4 million/year
2022 Stats: 14 pressures, three sacks allowed
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Risner, Davis emerged as a physical run blocker paving the way for Derrick Henry at right guard. From 2020 to 2022, he never finished outside of the top 20 in PFF's run blocking grade, including two top-12 finishes. Capable of driving defenders off the line of scrimmage and a quality zone blocker, he has been integral in Henry's success racking up over 4,500 rushing yards and 40 touchdown runs in that span.
But up until last year, Davis' pass protection left much to be desired. He surrendered at least 30 quarterback pressures in 2020 and 2021, posting dismal efficiency numbers in true pass sets below 93.5 percent. Fortunately, he made major strides in his fourth season with the Titans, allowing pressures on just 3.6 percent of his snaps as a pass protector. After ending the year on injured reserve, teams will have to see where he's at health-wise, but at just 26 years of age, he'd be an intriguing addition to the Seahawks front line.
Ben Powers, Baltimore Ravens
Projected Market Value: $9.4 million/year
2022 Stats: 12 pressures, zero sacks allowed
Aptly named at 6-foot-4, 338 pounds, Powers only started seven games in his first two NFL seasons. But since then, he has been a force in pass protection for the Ravens, allowing 33 combined pressures and just three sacks on over 1,100 pass blocking reps in the previous two seasons. Setting heavy anchors against bull rushers and exhibiting more nimble footwork than expected, he has been a rock keeping Lamar Jackson clean.
Interestingly, given how frequently Baltimore ran the football with Greg Roman serving as offensive coordinator, Powers has yet to blossom in that aspect of his game. Playing in a gap-heavy scheme, he has never received higher than a 63.6 run blocking grade in the past three seasons. He may not be the best fit for a system leaning more heavily on zone concepts, but like Risner, his pass protection proficiency would make him an appealing addition in front of Smith.
One of the few free agents with extensive NFL starting experience at center and guard, Evan Brown could appeal to the Seahawks at multiple positions.
Evan Brown, Detroit Lions
Projected Market Value: $10.8 million/year
2022 Stats: 22 pressures, two sacks allowed
Breaking into the league as an undrafted free agent out of SMU, Brown played fewer than 100 snaps with three different teams in his first two seasons and didn't look like a future starter. But thrust into action for the Lions in 2021 replacing an injured Frank Ragnow at center, he impressed in all facets, including allowing only eight pressures and a sack on 455 pass blocking snaps.
Earning a starting role alongside Ragnow last season, Brown slid over to right guard and started 12 games. While he regressed some in pass protection yielding more than 20 pressures, he took a significant step forward as a run blocker, helping Detroit finish 11th in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns on the way to a surprising 9-8 finish. Offering great positional versatility at 320 pounds, the 26-year old Brown would immediately improve Seattle's interior line at center or guard.
Will Hernandez, Arizona Cardinals
Projected Market Value: N/A
2022 Stats: 16 pressures, three sacks allowed
A familiar foe playing for an NFC West rival last season, Hernandez turned in easily his best season as a pass protector for Arizona. Blocking for Kyler Murray and a couple of backup signal callers late in the season, he allowed a career-low 16 pressures and PFF graded him as the eighth-best pass blocking guard in the NFL (79.1). It was a marked improvement from his first four seasons in New York when he allowed at least 25 pressures each season.
From a scheme fit standpoint, the 338-pound Hernandez has always been best suited for firing out of his stance and using his size to bully opponents on downhill gap concepts. Last season, per PFF, he graded as the eighth-best gap blocking guard in football compared to 34th in zone blocking. The Seahawks may want a smaller, more athletic guard better equipped for zone concepts to succeed Jackson, but if they are looking for a younger player who still has some untapped upside and could be signed for a cheaper rate, he would be worth a flier.
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