Biggest surprise player 2025 Anthony Bradford

[FrodosFinger]

He showed up to mini camp trimmed down and athletic. Not sure about Haynes yet but with Zabel on the other side the interior could be nice

 

[King Dog]

 

[seabowl]

Until he isn’t

 

[Mistashoesta]

Bradford is currently the highest PFF graded offensive linemen not just on the Seahawks, but in the ENTIRE NFL (Preseason).

 

[Jville]

He had a couple of good efforts on both sides of his position.

Good Chemistry.

 

[jman316]

After the draft and trades, I realized that Schneider identified Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, and Lockett Grubb as the reasons for our OL's struggles and traded away those three.

Fixed it for ya.

I do have high hopes for on OL scheme that makes sense and the players can execute. Should be night and day from last year

 

[Sperrydogg]

I have been preaching the whole off-season that our OL will shine in 2025. ESPN Chimed in now with Bradford.

2025 NFL offseason: Biggest surprise players on each team

Some are fighting for starting spots while others are battling for key depth roles. Here's who have made an early impression.

www.espn.com

Have you though? Really?

 

[bileever]

I am on record saying that I would be surprised if Bradford improved after last year's disasterous performance. But after the Chiefs game, I have to say that I was shocked and amazed to see Bradford's play. Hard to believe, but it seems to be happening.

 

[NoGain]

^^^Don't do that to me. You know that disappointment is the child of hope and expectations.

 

[Natethegreat]

Have you though? Really?

No, he has been mocking JS for his approach all season.

 

[LeveeBreak]

We have the youngest OL in the NFL. If they crack too 10 this year, it could truly be elite in 2-3.

 

[Mistashoesta]

I for one was not expecting this type of transition from Bradford. I was so ready to move on from him after seeing this all last year..



Its still early though. To be fair, his problem never was really him getting blown up or being overmatched physically, it was just that he looked lost the majority of the time. If anything, his early success this preseason says more about the system and teachings of Kubiak and John Benton as opposed to the ineptitude of Scott Huff and Grubb.

 

[MagnificentSeven]

I for one was not expecting this type of transition from Bradford. I was so ready to move on from him after seeing this all last year..

View attachment 73298

Its still early though. To be fair, his problem never was really him getting blown up or being overmatched physically, it was just that he looked lost the majority of the time. If anything, his early success this preseason says more about the system and teachings of Kubiak and John Benton as opposed to the ineptitude of Scott Huff and Grubb.

I'm very happy for Bradford. I think the turning point for me was when I heard he had slimmed down and gotten in better shape prior to Training Camp. That's a young man who realizes he's on his third OC in three years, third O-line coach, and frankly, is at a cross-roads in his career. He probably saw how even above average guards can get paid big in Free Agency, and knows he has to produce now to cash in on that pay-day. Even if improves to an elite level of play, which would be a stretch, I don't see Schneider retaining him knowing Zabel has to get paid down the line, but if we can get two more quality years out of him as a starter, then I'd call that a 4th round pick well spent.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He's likely one of our stating Guards, pulling for him big time. I know the norm is to blast our own players at every chance and/or to call someone a bust almost immediately. No thanks. Coach Mike believes in him, and by all accounts, he looks like a completely different player. Including actual former NFL players who have played the position. Just sayin.

 

[Maelstrom787]

This sort of performance is why I've defended Schneider on his OL drafting. Every NFL team drafts talent on the line. The development once the prospects are in the league and the positions theyre put in by the scheme are what makes the majority of the difference.

This system is proven to work wonders for the development and performance of linemen.

Will Anthony Bradford lead the OL PFF grades league-wide in the regular season? 99.9% positively not. But he's in a tightly-coached scheme with clear assignments and he's being stewarded by premier developers of OL talent. That's the difference that it makes.

Schneider may have been right that IOL are overpaid and overdrafted. The problem is that they're undercoached!

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Very good points ^^^

 

[LeveeBreak]

This sort of performance is why I've defended Schneider on his OL drafting. Every NFL team drafts talent on the line. The development once the prospects are in the league and the positions theyre put in by the scheme are what makes the majority of the difference.

This system is proven to work wonders for the development and performance of linemen.

Will Anthony Bradford lead the OL PFF grades league-wide in the regular season? 99.9% positively not. But he's in a tightly-coached scheme with clear assignments and he's being stewarded by premier developers of OL talent. That's the difference that it makes.

Schneider may have been right that IOL are overpaid and overdrafted. The problem is that they're undercoached!

I've been a bit more balanced in thinking. I think JS's perspective that you don't need to invest in OG talent might have been oversimplified by some, when viewing the ashes of our dumpster fire OL the past several years. Still...there seemed to be some element of truth, and when coupled with the OL woes, it's magnified. He's invested draft capital on the OL...but I think he's modified his stance to put greater focus on both players and coaching. In reality, how could he not?

I was totally fine with not bringing in a stud OG FA this offseason, especially considering what minny had to pay. I figured if they drafted Zabel, then one of the OG's in the current stable would step in a be serviceable w/o having to break the bank. Many wanted JS's head for not doing so...hopefully crow will be on the menu in the future.

IMO, improved coaching was they key, then evaluate exactly where the talent level's existed. I was as hard on Bradford as anyone last season and was convinced he'd be replaced. TBH, Bradford's success is the best case scenario and I'm happy to eat loads of crow myself if it means we deploy a successful OL.

It's still to early to state that success, but the signs are looking favorable. Another positive is our early schedule. In the 1st 5 games, Pit is the only team with elite DL capabilities (Watt). SF is a banged up badly, NO is ranked near the bottom and AZ/Jags lower 1/3. The opening stretch provides a confidence boost before taking on some of the more elite DL's. Wishful thinking anyway.

 

[hox]

This sort of performance is why I've defended Schneider on his OL drafting. Every NFL team drafts talent on the line. The development once the prospects are in the league and the positions theyre put in by the scheme are what makes the majority of the difference.

This system is proven to work wonders for the development and performance of linemen.

Will Anthony Bradford lead the OL PFF grades league-wide in the regular season? 99.9% positively not. But he's in a tightly-coached scheme with clear assignments and he's being stewarded by premier developers of OL talent. That's the difference that it makes.

Schneider may have been right that IOL are overpaid and overdrafted. The problem is that they're undercoached!

Yes experienced coaching and scheme matters. This attacking Kubiak scheme makes it so much easier than the previous one where they were put on an island like sitting ducks, and in some cases looking/waiting for work like Bradford was in that screenshot above.

The counterpoint would be that Haynes has had the exact same time as Bradford under this scheme and coaching. Yet if all reports from camp are true, Haynes is struggling mightily. Coaching and scheme only goes so far (otherwise Saints offense post injuries wouldn't have missed a beat under the same coaches and scheme). Talent matters even more than coaching.

If I were GM, I would prioritize and draft o-line in rounds 1-3 because IMO they are just too important for a functional offense. Instead, John drafts Eskridge over Humphrey. That's indefensible.

Bradford in round 4, fine, I'm very happy he's making progress, but then you have to wait 3 years to get a reliable starter? Just give me a bonafide Day 1 starter in Zabel. Were it not for John "hearing us, feeling us" I'm wondering if he would have taken Emmanwori here instead, leaving us scrambling for more 2-3 year development types that may or may not work out.

 

[nanomoz]

It's kind of an indictment of previous offensive coaching. Bradford is a different player.

Also--some players take longer. And it can be worth it. Mark Glowinski's career in Indianapolis was kind of sobering after his play in Seattle.