The Seahawks have spent the offseason trimming the edges of the roster and pushing for more depth at important spots, and that puts Christian Haynes in a tough place. What once looked like a path toward a bigger role now feels a lot more uncertain, with the guard suddenly looking like he may be fighting just to keep his spot heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Haynes arrived at UConn as a two-star recruit in the 2018 national class, with offers from Virginia, Marshall, Buffalo and Navy. He redshirted in 2018, then started the final four years of his college career. Even with the Huskies struggling badly, he played well enough to hear his name called in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, going 81st overall.
Seattle gave him time to grow with a young offensive line, but he hasn’t separated himself the way the team hoped. Over the last two seasons, Haynes has appeared in 24 games, though only eight came last season.
Offensive line coach John Benton tried him at left guard, right guard and center, but none of those looks turned into a locked-in starting job. At this point, he’s starting to look more like a player trying to hold onto a backup role than one pushing for a full-time spot.
There are still traits that make Haynes interesting. His hand placement and technique in pass protection stand out, and his athleticism shows up when he’s asked to pull and work to the second level.
When his footwork and balance cooperate, he can move around effectively. Those same issues, though, have kept him from locking down the center job and from turning all that experience into a clear edge over the competition.
That competition is getting real. The Seahawks have been willing to let younger players battle for backup jobs on a line that’s still taking shape, and Bryce Cabeldue and Mason Richman are both legitimate challengers for those spots in their second season. If Haynes can’t separate himself, he could be the one squeezed out.
If Seattle moves on from him during training camp, the financial picture is straightforward: Haynes would carry a dead cap hit of $260,048 in each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons, while the Seahawks would clear $1.3 million in salary cap space.
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Mike Macdonald Sends Seahawks A Strong Message About The NFC West
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Mike Macdonald has made it clear he wants his team centered on itself, not distracted by the arms race around the division. That mindset will get an early test when Seattle opens against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9, a matchup that comes with its own level of intrigue after both teams spent the offseason reshaping their rosters. [Read more 🡒]