With as much change as the Seattle Seahawks have had on offense this offseason, the case could be that the unit’s most important player in 2025 wasn’t on the roster last season.
The Athletic’s Mays: A big bet the Seattle Seahawks are making on offense
A top candidate for that moniker would be new starting quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year deal worth over $100 million just weeks ago. But Darnold isn’t the pick for Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus. His choice lies in the trenches.
“Abe Lucas is going to be the most important player on this offense,” Bumpus said Monday during his Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “Why? Because when he is available and he is playing, him and Charles Cross are gonna hold it down.”
Lucas exceeded expectations as rookie starting right tackle after being selected out of WSU in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Everett native played in and started all but one game, was rated as the No. 49 tackle in PFF grading and allowed just four sacks.
With Lucas at right tackle and 2022 first-round pick Cross at left tackle, the Seahawks looked like they had their starting tackle tandem for years to come.
However, Lucas has played just 13 combined games over the past two seasons while dealing with knee issues. He started seven of the final eight games this past year, and the Seahawks certainly missed his presence early on. Backup tackle George Fant went down with an injury during the first quarter of first game of the season, and Seattle ended up having third-stringer Stone Forsythe start five games and rookie Michael Jerrell (a sixth-round pick of out a D-II school) start three at right tackle before Lucas returned.
That compounded with the Seahawks’ issues at right guard. Starter Anthony Bradford was mostly ineffective and went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 12 (just two games into Lucas’ return), and rookie sixth-rounder Sataoa Laumea started the final six games.
“It’s all about keeping the band together, and the band has been split up a lot over the past couple of years,” Bumpus said of Seattle’s offensive line. “We saw rookies play tackle. We saw rookies play guard.”
In an Instagram post following last season, Lucas said he’s heading into this offseason without any major health issues for the first time since his rookie year. That could mean some much-needed stability for the offensive line in 2025. He’s been sharing updates of his offseason workouts on his profile since.
“He’s gonna move the defensive line when it comes to the outside zone game. He’s good in pass (protection). I’m following this man on IG. He’s looking healthy,” said Bumpus, who like Lucas is a former WSU football standout. “… I feel like you know what you’re gonna get out of (wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba). I think I know what I’m going to get out of Cooper Kupp if he stays healthy. The run game, we got three running backs back there. It’s all about the big boys up front. So if Abe can say healthy, I think this team is rolling.”
Another important piece for OL
Guest co-host Mike Lefko offered his own take on the most important offensive player for the Seahawks following Bumpus. He went with the one position on the offensive line that’s a complete question mark after the departure of starter Laken Tomlinson in free agency.
“My most important would be the to-be-determined left guard, who I assume will come in the draft,” Lefko said. “Who’s the left guard right now? So to me, that’s the most important player on the Seahawks offense. … It’s certainly the most fascinating player.”
Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
Seattle Seahawks news and analysis
• Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: Late-round impact with LB Jay Higgins
• Mock Draft Roundup: Who will Seattle Seahawks pick at No. 18?
• Why ‘sleeper’ draft pick from WSU fits Seattle Seahawks’ need
• Rost: 4 potential non-OL picks for Seattle Seahawks at No. 18
• Where Seattle Seahawks stand in salary cap space after month of chang