The Seattle Seahawks may look close to complete on paper, but one spot still stands out: right guard. Anthony Bradford is heading into his fourth season, and the job has been the offense line’s weakest point since he arrived.
That opens the door for fifth-round rookie Beau Stephens, who should be one of the more interesting names to follow when training camp starts. The Iowa product spent much of his college career as one of the better interior linemen in the country, and he has a real shot to challenge Bradford right away.
Stephens brings the kind of profile Seattle can use. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he has the size to hold up inside, and he played both guard and tackle in college. With Grey Zabel all but locked in at left guard, Stephens’ clearest route to playing time is to beat Bradford on the right side.
The advanced numbers back up the buzz around the rookie. According to Pro Football Focus, Stephens allowed 25 total pressures over five college seasons, including just four last year.
He also went without a sack in four of those five seasons. Among 686 eligible players at the position, he finished with the third-highest grade at 87.7 and the top pass-blocking mark at 92.5.
Bradford’s 2024 season tells a different story. He gave up 38 pressures by himself, including 27 hurries, six quarterback hits and five sacks. His pass-blocking grade came in at 40.8, fifth-lowest at the position, and his five penalties repeatedly stalled the offense.
Stephens also earned a reputation as the glue guy on the nation’s best offensive line in 2025. He’s not going to win with flashy athleticism, but he does bring strong fundamentals, relentless effort and a physical edge in the run game. He can move in space, climb to the second level and help open lanes.
Seattle does not have many major changes to make before its title-defending season, but that doesn’t mean every spot is settled. If Bradford doesn’t take a step forward in year four, Stephens looks like the rookie most likely to push him out of the lineup.
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