Christian Haynes says he grew up a Seahawks fan, loves Geno Smith

Third-round pick Christian Haynes also grew up a Seattle fan despite being from the Maryland area.

Seahawks fans have been well represented by the team in the 2024 NFL draft in a literal sense. First-round pick Byron Murphy II grew up as a fan of the Legion of Boom despite living deep in Cowboys country. Third-round pick Christian Haynes also grew up a Seattle fan despite being from the Maryland area.

Being not too far from West Virginia, Haynes told reporters last night he’s also a big fan of Geno Smith’s game.

The first order of business for Haynes will be protecting Geno Smith, and he did an excellent job in that department during his time in college. Over the last two seasons at UConn, Haynes only allowed one sacks and two quarterback hits.

Last season Smith was under constant pressure, especially from the right side of the offensive line as the Seahawks struggled with starting right tackle Abe Lucas out with a knee injury for 11 games. Outside of Patrick Mahomes Smith avoided sacks as well as any NFL quarterback in 2023, but he still took 31 sacks, averaging just under two per game. Getting that number down will be critical if OC Ryan Grubb’s scheme is going to reach its peak this year.

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2024 NFL draft: Updated order of picks for Rounds 4-7

Every pick made in Round 2 and Round 3 of the 2024 NFL draft

Here’s a complete recap of every pick from the second and third rounds of the draft.

Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft saw a historic number of offensive player taken, including the first 14 overall picks in the draft. As expected, when Round 2 picked up tonight the opposite happened, with defensive prospects dominating the early picks.

When the Seahawks finally got their turn to pick at No. 81 overall, they did the responsible thing and picked the best guard available. That happened to be UConn’s Christian Haynes, who should be their right guard of the future. Let’s see how the other 31 teams made out tonight. Here’s a complete recap of every pick from the second and third rounds of the draft.

Twitter reacts to Seahawks picking Christian Haynes at 81

Watch: UConn highlights for new Seahawks G Christian Haynes

Watch: OT Christian Haynes highlights

The Seattle Seahawks decided to remain patient in the 2024 NFL draft, and stayed put at No. 81 overall. With their patience, they were rewarded by selecting Christian Haynes, a guard from the University of Connecticut.

UConn may be known for its basketball prowess, but that does not prevent them from sending quality players to the NFL.

Rebuilding an offensive line may not be flashy or exciting, but it is crucial. Especially when facing the defensive fronts of San Francisco and Los Angeles. With that being said, here are highlight reels of the newest Seattle Seahawk:

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Seahawks finally building up trenches w/ Haynes, Murphy

Every pick made in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

Complete updated order of picks for Day 2 of draft

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Analysis: Seahawks finally building up the trenches with Christian Haynes, Byron Murphy

Analysis: Seahawks finally building up the trenches with Christian Haynes, Byron Murphy

The Seattle Seahawks have only picked twice in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, but they are sending a message loud and clear:

They are finally committing to building up the trenches.

In the first round of the draft, the Seahawks selected interior defensive tackle Byron Murphy II of Texas at No. 16 overall. Instead of trading back to regain a second round pick, Seattle committed to finally addressing their terrible run defense. Seattle did not pick again until No. 81 overall, the middle of the third round. With it, they selected an interior offensive lineman in the form of Christian Haynes from UConn.

It cannot be ignored the Seahawks did not do anything to find their way back into the second round of this draft. In a way, perhaps we can view their second round pick as Leonard Williams, as that was the cost to trade for him from the New York Giants last year.

Still, the fact Seattle did not trade back into this round tells us something else: they are remaining patient. The Seahawks appear to be taking it slow, and not mortgaging the future. Slowly, methodically rebuilding from the interior of the trenches out.

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Seahawks pick UConn G Christian Haynes at No. 81 overall

Every pick made in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

Complete updated order of picks for Day 2 of draft

Twitter reacts to Seahawks picking Byron Murphy II

2024 NFL draft: Scouting report for new Seahawks G Christian Haynes

They finally checked the box with their pick in the third round of the draft.

There’s never a sexy time to pick a guard, but the Seahawks needed one about as badly as any team in the sport. They finally checked the box with their pick in the third round of the draft, selecting UConn’s Christian Haynes at No. 81 overall.

Haynes brings experience, consistency and solid athleticism. At the Scouting Combine, he checked in at 6-foot-3, 317 pounds with 33.5″ arms and 9″ hands. He ran a 5.03 forty-yard dash, posted a 33″ vertical and 25 bench press reps.

Here’s what Lance Zierlein had to say about his game at NFL.com:

“Haynes plays with football intelligence and sees every snap as a mandate to move opponents and finish blocks. His draft slotting could be affected by a lack of length and being limited to one position, but his determined playing style counters those factors. He’s not overly rangy but wipes out targets on pulling blocks and is capable in space, and in pass protection. The hand usage can get sloppy, allowing opponents to slip away from him, and he has a tendency to do too much grabbing.”

Haynes earned strong grades in both pass blocking (82.5) and run blocking (80.1) this past season. He should be starting at right guard for the Seahawks come Week 1, assuming he can beat out Anthony Bradford and any other challengers for that spot on the depth chart.

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Every pick made in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

Complete updated order of picks for Day 2 of draft

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Seahawks pick UConn G Christian Haynes at No. 81 overall

Seattle has selected UConn guard Christian Haynes at No. 81 overall.

After waiting nearly three and a half hours, the Seattle Seahawks have finally made their pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

According to Jordan Schultz, Seattle has selected UConn guard Christian Haynes at No. 81 overall.

Haynes (6-foot-2, 313 pounds) was arguably the top interior offensive lineman still on the board at the time.

In three seasons, Haynes played right guard for the Huskies at a consistently respectable level, earning solid grades of 72.0 in 2021, 83.9 in 2022 and 80.2 overall in 2023 from Pro Football Focus in his college career.

Haynes should project as the team’s Week 1 starter at right guard for this coming season. However, he may have to beat out 2023 fourth-round draft pick Anthony Bradford over the summer for it to be official.

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Every pick made in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

Complete updated order of picks for Day 2 of draft

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Colts NFL Draft grade: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas 52nd overall

The Colts got a real playmaker at wide receiver.

The Indianapolis Colts add some more talent around Anthony Richardson with an explosive talent and one of the steals of the draft in Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell with the 52nd overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Mitchell projects as a potential immediate impact player on the outside opposite of established veteran Michael Pittman Jr. should he beat out Alec Pierce for the number two job. Mitchell brings a new dimension of speed and length that this Colts offense has been lacking the past few season.

Explosive, long, and a super athlete, Mitchell was the best receiver in an explosive Texas Longhorn offense. Mitchell brings one of the best deep ball games in college to the next level and could be very productive early behind the big arm of Anthony Richardson.

Grade: A

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Raiders Draft Radar: Top guard fits by round

Guard has been and continues to be a major need for the Raiders. And while it may not be a position they address in the first round, they probably shouldn’t wait around for scraps as they need a prospect capable of being a day one starter at right …

Guard has been and continues to be a major need for the Raiders. And while it may not be a position they address in the first round, they probably shouldn’t wait around for scraps as they need a prospect capable of being a day one starter at right guard.

They recently signed former Bears guard Cody Whitehair, and while he adds experience and scheme familiarity, he isn’t considered the answer at the position. At least not to the extent they can call it a day and shift to addressing other positions.

So, let’s take a look at five guards who could be in play for the Raiders and where they might consider drafting them.





Zak Zinter

2024 NFL mock draft: Seahawks go best player available in 3-round projections

The Seahawks still have a lot of work to do if they’re going to catch up with the true contenders around the league.

The Seahawks still have a lot of work to do if they’re going to catch up with the true contenders around the league. Most of all, that will require a good haul of prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. If they can pull it off, that would make three-straight strong draft classes by Seattle for the first time since the formative Legion of Boom years in 2010-2012.

It’s easier said than done, but if the Seahawks can manage a true Best Player Available strategy in the draft, it would certainly help. Going into our latest mock, we aimed to trade down a couple times to improve the quality of our picks, if not necessarily the quantity. Once on the clock we stuck to a strict best player available approach – drafting the highest-ranked player on the board regardless of position with two small exceptions: no running backs and no double-dipping at any one position.

In the end, we dramatically improved both the offensive and defensive line units with two good prospects coming in for each. Here’s the full 100-pick mock.

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Jets on hand to watch OL Christian Haynes at UConn pro day

New York Jets assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson was on hand at the UConn pro day, specifically to see guard Christian Haynes.

The college pro day circuit is well underway, and New York Jets assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson made the trip to UConn’s pro day to see interior offensive lineman Christian Haynes, according to Tony Pauline.

Haynes went through positional drills, which were led by Wilkerson. Pauline added that Haynes looked “terrific” and moved well with quick feet.

At the NFL combine last month, Haynes measured in at 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds. He put up impressive athletic testing numbers, posting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.10, which included a 5.03-second 40-yard dash and a vertical of 33 inches.

Haynes will enter the NFL as a very experienced college player with 3,319 career snaps, all but one of them coming at right guard. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Haynes allowed just one total sack and only 15 pressures, with just three coming in 2022.

Haynes ranked first among guards in PFF’s pass-blocking grade in 2022 and first in pass-blocking efficiency. This past season, he ranked 22nd in pass-blocking grade and 57th in pass-blocking efficiency.

In that same two-season span, Haynes was eighth and third, respectively, in run-blocking grade.

For a closer look at Haynes’ game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote in his pre-draft scouting report:

“Four-year starter and team captain who is sturdy at the point of attack. Haynes plays with football intelligence and sees every snap as a mandate to move opponents and finish blocks. His draft slotting could be affected by a lack of length and being limited to one position, but his determined playing style counters those factors.

“He’s not overly rangy but wipes out targets on pulling blocks and is capable in space, and in pass protection. The hand usage can get sloppy, allowing opponents to slip away from him, and he has a tendency to do too much grabbing. All things considered, he might outplay his draft slotting and become a solid NFL starter.”

The potential addition of Haynes would, at a minimum, build the Jets’ interior offensive line depth. The only true experienced interior options possibly coming off the bench this season are Wes Schweitzer and Connor McGovern.

If the Jets were to move Haynes to left guard, perhaps he could compete with John Simpson as soon as this summer on the left side, or at the very least, provide a long-term option inside with the Jets able to get out of Simpson’s contract after this season if needed.

Also on hand at the UConn pro day was Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, who spent time with Wilkerson as well, according to Pauline.

A recent mock draft from CBS Sports had the Jets taking Amegadjie in the third round with the 72nd overall pick.

Amegadjie’s 2023 season was cut short to just four games because of a quad injury that required surgery. Pauline noted that Amegadjie only did the bench press at the pro day, doing 21 reps with over 36-inch arms — good length for a tackle.

Amegadjie played almost 1,600 career snaps, including the last two seasons at left tackle. In 2022, he didn’t allow a sack and surrendered just five pressures. That same season, Amegadjie ranked fifth out of all FBS and FCS tackles in pass-blocking grade and pass-blocking efficiency. At the FCS level that same year, he was 73rd out of 176 tackles in run-blocking grade.

With Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses both on one-year deals with the Jets, Amegadjie could provide added depth in 2024 and potentially compete for playing time in 2025.