Most NFL teams try to build through their two lines. The Seattle Seahawks, on the other hand, seem content to build through one, and cobble together the other - their offensive line, which is tasked with protecting franchise quarterback Russell Wilson and opening holes for Thomas Rawls & Co. - with spare parts gathered together from the NFL's scrap heap.
Here's the thing though - the Seahawks have remained incredibly productive offensively despite an offensive line that doesn't boast a single elite player. The Seahawks finished last season second in DVOA and, after working through some early issues, averaged over 30 points per game down the stretch.
This offseason, Seahawks GM John Schneider has watched as Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy walked away, replacing them with limited upside options like the unknown Bradley Sowell and former Raider J'Marcus Webb.
The expectation was that Schneider and Co. would prioritize the line in NFL free agency and the 2016 NFL Draft, but that hasn't been the case through the first month or so of the offseason. And while Russell's presence and playing style means the Seahawks may never place a high premium on premier offensive line talent, it sure sounds like Schneider has further additions planned for Tom Cable's unit.
"We're going to be continuing to tinker our way through free agency here a little bit with the offensive line," Schneider said, "and obviously the draft."
That being said, Schneider also didn't make it sound as though he would making any splashy moves to acquire a top player to plug the hole at left tackle as the team did last year when they acquired Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints to slot in at the top of their tight end depth chart.
In fact, Schneider said that were the season to start tomorrow, Sowell and Gary Gilliam would compete for the starting gig at left tackle. From the outside looking in, that seems to spell a big step down from Okung, who was a talented, if flawed player.
Webb got a pretty hefty bit of guaranteed money from the Seahawks - $2.45 million - which makes it seem likely he'll be starting at either one of the guard spots or right tackle, but his versatility could also make him an attractive option as the top back up.
The rest of the group - Justin Britt, Patrick Lewis, Mark Glowinski - represent mostly unproven potential and, again, limited upside. At this point, the Seahawks have just $8.75 million committed to the offensive line for 2016, far and away the lowest figure in the league.
Carroll though, speaking at the NFL's owner's meetings last week, sounded unconcerned with the lack of established talent along the offensive line, pointing specifically to Gilliam as a guy he thought the team was fortunate to have because of his athleticism.
Work remains to be done though, and it'll be interesting to see if Carroll is singing the same tune should Schneider fail to make those expected further additions to the group.
