Seahawks Trade Into Fifth Round, Land Iowa Guard Beau Stephens

The Seahawks weren't done on draft day. After entering the final day with just five total picks, Seattle pulled off a trade with Cleveland, shipping a 2027 fourth-rounder to move up and grab pick 148 in the fifth round. That pick became guard Beau Stephens out of Iowa, and suddenly Seattle's draft class got a lot deeper up front.

Who Is Beau Stephens?

Stephens is listed at 6-foot-5-1/2 and 315 pounds, and he was a workhorse for the Hawkeyes last season, logging all 620 snaps at left guard. But he's got range: he started 10 games at right guard back in 2022, which could make him a natural fit to compete with returnee Anthony Bradford at that spot. Bradford is also entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026, so there's some real competition brewing on Seattle's offensive line.

The dude earned All-American honors from AP, USA Today, and Pro Football Focus. Even better, he was part of an Iowa offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the most outstanding offensive line in college football in 2025. That's the kind of pedigree the Seahawks are looking for in their rebuild.

Already Connected to Seattle

Here's the cool part: Stephens is tight with Mason Richman, the guard/tackle Seattle drafted in the seventh round last year. They're good friends, and Richman is going to be in Stephens' wedding on July 4 to his fiancée, Emily. "Having another guy there from Iowa to show me the ropes right away is going to be awesome," Stephens said on a call with Seattle media. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

The Seahawks showed serious interest before the draft too. Stephens took a 30 visit to the VMAC and had solid conversations with offensive line coach John Benton. He feels like a "good fit" in Seattle's scheme, especially with the emphasis on an outside zone running attack. "I'm going to be a mauler in the run game and a technician in the pass game," Stephens said. "I'm not one to shy away from contact, for sure."

What the Tape Shows

Pro Football Focus graded his 2025 season at 91.6 in pass protection, and he did not allow a sack or a hit while surrendering just four hurries across 304 pass-blocking snaps. He's flexible too, comfortable at either right or left guard. "Overall it's not too much of a difference because I've been able to play at both and rip at both," he said.

Seattle still has picks 188 and 216 coming in the sixth round. This trade also sets up the future: the Seahawks are projected to land 11 picks in 2027, including four compensatory selections along with their seven original picks and a seventh-rounder from Atlanta they got last year for O-lineman Michael Jerrell.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.