The problem with becoming a “legend” on social media is that it’s tough to shake. Seattle Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford is surely aware of this particular phenomenon. Seattle selected Bradford in the
fourth round of the 2023 draft out of LSU, and in 2025, his snaps jumped from 578 in 2024 to 1,037 in 2025/26.
Suffice to say, it has not always gone well. Bradford has allowed four sacks, six quarterback hits, and 25 quarterback hurries this season so far, and there are times when the tape is even less impressive than the metrics would indicate. Seahawks fans and others have not been shy when pointing out Bradford’s various inconsistencies.
While there are times when Bradford looks like Tom Cable’s ideal pass-blocker (no, that is not a compliment), there is no time to wonder how he will do against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Bradford will have his work cut out for him to an extreme degree, because what the Pats do with their interior defensive linemen is some disturbingly sick stuff. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are the starters, while Cory Durden and Khyiris Tonga provide outstanding rotational support.
Durden in particular has been a royal pain in the ass in the postseason, with 13 total pressures in just 53 pass-rushing snaps. And Williams is an absolute dog when it comes to generating pressure from the get-go — this season, he has three solo sacks and 22 total pressures on quarterback drops of 0-3 steps, and that’s just amplified itself in the playoffs.
Barmore, by the way, has three solo sacks and 27 total pressures on those quick drops this season, so you are picking your poison with these guys.
For the most part, the Seahawks have the personnel to deal with interior pressure. Left guard Grey Zabel is a rookie with the smarts of a 10-year veteran, and center Jalen Sundell has the strength and leverage to deal with bigger guys for the most part.
Which leaves Bradford as New England’s potential Huckleberry. Setting the highlight plays aside, the play-to-play tape shows more weaknesses than anybody in the Emerald City would want.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has been defending Bradford all season, because Bradford is the best option he has in his mind, and because that’s part of his job. Few players play at a higher level if their coaches are bashing them publicly when asked.
“Well, I think we just got to keep doubling down on our fundamentals and the things that A.B.’s doing some good things,” Macdonald said in early December. “He really is. I mean, there’s some really good plays on there and there’s some not-so-good plays, and I think some of those plays that that show up are kind of like quick losses, and we can finish those plays better. So let’s keep doubling down on the fundamentals.
“A.B.’s been winning the right guard job when he’s been in there, and so I can go through the whole roster. Everybody’s under scrutiny, and is there in a competition there? Shoot, I’m competing to be the head coach every day. Sometimes when we fall short, there’s going to be some competitions that open based on guys’ performance, and we’re always going to be thinking through that lens.”
Christian Haynes, the 2024 third-rounder from Connecticut, has just 38 snaps this season (17 at right guard), because he’s been dealing with a pectoral injury since the preseason. Haynes got some reps against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 and against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round when both games were out of hand in the Seahawks’ favor, so maybe there is a nuclear option if Bradford comes out and really struggles against New England’s interior monsters. Haynes and Bradford are somewhat similar players in that there are times when they steamroll, and there are other times where they’re steamrolled.
That’s life for most young offensive lineman. Not everyone can be Grey Zabel.
I would say that Haynes is slightly better at diagnosing and dealing with stunts and games, and the Patriots will test Seattle’s acumen with those, but we’re not exactly dealing with a teeming sample size, either.
The Patriots don’t have a ton of personnel advantages in Super Bowl LX, which is more a reflection of how good the Seahawks are than any shortfalls by the current New England administration. But this is one, and it could affect a lot if it’s not addressed.
Seattle’s coaching staff tends to be hyper-aware of everything, so we’ll see how things set up at right guard as the next week or so goes along.
