Injuries can certainly take a toll on an athlete's career. Inefficiency and poor performance could have a far more detrimental effect. This is where Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Christian Haynes comes in. He suffers from all the previously mentioned ailments.
He is only entering his second season in the league, but he was also a third-round pick in 2024. An interior offensive lineman chosen that high is expected to turn into a starter. Maybe that doesn't happen in year one, but by year two, the player needs to prove he belongs.
Haynes has not done that. In fact, he almost appears to have digressed in his second season. Maybe the change of offensive coaching staff is taking him a bit of time to adjust to. That isn't happening with other linemen such as Anthony Bradford and Jalen Sundell, though.
Seattle Seahawks have a simple decision to make with guard Christian Haynes
The Seahawks have tried to give Haynes a bunch of chances. He lost ground in a potential battle to start at right guard fairly early in camp. Bradford is having his best camp, but Haynes remains, at best, stagnant from his rookie season. Seattle gave Haynes some reps at center and left guard, too.
At center, he had issues snapping the ball, the most fundamental of elements for the position. He was no better at left guard than he was at right.
To make matters worse, Haynes suffered a minor pec injury before the preseason started, but he played in the first two games. He missed the third game versus the Green Bay Packers after aggravating the injury in camp.
Head coach Mike Macdonald gave a quick and succinct answer to how long he would be out after the Seahawks' loss to the Packers, saying, "We’re not sure right now how long it’s going to be."
Releasing Haynes wouldn't cost the team much money. His dead cap in 2025 would be $780,144, just a bit above how much the team would save by letting him walk.
Seattle chose two offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL draft, and Bryce Cabeldue has gotten some reps at guard. He isn't ready to start by any means, but he might have a higher floor than Haynes.
Plus, Haynes has no true home on the offensive line anymore. He isn't going to start at right guard or left guard, and shouldn't even be mentioned with the centers. If he is forced to play in a real game for the Seattle Seahawks, that is bad for the team. The team should just cut its losses.
More Seahawks news and analysis: