Seattle, WA
‘We Thought About 12’: Seattle Seahawks GM Explains Decision to Roster 11 O-Linemen
At first, the Seattle Seahawks keeping 11 offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster was a shock. It’s a position group in flux following a poor season-long performance in 2023 followed by an injection of young talent this offseason — a few of whom may take a few years to develop.
But general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald understood the risks of waiving any of their young, on-the-bubble big men. Offensive linemen are a premium position in the NFL, and the performance of all five men at each spot can make or break an offense.
Take rookie sixth-round pick Michael Jerrell, for example. Jerrell is a 6-4, 309-pound tackle who runs a 4.96 40-yard dash and started 40 games from 2021–23 at the University of Findlay — an NCAA Division II school. His athletic traits and testing stack up with some of the top prospects who competed at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Jerrell may be less polished and could take longer to adjust to the opposing talent level in the NFL. Still, he is a prospect multiple other teams could be interested in claiming off waivers if he were to be left to the madness of final cutdown day.
When speaking to local media following the first practice after cutdowns on Tuesday, Jerrell was honest about the difficulties of adjusting to the NFL, stating “There was a rough start at the beginning.” He leaned on veteran tackle George Fant, who helped him slow the game down. His confidence wasn’t shaken.
“I’ve always felt like I belong from the day I got my number called,” Jerrell said.
The Seahawks didn’t want to risk losing athletes like Jerrell and some of the other young linemen on Seattle’s initial roster like undrafted rookie center Jalen Sundell and rookie sixth-round guard Sataoa Laumea.
“We thought about 12, and that’s just the landscape of what the National Football League looks like; not just the National Football League, it’s college football,” Schneider told local media on Wednesday. “It’s not a position of great depth, and you need a whole group of guys working as one, so you need to continue to keep trying to figure it out. I think there are several teams that kept 11, maybe 12.”
It’s not the first time Schneider has kept double-digit offensive linemen on the initial roster. Just three years ago, in 2021, Seattle also kept 11 men in the trenches after training camp. They have kept nine each of the last two seasons, and that’s been the most common number Schneider and Seattle have gone with since he became the general manager in 2010. Seattle has kept 10 offensive linemen five times in that span.
As expected, Schneider said there will be more roster movement before Week 1. Now that cutdowns are over and practice squads are assembled, it will be easier for the Seahawks to elevate players and waive others without losing them to other teams.
Seattle’s offensive line has been a revolving door both on the field and in who holds starting positions for the last decade — mostly since the team traded former All-Pro center Max Unger to the New Orleans Saints in 2014 in return for tight end Jimmy Graham, which didn’t work out as planned.
The new faces, the addition of veteran center Connor Williams and the potential rise of 2022 first-round tackle Charles Cross have Seattle hoping to halt that trend.
“It’s a position where it’s a mentality position; it’s a unit, it’s a group,” Schneider said. “Usually, you could see guys that are like Pro Bowl players and difference makers, and they might be the only real talented guys in the group. It’s a position that you have to have a specific skill set, you have to have a specific mentality. You have to be coached in a specific way, but then you also have to be able to work together … you have to have that continuity, and it’s rare to have that continuity.”
Every offensive lineman Seattle has drafted since 2021 remains with the team, with tackle Stone Forsythe now being the longest-tenured member (sixth round, 208th overall). But, in a few more years, Schneider wants set-and-forget players in the trenches who have been with the team long enough to develop as a unit.
“When we were in Green Bay, we were blessed to have five guys that played together for 10 years,” Schneider added, “and then three or four of them developed and became Pro Bowl-caliber players, so it’s a function of the whole group.”
.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "American Airlines Eyes April 30 Return to Venezuela With Miami–Caracas Flights")
(In case you weren’t awake early today, photographer Theresa Arbow-O’Connor was)
Here are highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – thanks again to everyone who sends events for us to share!):
PASSOVER … concludes today.
FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is hosting playspace today until noon. (42nd SW & SW Juneau)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Whether you’re planting or planning – the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm – north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
TODDLER STORY TIME IN WESTWOOD: 10:30 am at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME IN ADMIRAL: 10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can go listen!) Probably C & P Coffee, we’re told (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Boys’ soccer with West Seattle HS vs. Rainier Beach at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle); softball with Chief Sealth IHS vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
DROP-IN CHESS: High Point Library‘s weekly event is on today, 4-5:30 pm for players under 18. (3411 SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK! Second Thursday means a celebration of art all around the peninsula, with most receptions running 5-8 pm. Here’s the venue list:
For highlights including which artists you’ll find showing their work tonight, at venues from Alki in the north to Gatewood in the south, browse this update!
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS this week – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Pizza Maniac.”
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) needs volunteers to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks (and you can take some home too). Just be there 5-7 pm!
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), for wine by the glass or bottle! Tonight, it’s also a stop on the West Seattle Art Walk, as with every second Thursday.
POKEMON LEAGUE: 6 pm Thursdays at Fourth Emerald Games (4517 California SW, upstairs) – bring your own console.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run!
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: If walking is more your speed, meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fontanelle for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online – find out the history behind names, with historian Feliks Banel. Here’s how to get the link.
‘SOUND OF MUSIC’: Another chance to see West Seattle High School‘s production of the classic musical, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: TIGERS EYE, Ladyfingers, Summer Schoo, 7 pm, 21+, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
’90s TRIVIA: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
LIVE AT TIM’S: 7 pm, Eric Blu & the Soul Revue, all ages, no cover. (16th SW and SW 98th, White Center)
TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE VOID: A relatively new West Seattle trivia night! 7:30 pm, with prizes, at The Void (5048 California SW).
‘WALDEN’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm opening performance of ArtsWest‘s new play. (4711 California SW)
DJ AT REVELRY ROOM: Spinning happens tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Supreme La Rock starting at 8 pm. 21+.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seattle police detectives in the Gun Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU) are investigating a drive-by shooting this afternoon that injured a young man in the Rainer Valley and shut down multiple intersections.
At about 4:40 p.m., patrol officers responded to reports of a shooting at Rainier Avenue South and South Othello Street. Officers found three related crime scenes, with the initial location being the intersection of Rainier and Othello. There, officers recovered dozens of shell casings and bullet damage to a nearby business.
Police recovered additional ballistic evidence at the second scene, near Holly Park Drive South and South Myrtle Place. Officers discovered the third crime scene directly in front of the South Precinct, where they stopped one of the involved cars, a Tesla, that sustained significant bullet damage.
The driver of this car, an 18-year-old man, did not have any injuries. The passenger, also 18, sustained a grazing gunshot wound to his head. Firefighters arrived to treat his injury, and medics took him to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) in stable condition.
Police determined that the suspects fired on the Tesla from another vehicle at Rainier and Othello. The victims sped away from the intersection and the suspect vehicle fled the area. Multiple cars drove away from the gunfire and pedestrians ran to safety. The Tesla sped off towards the precinct before being intercepted by officers.
Seattle police and King County deputies searched for the suspects but could not find them. Police did not make any arrests. GVRU detectives responded to the shooting. Police processed all three crime scenes and investigators conducted interviews at HMC. SPD’s Video Unit responded and recovered video footage from the area.
This is an open and active case assigned to GVRU. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted.
Incident Number: 2026-96231
We’re continuing our theme of Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft discussion today with a trip down memory lane.
The Seahawks have a deep history of finding some gems in the later rounds of the draft. Three Legion of Boom members were taken in the fourth, fifth, fifth, and sixth rounds, while Seattle’s first Super Bowl MVP was seventh-round linebacker Malcolm Smith. The only offensive touchdown scored in Seattle’s second Super Bowl win was by fourth-round tight end A.J. Barner, who might be on the cusp of stardom beyond the Seattle sports bubble.
Advertisement
We want to know your favorite Seahawks late-round draft picks of all time, but there is a clear restriction to eliminate some obvious candidates. A “late-round draft pick” is defined as no earlier than Round 4, which means Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett are ineligible as third-rounders. Once upon a time, the NFL Draft was longer than seven rounds—the Seahawks’ inaugural season had a 17-round draft—so if you want to really choose players from before the change-over in 1994 then go right ahead! Undrafted players like Doug Baldwin do not count because, well, they were literally not drafted.
You don’t have to reason that they were legendary, all-time great Seahawks. Chris Carson is not one of the top three running backs in Seahawks history but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t a joy to watch a seventh-round pick become a quality starter whose career was cruelly cut short due to injury.
And yes, Michael Dickson (fifth-round pick) counts because punters are indeed people.
Refer to Pro Football Reference for the Seahawks’ draft history in case your memory needs jogging.
Advertisement
Chat away in the comments below!
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
-
Comment on articles, community posts
-
Rec comments, community posts
-
New, improved notifications system!
Detroit Lions Should Be Greatly Interested in Pittsburgh Steelers Trade Rumor
BART restores services on Red, Yellow lines after equipment issue disrupted services to SFO
Pooh Shiesty ordered held on kidnapping charges tied to armed dispute with Gucci Mane, Dallas judge rules
.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "American Airlines Eyes April 30 Return to Venezuela With Miami–Caracas Flights")
American Airlines Eyes April 30 Return to Venezuela With Miami–Caracas Flights
Family of Stephenson King, man killed by Boston police officer, wants body camera video released
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Video: The Fragile Cease-Fire in Iran
Spanberger ripped after taking credit for billions in investments secured under GOP predecessor: ‘Pathetic’
Newsletter: NATO holds amid fragile Iran ceasefire
Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest, dies at 97
Video: Military Families Bear the Burden of War, Again
-
Atlanta, GA5 days ago1 teenage girl killed, another injured in shooting at Piedmont Park, police say
-
Culture1 week agoDo You Know Where These Famous Authors Are Buried?
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoVaazha 2 first half review: Hashir anchors a lively, chaos-filled teen tale
-
Education1 week agoVideo: We Put Dyson’s $600 Vacuum to the Test
-
Georgia2 days agoGeorgia House Special Runoff Election 2026 Live Results
-
Pennsylvania3 days agoParents charged after toddler injured by wolf at Pennsylvania zoo
-
Milwaukee, WI3 days agoPotawatomi Casino Hotel evacuated after fire breaks out in rooftop HVAC system
-
Entertainment1 week agoInside Ye’s first comeback show at SoFi Stadium