The Seattle Seahawks are riding high after a Super Bowl 60 victory and an offseason that checked all the right boxes. But even championship teams have their weak spots, and for Seattle, that lingering question mark is at right guard.
Last season, Anthony Bradford served as Sam Darnold's protector, but his performance was anything but consistent. Now, according to ESPN's Ben Solak, the team might have a contingency plan in fifth-round rookie Beau Stephens from Iowa. However, this isn't exactly a vote of confidence—it's more of a warning sign.
"But eventually they did make a move, with Iowa guard Beau Stephens in the fifth round," Solak notes. "That draft capital is insufficient for Stephens to immediately see first-team reps during training camp, so Bradford's job is likely safe for Week 1."
Translation? If Stephens sees significant playing time, it means things have gone seriously wrong. Relying on a fifth-round rookie to shore up the interior offensive line is a gamble no Super Bowl contender wants to take. Bradford isn't likely to lose his starting job out of the gate—unless he starts struggling, and struggling badly.
That's the real concern here. If Bradford's inconsistency resurfaces mid-season, Seattle could find itself with a gaping hole at right guard once again. And that position was already a glaring issue last year. In fact, if it weren't for the Seahawks' elite defense shutting down Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, that interior line weakness could have cost them everything.
For a team with championship aspirations in 2026, stability at guard is non-negotiable. Bradford's volatility means the Seahawks could drop a game or two due to his struggles alone. And while Stephens waits in the wings, his presence is less a solution and more a signal that the Seahawks' offensive line depth is thinner than they'd like.
Bottom line: Seattle's right guard situation is a storyline worth watching. If the rookie steps in, it's not a sign of promise—it's a red flag that the champs have a problem.