During the run-up to free agency, we brought in some players who could bolster the Seattle Seahawks, especially in the OL, which has always been the team’s most contested unit. John Schneider decided not to sign anyone of note; only Josh Jones, who arrived as a backup.
Let’s take as a starting point the play of Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford, who is undoubtedly the most vulnerable piece in the OL.
* 7 starts;
* 2nd-worst in pass-block grade;
* 26th-worst in run-block grade;
* 6th-worst in offensive grade;
* 11th-worst in pressures allowed;
* 23rd-worst in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 2nd-worst in pass-block grade in True Pass Sets (7.0);
* Team leader in pressures allowed (17);
* Team leader in sacks allowed (2);
Let’s look at the targets:
**Mekhi Becton (signed with the Chargers, 2 years and $20 million):**
* 7 starts (1 missed due to injury);
* 9th worst in pass block grade;
* 3rd worst in run block grade;
* 3rd worst in offense grade;
* 26th worst in pressures allowed;
* 23rd worst in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 12th worst in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Will Fries (signed with the Vikings, 5 years and $88 million):**
* 7 starts;
* 14th worst in pass block grade;
* 23rd worst in run block grade;
* 33rd in offense grade;
* 17th worst in pressures allowed;
* 15th worst in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 21st worst in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**James Daniels (signed with the Dolphins, 3 years, $24 million):**
Played only 3 offensive snaps;
**Patrick Mekari (signed with the Jaguars, 3 years, $37.5 million):**
* 7 starts;
* 8th worst in pass block grade;
* 14th worst in run block grade;
* 7th worst in offense grade;
* 2nd worst in pressures allowed;
* 2nd worst in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 14th worst in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Ben Bredeson (signed with the Bucs, 3 years, $22 million):**
* 8 starts;
* 9th worst in pass block grade;
* 2nd worst in run block grade;
* 12th worst in offense grade;
* 11th worst in pressures allowed;
* 9th worst in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 8th in pass-block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Teven Jenkins (signed with the Browns, 1 year, $3.1 million):**
**Kevin Zeitler (signed with the Titans, 1 year, $9 million):**
* 7 starts (missed 1 due to injury);
* 20th in pass-block grade;
* 18th in run-block grade;
* 18th in offense grade;
* 7th in pressures allowed;
* 17th in pressures allowed in True Pass Sets;
* 17th in pass-block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Joe Thuney (traded to the Bears for a 4th-rounder, 3 years, $51 million):**
* 7 starts;
* 1st in pass-block grade;
* 23rd in run-block grade;
* 13th in offense grade;
* 4th in pressures allowed;
* 2nd best in pressures conceded in True Pass Sets (only 4);
* 5th in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
Now for the center role. Sundell took over as the starting center after Olu Oluwatimi’s injury and started every snap, except when he cramped against the Steelers.
* 7 starts;
* 22nd worst in pass block grade;
* 4th worst in run block grade;
* 9th worst in offensive grade;
* 23rd worst in pressures conceded;
* 16th worst in pressures conceded in True Pass Sets;
* 18th worst in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Drew Dalman (signed with the Bears, 3 years and $42M):**
* 7 starts;
* 9th in pass block grade;
* 6th in run block grade;
* 5th in offensive grade;
* 8th worst in pressures conceded;
* 13th worst in pressures conceded in True Pass Sets;
* 3rd in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Coleman Shelton (signed with the Rams, 2 years and $12M):**
* 7 starts;
* 4th worst in pass block grade;
* 5th in run block grade;
* 10th in offensive grade;
* 9th worst in pressures conceded;
* 9th worst in pressures conceded in True Pass Sets;
* 3rd worst in pass block grade in True Pass Sets;
**Ryan Kelly (signed with the Vikings, 2 years and $18M):**
* Only 3 games;
* 3rd in pass block grade;
* 11th in run block grade;
* 7th in offensive grade;
* 1st in pressures conceded (0);
**Josh Myers (signed with the Jets, 1 year, $3.5 million):**
* 8 starts;
* 15th worst in pass-block grade;
* 16th worst in run-block grade;
* 11th worst in offensive grade;
* 3rd worst in pressures conceded;
* 2nd worst in pressures conceded in True Pass Sets;
* 21st in pass-block grade in True Pass Sets;
Most of the names listed in the article didn’t perform well. The team could have made more of an effort for Dalman and Zeitler, but Drew, according to reports, wanted to play for the Bears with Ben Johnson, and the latter is already a veteran and may have chosen the Titans for reasons other than money.
It may seem that John Schneider was right with basically zero moves in free agency for an OL. That’s not true. Sometimes the wrong processes work, but that’s not sustainable. Basically, none of the OLs listed were worse than the starters mentioned here (Sundell and Bradford), and they all generate higher expectations than both.
The Seahawks chose to sit back and not compete. Therefore, they saved money, but at what cost? The high cost of having Bradford as a starter, and worse, on a roster so lacking in depth, he became the best option and no other player got snaps, even with the RG playing at this level (which can cost games).
Good OLs are expensive. So much so that, at this trade deadline, it should be difficult to find any movement in this direction. Teams with good OLs won’t want to trade, even those with a season already decided. The team would probably have to overpay in a trade to get someone better than Bradford, so I don’t think the team will make any moves in this direction.
See More:
* [Seattle Seahawks Analysis and Opinion](/seattle-seahawks-game-analysis)
* [Seattle Seahawks Statistics](/seattle-seahawks-statistics)