Just three and a half weeks remain in the deadest part of the NFL offseason until the rookies for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks report for training camp, with veterans set to report the following week.
For the second time in three offseason, Seattle added a college All-American guard into the mix as competition on the interior of the offensive line. This year it was Beau Stephens, added in the fifth round, after the Seahawks used a third round pick in 2024 on Christian Haynes.
There was, of course, fan excitement in the wake of the selection of Stephens that he could lay claim to the starting right guard spot, giving fans who have hoped to see Bradford sent to the bench what they have long wanted. However, as Field Gulls own Ted Zahn covered earlier this offseason, that seems more likely in 2027 than in 2026.
Bradford still struggles at times, with no shortage of social media users quick to upload blooper-worthy lowlight reels in the wake of games, making the question what reason should have have for optimism when it comes to Bradford’s on-field performance this year.
The answer to that question comes in two parts. The first part is more general in nature, and is rooted in the simple fact that the overwhelming majority of young offensive linemen struggle upon entering the NFL. There is no shortage of linemen who had difficulty making the adjustment from college to the NFL, especially younger players who did not have enough playing time in college to hone the finer parts of their craft, or who simply had to effectively relearn how to play their position.
Offensive line is a position where players need three to four years to develop, meaning Bradford falls into the upswing in that category. In addition, offensive linemen, like many other positions, tend to peak in their late twenties, and still just 25 years old entering the 2026 season, meaning there’s likely still room for upside.
But, what specifically could improve? Will some magical development be needed for fans to see an on field improvement in 2026 similar to what Bradford showed in 2025?
The answer to those questions lies in understanding the development curve for offensive linemen at a level of detail that goes beyond simply age and accumulated experience. Specifically, it’s necessary to understand the root of a specific player’s struggles and whether those root causes can be addressed.
In the case of Bradford, one of the biggest impediments to his success was the fact that he entered the league with underdeveloped technique when it comes to pass blocking NFL-caliber pass rushers. Various evaluations of his college tape led to the following pre-draft analyses:
Can improve leverage consistency. Played in a run-heavy offense so pass pro reps have been limited. Can improve hand placement. -Gabe Brooks, 247Sports Scouting Analyst
Lacks footwork in space. Late with his hands. Must sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. -Tony Pauline, ProFootballNetwork
He’ll occasionally stop his feet when delivering a punch, and Bradford doesn’t play with ideal balance when moving back into his set. He’ll often struggle to mirror if he can’t win early on passing plays. -NFL Draft Buzz
Tardy with his strikes in pass-protection without the reactionary quickness to recover once edged -Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report
Two-handed punch in pass protection that’s just begging to be swatted away. -PFF 2023 Post-Draft Guide
That’s a laundry list of issues, but that’s what is to be expected for a player with limited college experience who turned 22 the day before he was selected by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft. With that said, much of the improvement Bradford showed in 2025 came from addressing the issues noted above.
Taking a step back from Bradford specifically, offensive linemen develop along a timeline that involves improvement in different areas. Things start with footwork because if a lineman is out of position, they’ve got no chance at delivering a successful block. Then, once they’ve learned to be in the right place, they need to not only be in the right place, but they need to be balanced. Then, once they’re in the right place and balanced, they need to deliver their punches at the right time with the proper technique, and then from that point proper handfighting technique is necessary to be able to counter punch when an opponent swipes away the initial attempt at contact. Finally, complicating everything is that all of those different pieces of pass blocking need to not simply be learned independent of one another, but they need to all be married together into a cohesive grouping of skills working together.
A great example of where Bradford has room to, and real potential to improve, comes from a post from Field Gulls own Alexandre Castro. As noted, at live speed it appears as though Bradford is blocking air in this clip, however, looking closer lays this out as a solid example that shows improvement in some of the areas draft analysts noted for Bradford, while also providing great clarity into what can still be improved.
Bradford works his way into position to make the block, is balanced well enough to be able to make the block and then attempts to deliver the one-hand punch with his left hand to stop the rusher, but that is where the improvement has capped and developmental potential still exists.
Bradford doesn’t miss, as it’s possible to see the head of the blitzing defensive back pop back as the punch lands at the nine second mark of the clip. However, the defensive back swipes the block attempt away and tucks under Bradford’s left arm to slide past him and into the pocket.
Bradford doesn’t recognize the swipe quickly enough to counter back with a right hand that controls the rusher or at a minimum redirects them. And this is where the opportunity for continued improvement lays. Is Bradford able to continue to improve on these finer areas of his game. Will repetition and experience allow him to execute these areas of pass protection at a higher level in 2026? Or will he plateau, with his performance having reached the limits of his abilities and skillset?
These are the questions both fans and the Seahawks themselves will be looking to have answered on the field in 2026. Thus, no matter how much fans may debate the merits of Bradford versus someone else at right guard, nothing will be known until fans get the chance to see whether another offseason of work has helped improve the parts of his game where there are opportunities for improvement.
