Seattle Seahawks select Anthony Bradford in fourth round of 2023 NFL Draft
Protecting the quarterback is one of the most pivotal parts of the game, and the Seahawks just added a piece to their offensive line that will definitely help protect Geno Smith. The Seahawks have selected LSU offensive lineman Anthony Bradford with the No. 108 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a high school prospect, Bradford was a four-star recruit out of Muskegon high school in Michigan where he won three division-three state titles. He was ranked the No. 212 overall prospect and the No. 15 interior offensive lineman in the nation for the 2019 recruiting class according to On3’s Industry Rankings.
Bradford saw limited action in his first two seasons at LSU, appearing mostly on the Tiger’s field goal and point-after-touchdown protection units or as a reserve offensive lineman. He was still a part of the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team, but made his first career start in 2021.
He made five starts in 2021 and became a full-time starter for the Tigers in 2022. He only gave up four sacks in 2022, helping lead the way for an LSU offense that set a school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 39.
Bradford is a giant physical presence, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 332 pounds. He showed a high level of athleticism at the NFL Combine, which included running an impressive 5.08-second 40-yard dash and bench pressing 225 pounds for 34 reps (second most for a lineman at this year’s combine). But his most impressive attribute may be his versatility, as he’s made starts at three different positions on the offensive line throughout his LSU career.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Anthony Bradford
There’s no doubt that Bradford has the physical tools to be an elite offensive lineman in the NFL. His size and athleticism are what many teams covet on their offensive line, and NFL.com draft analyst Greg Zierlein compared him to former third-round draft pick Jamon Brown.
“Massive, scheme-specific guard prospect with plus power but obvious athletic limitations. Bradford has functional quickness as a pulling guard and can work from one block to the next with adequate timing. He can be effective as a single blocker but really shines on double teams, where he can help clear the pathway. His lack of lateral quickness and reactive athleticism can put him in a bind against one-gapping defensive tackles and sub-package rushers with short-area twitch. Bradford has the potential to become an eventual starter for gap and power teams,” Zierlein said.