The team that has the best offensive line is like a battle in Game of Thrones: Some armies want big numbers, but I\u2019d rather roll in with big people.<\/p>\n
So in lieu of drafting the eighth-ranked edge rusher or the fifth-ranked cornerback, positions that Mike Macdonald has already proven he can settle with free agents and day three picks, why not just more \u201cbig people\u201d?<\/p>\n And what Chase Bisontis lacks in arm length, he makes up for in arm strength: Strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt, who has 30 years over experience and over two decades at LSU, famously called Bisontis \u201cthe strongest college football player I\u2019ve ever coached\u201d.<\/p>\n Even though Bisontis is a 21-year-old junior who was the 2nd-ranked guard recruit in the 2023 class<\/a>, he started 35 games in three years, including 12 at right tackle as a true freshman. Compare that to 2023\u2019s top guard recruit, D.J. Chester, a player with 14 starts in three years who just transferred<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not easy for most four-star recruits to exceed the hype, but Bisontis has done it and then some, to the point that he\u2019s now Dane Brugler\u2019s 34th-ranked prospect overall and is 36th for Sam Teets<\/a>.<\/p>\n In his draft guide, Brugler highlighted Bisontis\u2019s run blocking and scheme versatility, a trait that could come in handy long-term as Mike Macdonald rotates through new offensive coordinators:<\/p>\n \u201cIn the run game, he is strong as an ox to torque defenders on down blocks and shows the efficient movements to seal the backside or pick off defenders as a puller. On the other hand, he has a tough time keeping long-armed defenders off his edges, which leads to losses. He does a nice job staying balanced as a pass blocker to absorb and cover up rushers. Overall, Bisontis is a burly, sawed-off blocker with the body quickness and core strength to get the upper-hand in all phases. He projects as an eventual NFL starter and has traits that will speak to both zone and power schemes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Seahawks are paying Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas big money now, so the chances of Seattle re-signing Bradford or replacing him with a good free agent are pretty low. And Jalen Sundell has two accrued seasons, meaning that he could be up for an extension next year too.<\/p>\n The opportunity to draft a versatile, powerful offensive line prospect like Bisontis does not come around often. And when the Patriots had a dynasty their most consistently successful early draft picks were offensive linemen (Light, Mankins, Vollmer, Solder, Thuney).<\/p>\n Teets called Bisontis out as a potential surprise first round pick<\/a>:<\/p>\n Bisontis is one of the cleanest-moving guards in this class. He stays balanced and redirects to mirror rushers at a high level. Bisontis displays arresting grip strength and deploys a polished snatch-trap. His anchor is stout enough to grind down bull rushes and maintain pocket integrity. Bisontis\u2019 speed, movement skills, and leg drive make him a weapon on gap or wide zone runs.<\/p>\n There has been some talk about moving Bisontis to center.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think moving Bisontis or any player to a brand new position should be taken lightly. If the Seahawks do draft Bisontis, I believe they should do so knowing what position they want him to play for them long-term and then stick to it for as long as possible.<\/p>\n If Bisontis is meant to replace Bradford, it\u2019s okay if he sits for a while until he\u2019s ready. If Bisontis is meant to replace Jalen Sundell (including if Sundell is to move to right guard), it\u2019s okay if he sits for a while until he\u2019s comfortable at center.<\/p>\n I\u2019m okay with the Seahawks using their first pick on a player who won\u2019t start until 2027 if that\u2019s what happens.<\/p>\n That being said, if Seattle drafts Bisontis, it wouldn\u2019t surprise anyone if he\u2019s a Week 1 starter over either of those players.<\/p>\n Rob Rang wrote on Seahawks.com that Bisontis is the best zone-blocking guard in the draft<\/a>:<\/p>\n Seahawks offensive line coach John Benton prioritizes agility and Bisontis is considered by many to be this year’s best zone blocker. His quickness and balance while blocking on the move played a major role in the Aggies averaging 185 rushing yards per game in the mighty SEC. Most of his snaps came at left guard but he started at right tackle as a freshman and could handle the switch, if necessary.<\/p>\n As I wrote recently, even the slight chance that Lucas will retire<\/a> or become a liability before his 30th birthday could be a disaster for Seattle. Bisontis wouldn\u2019t be drafted as a right tackle because of 32\u201d arms, but it\u2019s just one more bullet in the chamber that makes him a little more valuable.<\/p>\n When people talk about who the Seahawks should draft, they always-always-always make it about Seattle\u2019s 2026 needs. No matter how many times people say that they would draft the best player available, their actions speak much louder than those words:<\/p>\n \u201cTake Jadarian Price<\/a>\u201d or \u201cTake a cornerback\u201d or \u201cTake an edge rusher\u201d.<\/p>\n These are quite literally direction reactions to players that the Seahawks parted with in free agency.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s fine when the best player available is someone who could have an immediate role. But teams also have needs that wouldn\u2019t be apparent in their current depth chart. There are also obvious needs for next year<\/a> that should be filled this year. In Seattle\u2019s case, that also includes the right guard position.<\/p>\n Bisontis is the only guard in the draft to only be three years out of high school because he has the chops to be the second-best guard in the 2026 class behind Vega Ioane. PFN\u2019s Ian Cummings recently mocked Bisontis to the Seahawks at 32<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cChase Bisontis is my 31st overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. And for a Seahawks team that doesn\u2019t have a ton of glaring needs, attacking the guard spot opposite guard Grey Zabel is a sensible path in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cAt 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Bisontis is a stellar athlete with a hyper-dense frame, and he combines that physical talent with excellent pass protection technique and run block IQ. He\u2019s synergetic, active with his hands, and quick to respond to stunts, and he offers range and physicality in the ground game.\u201d<\/p>\n But even then, we could be talking about Bisontis as a player who the Seahwaks could potentially still draft even if they trade down first. Most big boards have him in the 35-45 range, so in theory if the guard position is being undervalued by teams then Seattle could trade down (as many of us want) and maybe grab Bisontis at the top of the second.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Two problems that teams want Bisontis to fix will be his penalties and his pass protection. That\u2019s a mission for John Benton, one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL over the last 20 years, and something that could be done in the shadows for a while because the Seahawks are not desperate.<\/p>\n But then if Bradford doesn\u2019t show enough improvement, Bisontis could step in and provide Seattle the likelihood for an upgrade that they\u2019re probably not getting from Bryce Cabeldue, Christian Haynes, and Mason Richman.<\/p>\n Many people are looking at the Seahawks and thinking that their biggest problems are at cornerback, running back, and edge rusher because of what happened last month. But Seahawks fans will remember that their problems at right guard have gone back much further than free agency.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s an edge rusher at 32 who changes Seattle\u2019s defensive outlook, by all means do that. If there isn\u2019t though then forget the edge: I\u2019d rather run \u2018em down straight through the middle.<\/p>\n If you want to know more about offensive line prospects, this was a great podcast dedicated to the position with Lance Zierlein and Brandon Thorn:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n If the Seahawks swung for the fences with Kadyn Proctor instead and moved him to guard, that would be fine too.<\/p>\n In my interview with Alexandre Castro this week<\/a>, and then the ensuing research of the prospects he mentioned liking<\/a>, I came away confident that Ponds possesses the intangibles and mentality that would have Macdonald thinking that this could be his next second round All-Pro defensive chess piece.<\/p>\n And yes, he is similar to Devon Witherspoon, a player who at $30-$33 million per season on his next contract could put the Seahawks in a tricky situation as John Schneider looks to balance the cap commitments of a Super Bowl roster. I\u2019ll throw my hand up for president of Witherspoon\u2019s fan club, but if he\u2019s asking for more than Seattle\u2019s limit than trade talks have to happen<\/a>.<\/p>\n Drafting Ponds to hedge your bets with Witherspoon, similar to drafting Ty Simpson for leverage with Sam Darnold<\/a>, isn\u2019t the worst way for the Seahawks to use their draft picks at a time when the team is already playing from the lead position and figuring out how to pay as many players as possible in a small window of time.<\/p>\n And if we were just comparing essences, Ponds \u2014 who Brugler said is the only player he will call a \u201cballer\u201d in his scouting report<\/a> \u2014 is this year\u2019s Witherspoon.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/306554df-7654-4560-8165-983e3905d428_400x.gif\")
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