Seattle Seahawks: Grading every pick in 2020 NFL Draft

Round 3, Pick 69: Damien Lewis, G, LSU

Seattle spent a good part of the offseason acquiring a mix of aging and failing offensive linemen. The team brought back guards Mike Iupati and Jordan Simmons, added tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Brandon Shell, signed former first-round pick Chance Warmack and acquired center B.J. Finney. Right now, Seattle’s roster features somewhere between eight to ten guards and almost 20 offensive linemen.

The Damien Lewis selection also comes a year after Seattle picked Wake Forest’s Phil Haynes in the fourth round. Haynes missed most of his rookie season with injuries, but he’s a young guard patiently waiting for his opportunity along Seattle’s diverse offensive line.

So, the Seahawks using the 69th overall pick on a guard came as a surprise. True, the team needs offensive linemen, but it needs starting-caliber offensive linemen, not another rotational piece. However, Lewis fits well with Seattle’s run-heavy offense.

While the LSU product lacks mobility, he packs a punch. Only the best interior rushers in college football caused problems for him last year. However, Lewis’ lack of length and inability to pull for extended plays will limit him in the NFL. His footwork can also get sloppy when players engage him with a second burst.

Still, the Seahawks passed over better offensive linemen to take Lewis. LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry III, Ohio State’s Jonah Jackson, Houston’s Josh Jones and TCU’s Lucas Niang remained on the board when Seattle picked at 69th overall.

I gave the Haynes selection a year ago an A, so I can’t judge the Lewis selection too harshly. Overall, his basic profile is somewhat similar to Haynes’ in that Lewis is specialized for a run-heavy offense that doesn’t require too much extra movement upfront.

Final Grade: B