Grey Zabel might not have been the flashiest name on draft night, but he’s quickly proving to be one of the most NFL-ready rookies in the 2024 class-especially in the trenches. While some rookies need time to catch up to the speed and physicality of pro football, Zabel has essentially skipped the learning curve. The 18th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks came out of the gate ready to bang with seasoned pros and is already making his presence felt on the offensive line.

Let’s start with the pass protection. According to Patton Analytics, Zabel has allowed pressure on just 1% of his snaps this season-the lowest mark among all rookie interior offensive linemen.

That’s not a small feat. We’re talking about a first-year player locking down his side of the line like a veteran, giving his quarterback clean pockets and eliminating the kind of blown protections that often derail rookie campaigns.

That type of consistency, especially coming from a rookie guard, is rare.

Now, it’s worth noting that Pro Football Focus sees things a bit differently. Their grading metrics are a little less forgiving, tagging Zabel with eight pressures and three quarterback hits allowed-though, notably, no sacks.

Their tape has him graded at 54.1 in pass blocking, 55.7 in the run game, and 56.3 overall, ranking 46th among guards. But here’s the thing: the numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

Because when you flip on the film-or even just watch a few series-it becomes clear: Zabel is holding his ground, winning leverage battles, and showing poise beyond his years. And it’s not just pass pro where he’s making waves.

ESPN has him credited with an 85% run block win rate. That doesn’t just lead all rookie interior linemen-it leads all interior linemen, period.

Run blocking isn’t just about brute strength; it’s about timing, hand placement, and understanding defensive fronts. For Zabel to be winning at that high a clip, this early, is a nod to both his physical tools and his football IQ.

For Seattle, it’s a much-needed injection of stability in the trenches. The Seahawks’ offensive line has been a patchwork unit for what feels like a decade now, and while Zabel is flashing All-Pro potential, he can only be in one spot at a time. That’s part of the problem: this O-line still has leaks, and they weren’t all plugged this offseason.

The most glaring issue remains at the other guard spot, where Anthony Bradford continues to struggle. This marks year three of underwhelming performances from Bradford, who’s currently Seattle’s lowest-graded offensive lineman-and it’s not trending in the right direction. Week by week, he’s been a liability, and defenses are starting to target him.

It’s clear something needs to change. Adding a proven veteran could offer a short-term fix, but that doesn’t exactly line up with GM John Schneider’s build-through-the-draft philosophy. Given the way the Seahawks operate, a splash free-agent signing for the O-line doesn’t feel particularly likely.

So, Seahawks fans may need to buckle in until the 2026 draft for the cavalry to arrive. But in the meantime, they can feel confident that they’ve already struck gold with Grey Zabel. His early play suggests he’s more than just a draft-day success story-he might be one of the foundational pieces Seattle can build around for years to come.