The Seahawks suffered a setback in free agency as four-year starting guard Damien Lewis departed, securing a lucrative deal with the Panthers. Additionally, Seattle has yet to re-sign their primary right guard from the 2023 season, Phil Haynes. This indicates that there is some work to be done in the guard position for Mike Macdonald’s team.
It is anticipated that the Seahawks will soon make an addition at guard. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Seahawks have shown interest in Tomlinson and have also discussed the possibility of bringing in Cody Whitehair for a visit.
Although former Rams offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum signed with the Seahawks last month, Macdonald emphasized that the team is still active in their search for guards, as reported by ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Both Tomlinson and Whitehair bring considerable experience, although neither had a particularly outstanding season recently. Whitehair was benched by the Bears, while Tomlinson struggled to replicate his form with the 49ers during his time with the Jets. The Jets released him before the start of free agency.
One notable aspect of Tomlinson’s profile is his durability; he has missed just one start over the past six seasons. Despite his recent performance, Tomlinson previously provided stability at guard for the 49ers over five seasons, earning a contract extension in San Francisco. In 2022, his performance led to a lucrative three-year, $40 million deal with the Jets.
Whitehair, who spent eight seasons with the Bears, has extensive experience playing both guard and center. Although Chicago’s attempt to transition him back to center did not go as planned, Whitehair still saw significant playing time at left guard last season due to injuries. Overall, the former second-round pick in the 2016 draft has made 118 starts, while Tomlinson, a former first-round pick by the Lions, concluded the 2023 season with 138 starts under his belt.
