The Seahawks are bringing back most of the group that won it all, from the Super Bowl-winning core to most of the assistant coaches. That continuity usually looks like a strength. In this case, it also comes with a familiar problem: they still haven’t done enough to clean up a few obvious weak spots.
Cornerback depth remains an issue, but the bigger concern might be the interior of the offensive line. Seattle has acted like that part of the roster is settled, even after rookie IOL Beau Stephens had a rough preseason. If that’s the plan, the Seahawks could be one injury away from a real mess at right guard.
That’s where Kevin Zeitler comes in.
At 36 years young, Zeitler is not a headline-grabbing star, but he has spent his career being exactly the kind of dependable, plug-and-play veteran teams love when they’re trying to win now. Pro Football Focus’ premium stats (subscription required) credited him with allowing 16 pressures on 590 pass-blocking snaps in 2026, along with a 74.5 grade - the 11th-highest mark among guards.
Seattle does not need a miracle worker up front. Charlie Cross is elite, Grey Zabel flashed All-Pro potential as a rookie, Jalen Sundell is criminally underrated, and Abraham Lucas is pretty serviceable. The one spot that still looks vulnerable is right guard, and that’s the hole Zeitler could help cover.
The financial side may not be a deal-breaker. His projected market value sits at $9.2 million, which might be enough to scare off plenty of teams, but an unsigned 36-year-old interior lineman this late in the offseason is likely to accept a major pay cut just to keep playing.
Zeitler has also done it in plenty of different places, which matters. He’s a true journeyman, but he’s handled different blocking schemes and offenses well wherever he’s gone. Even last season, he stood out as one of the few bright spots in a Tennessee Titans offense that struggled to get much going.
For Seattle, the fit is pretty straightforward. The team has a rookie running back and a first-time offensive play-caller, and if they’re as high on Jadarian Price as they say, they need to make life easier with better run-blocking and a guard who can move, climb, and finish in space. Bradford hasn’t provided that.
The Seahawks may still believe in Bradford - and they clearly do - but adding competition wouldn’t hurt. Stephens could serve as that pressure point, though he’s not ready for that role yet. Zeitler would at least give Seattle a proven option and force Bradford to sharpen up.
Football has changed a lot, but one thing still hasn’t: winning in the trenches matters. So does being able to run the ball when everybody knows you want to run it.
Seattle is no longer the hunter. It’s the hunted. And with all 31 other teams studying the flaws and tendencies, the Seahawks can’t afford to enter their title-defending season with the same soft spot they carried last year.
In Other News...
Trevon Diggs Gives Seahawks A Needed Answer With One Big Catch
The Seahawks added some much-needed cornerback depth during training camp by signing Trevon Diggs, a move that immediately makes sense on a roster that had been looking for help at the position after Riq Woolen left in free agency. Diggs also arrives with some built-in familiarity, since he has prior connections with several Seahawks players and coaches, which should help him settle in quickly as camp competition picks up.
Even with that background, the real question is how much he can give Seattle right away. Diggs has spent the past stretch trying to reestablish himself, and the Seahawks are clearly betting that a fresh start and those existing relationships can help him become more than just a camp addition. For a defense trying to shore up its cornerback room, the signing is a worthwhile swing, but the bigger answer still depends on how the rest of his comeback unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Took On A Controversial Gamble With Terrion Arnold
The Seahawks made a head-turning addition at cornerback, reaching an agreement with free agent Terrion Arnold in a move that surfaced during a recent episode of HBOs Hard Knocks. Seattle is treating it as a developmental swing for the long term, with no immediate on-field expectations, but the signing still lands as one of the more unusual roster bets of the offseason for a team trying to balance future upside with present-day depth.
Arnolds situation is what gives the move its uneasy edge, and why the details around his status matter so much to Seattle. His legal case is still unfolding, which means the Seahawks are taking on a player whose availability remains uncertain while the organization waits for the next step in a process that could keep this gamble in limbo for some time. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Searching For Answers At Fullback After Brutal Injury
The Seahawks are still piecing together their fullback room after Robbie Ouzts went down with a season-ending injury, and the search has already led them to Jackson Acker. Seattle is working out Acker, who was recently released by the Bills, as the team keeps sorting through options at a position that has suddenly become a moving target. The group also includes Brock Lampe, Brady Russell and a few tight ends who can help bridge the gap while the staff looks for the right fit.
Lampe has already gotten some game action in the preseason, but the competition is far from settled and the Seahawks do not appear ready to hand the job to anyone just yet. With Ouzts unavailable, every candidate is being judged on how well he can handle the blocking, versatility and physical edge Seattle wants from the spot, which makes this one of those late-summer battles that could linger a while longer. [Read more 🡒]