The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line has long been a weak link, even during the Pete Carroll-John Schneider era when the team occasionally led the NFL in spending on the unit. Now, with the team’s investment in their front five plummeting to the second-lowest in the league—only ahead of Baltimore—the group has hit rock bottom. The 2024 season saw Seattle’s offensive line ranked 31st overall and dead last in the NFC, a glaring issue that threatens to derail the team’s new starting quarterback, Sam Darnold.
According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the Seahawks’ lack of investment in their offensive line could prove catastrophic for Darnold, who signed with Seattle after the team traded away Geno Smith. Barnwell notes, “Seahawks fans will need to hope Schneider is right, because the impact on Darnold could be devastating. Even during his resurgent 2024 season, his biggest weakness was his propensity for taking sacks, highlighted by a brutal end to the season in an ugly playoff loss to the Rams.” Barnwell’s analysis points to Darnold’s struggles under pressure, with a 17.2 QBR when pressured since 2018, ranking 34th out of 50 quarterbacks with at least 900 dropbacks.
While it’s true that most quarterbacks struggle when pressured, Darnold’s vulnerability in this area is particularly concerning given Seattle’s porous line. Geno Smith, whom Darnold replaced, was noticeably better at handling pressure, even if Darnold outperformed him in other aspects during the 2024 season. The decision to trade Smith and star receiver DK Metcalf left the Seahawks with ample cap space, which could have been used to bolster the offensive line in free agency. Instead, the team made minimal moves, signing only backup swing tackle Josh Jones to a one-year deal and using a single high draft pick on left guard Grey Zabel. Their additional Day 3 picks on tackles converted to guards follow a familiar, underwhelming pattern of low investment in a unit that desperately needs reinforcement.
This lack of commitment to the offensive line is baffling, given its status as arguably the league’s worst. Without significant improvement, the line’s deficiencies could spell disaster for Darnold, whose tendency to take sacks could lead to a regression from his promising 2024 campaign. If the line fails to protect him, the consequences could extend beyond the field. A poor season might finally force a reckoning for general manager John Schneider, whose reluctance to prioritize offensive line construction has plagued the team for years. If Darnold crashes and burns behind this line, it could cost Schneider his job—but it might also pave the way for a new regime that takes the trenches seriously. For now, Seahawks fans can only hope the current group defies expectations, or the 2025 season could be a painful one for both Darnold and the franchise.