Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: OL Jake Curhan - Set to Compete Inside?

After playing tackle exclusively at the college level, Jake Curhan has transitioned to primarily playing inside at guard in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks and could have his work cut out for him battling for playing time up front entering his third season.

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jun 26, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Jake Curhan, Tackle/Guard

Height/Weight: 6-6, 330 pounds

2022 Stats: One sack, two pressures allowed

Despite starting 40 games over four seasons at right tackle for California, after having a heart condition flagged at a pre-draft medical evaluation, Curhan wasn't selected and signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Seeing work in his first training camp at right tackle as well as guard, he played snaps at both positions during an impressive preseason, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. With starter Brandon Shell shelved by injury late in the season, he started the final five games and though he struggled at times in pass protection allowing four sacks, his run blocking helped Rashaad Penny lead the league in rushing yardage during that span.

While Curhan opened last summer as the starter at right tackle, third-round pick Abraham Lucas eventually took the reins midway through training camp and wound up starting 16 out of 17 regular season games with Stone Forsythe replacing him in a Week 17 win over the New York Jets. Held out as a healthy scratch for much of the season, he played just 37 offensive snaps, with 24 of those coming at right guard in Week 7.

Best-Case Scenario: Thrust into a three-way competition with Phil Haynes and rookie Anthony Bradford at right guard, Curhan has a strong preseason and shows improvement in pass protection playing inside, further cementing his status as the team's swing guard with the flexibility to play either tackle spot in a pinch as a key reserve for the Seahawks.

Worst-Case Scenario: Struggling to pass protect in a phone book against more athletic defensive tackles, Curhan endures a difficult preseason and with the arrival of Evan Brown adding extra depth at both guard spots, Seattle releases the third-year veteran and re-signs him to the practice squad.

What to Expect in 2023: Before Lucas and Charles Cross arrived as high draft picks last spring, Curhan looked poised to compete for a starting role at right tackle and become a potential long-term fixture on the offensive line. However, the Seahawks have placed great emphasis on the trenches in the past two drafts, upgrading inside with Bradford and center Olu Oluwatimi being selected on day three this year as possible day one starting candidates.

Though Curhan could potentially enter the mix competing for a starting spot at right guard following the departure of Gabe Jackson, he would be squarely behind Haynes as the incumbent and Bradford will receive an extended look early to see where he fits into the big picture up front. Both tackle spots are also set long-term with Cross and Lucas and if one gets banged up, the more athletic Forsythe will be the first choice to step into the lineup. Since he can play multiple positions and has previous starting experience, Curhan should make the roster, but it likely will be as a swing guard/tackle in a reserve role similar to a year ago with no guarantees of dressing on Sundays.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles