The Seattle Seahawks addressed their requirement for reinforcement along the interior offensive line by selecting UConn guard Christian Haynes in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday night, with the No. 81 overall pick.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 317 pounds, Haynes has earned recognition as a third-team Associated Press All-American for the past two seasons. He has demonstrated remarkable durability, starting in all 49 games at right guard for UConn across the 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. The absence of play in 2020 was due to COVID-19 concerns.
According to Pro Football Focus, Haynes allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits in 786 pass-blocking snaps over the last two seasons.
At 24 years old and hailing from Bowie, Maryland, Haynes is expected to vie for starting time at the guard position alongside nine-year veteran Laken Tomlinson and second-year player Anthony Bradford.
Tomlinson recently inked a one-year, $4 million deal with Seattle, boasting 138 starts across three teams over the past nine seasons, predominantly at left guard. Damien Lewis, the Seahawks’ starting left guard last season, departed for the Carolina Panthers in March.
Bradford, a fourth-round pick in 2023, started 10 games at right guard last season, stepping in for the injured season-opening starter Phil Haynes, who remains unsigned.
The Seahawks’ current guard roster includes former Los Angeles Rams backup Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and second-year player McClendon Curtis. Anchrum signed a one-year, $1.155 million deal in March, and started one game in his three seasons with the Rams, while Curtis was an undrafted rookie who appeared in one game for the Seahawks last year.
Haynes was the Seahawks’ second pick in the draft, following their selection of Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II in the first round at No. 16 overall. Seattle traded away their second-round pick to the New York Giants last October in exchange for defensive end Leonard Williams.
Unless there’s a trade up, Haynes is anticipated to be Seattle’s sole pick on Day 2 of the draft, with the team possessing five picks on the final day of the draft on Saturday.
