On paper, it looks like the Seattle Seahawks have done enough to shore up their offensive line heading into the 2020 season.
Four new signings; Brandon Shell, Cedric Ogbuehi, B.J. Finney and Chance Warmack, replenish depth at all five positions along the line, and the team also offered restricted free agent Joey Hunt a tender and is planning to bring back guard Jordan Simmons as well.
However – there is plenty of reason to believe more will happen along the offensive front, and it remains a distinct possibility the Seahawks look to upgrade their offensive line in a big way during the 2020 NFL draft.
Germain Ifedi and George Fant are both gone, signing with the Bears and Jets, respectively, and left guard Mike Iupati looks unlikely to return as well.
Additionally, both Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker are potential cut candidates to save salary cap room, which opens up two more starting spots.
It may look like the team has clear cut starters in place, with Shell likely to take over for Ifedi and Ogbuehi likely to fill the sixth lineman role Fant held the past two seasons. However, Jamarco Jones will likely slide into Iupati’s role at left guard, which means this team will be hurting for depth at the tackle spots.
Enter USC tackle Austin Jackson. Jackson frequently finds himself on mock draft boards near Seattle’s first round pick, No. 27 overall, and it would make sense for the Seahawks to snag him.
He’s a bit raw, and most of his experience is at left tackle, but he is expected to be an NFL starter within a year or two, and he would be a great long-term replacement for Ifedi at right tackle.
Shell is more than capable of filling in for the 2020 season, but Jackson would give Seattle an anchor to build a young offensive line that could include Jones, Phil Haynes and Ethan Pocic in the near future.
