When you take a look at the Seahawks' offensive line, you'll notice that each player is relatively young.
The line is made up of rookie left guard Grey Zabel (23), fourth-year left tackle Charles Cross (24), second-year center Jalen Sundell (25), fourth-year right tackle Abraham Lucas (26) and third-year right guard Anthony Bradford (24).
The youngest of the group is Zabel and despite feeling pressure as a rookie heading into the first game, Zabel is starting to find his footing on Seattle's offensive line.
"I'd just say Grey is steady, which is what we need," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "We need a tough steadying force inside of our offensive line."
Zabel said he has to "give credit," to his teammate around him.
"Charles Cross is doing a remarkable job, bringing me in, getting me up to speed," he said. "Playing next to him is so fun. He's such a great player, such a great person. I think we're enjoying it. And then obviously a guy like Jalen, I've been playing next to him since freshman year of college, so just having that cohesiveness right there is super nice."
Macdonald added, "I think his chemistry with Charles and Jalen and Olu [Oluwatimi] is really cool. That's what we need on our offensive line."
While Cross and Sundell's guidance have been valuable for Zabel, the force behind the scenes of the Seahawks entire offensive line is John Benton, whose 33 years of coaching experience prove to be more than beneficial for Zabel.
Zabel said Benton's extensive coaching history, "just goes to show he's an unbelievable coach. I love Coach Benton. Just the ability to understand what I'm thinking or what questions I have before I even have them just goes to show his experience, the type of coach he is, and then how easy it is to play your hardest for him. He wants the best for me. You want to do your best for him. And I think I couldn't have asked for a better coach this rookie season and hopefully I can continue to work with him down the road."
Part of Macdonald's philosophy when it comes to rookies is that when it comes time to play, they're not allowed to be rookies anymore.
"When you step out there [on the field], you're not allowed to be a rookie anymore," he said towards the end of training camp. "Our rookie class has been phenomenal. We've talked about it at length in the offseason about their approach, and they stayed the same way, and just have great habits. So, they have very non-rookie habits right now, so we don't see them in that way. There's going to be things that happen in games that they haven't seen before and there's going to be mistakes made at some point, but that's the style of how we play. We go, we get after it, we rip it, we fix it, and we move on. But they've done a great job so far."
Zabel got rid of his rookie mindset very early.
"At the end of the day, you can't be a rookie in this league because you get that pass for the first play of the season, then the rest of the time you got to be a left guard that protects your QB."
Taking that non-rookie mindset and running with it are the highest words Macdonald has for Zabel.
"[It] doesn't feel like he's a rookie," Macdonald said. "I guess is probably my biggest compliment I can give him."
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center as they get ready to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) and cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle J.R. Singleton (70) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde at practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
