Looking at the Seahawks’ draft needs: offensive line

With the NFL Scouting Combine kicking off this week in Indianapolis, it’s time to take a look at the Seahawks’ roster and see where they might be looking to add talent. Like any good team, the Seahawks will tell you they don’t draft strictly by need, but the current roster does influence how general manager John Schneider and his scouting department put together a draft board. Not every need will be filled in the draft—free agency is coming up in March—but the draft remains the single most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to building a roster, which is why last month’s Senior Bowl, this week’s combine and all the other elements of draft preparation are so important for the Seahawks and every team in the league.

Throughout this week, we’ll look at where the Seahawks stand at each position prior to the draft and free agency.

Offensive line

Level of need: Fairly significant

Why: Well for starters, there’s a good argument to be made for drafting linemen every year given the importance of play in the trenches, the sheer numbers needed and the relatively high injury rate—it seems having 300-plus-pound men fall on your legs is dangerous. But in the case of the Seahawks specifically, offensive line is a need both in the short and long-term picture. With left guard James Carpenter headed for free agency, the Seahawks could have a vacancy to fill in their starting five, and while Alvin Bailey could be a candidate for that job should Carpenter leave, the Seahawks would want to have somebody to compete for that spot. Looking further into the future, left tackle Russell Okung is heading into the final year of the six-year deal he signed as a rookie—though it’s possible he is extended before the draft, a move that would actually create cap savings for 2015—right guard J.R. Sweezy is also in the final year of his rookie contract, and center Max Unger has two years left on his deal. There is certainly a chance some or all of those players are part of Seattle’s long-term future going forward, but considering how much money the Seahawks have spent and will soon spend on retaining some of their young stars, it’s also possible that the Seahawks simply won’t be able to afford to keep all three, requiring them to find some inexpensive young replacements on their line going forward.

Considering that the Seahawks have drafted nine offensive linemen in five drafts under John Schneider and Pete Carroll—and at least one in each draft—it’s safe to assume they’ll address the line again at some point in this draft.

Top players available*:

Interior offensive linemen

1. Brandon Scherff, Iowa

2. Cameron Erving, Florida State

3. Laken Tomlinson, Duke

4. A.J. Cann, South Carolina

5. Tre’ Jackson, Florida State

Offensive tackle

1. T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh

2. Andrus Peat, Stanford

3. La’el Collins, LSU

4. Ereck Flowers, Miami (Fla.)