Seahawks Shift Grey Zabel to Right Guard
Seattle moves its first-round pick back to right guard after adding six-time All-Pro Quenton Nelson.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
The Seattle Seahawks moved first-round pick Grey Zabel from left guard to right guard after adding six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson. Zabel has not played right guard in the NFL, though he last started there at North Dakota State in 2020.
Why it matters
The move reshapes Seattle's interior offensive line and shows how the team is adapting its blocking unit around a newly signed veteran. For Seahawks fans, it signals how the front office plans to deploy its high draft investment.
Zabel's career-worst pass-blocking grade of 13.2 came in a game where he allowed three pressures and one sack to Jeffery Simmons, per Pro Football Focus. How he handles right guard after a long stretch at left guard remains untested in NFL games.
The players
Grey Zabel
Zabel is a first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks who previously played left guard, left tackle, and right guard in college.
Quenton Nelson
Nelson is a six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl guard whom the Seahawks added to strengthen their interior offensive line.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are an NFL franchise based in Seattle that drafted Zabel in 2025 and signed Nelson to rebuild its guard position.
Ray Roberts
Roberts is an analyst who said Zabel's prior right guard experience should make the switch easier for him.
The details
Zabel had spent about a year and a half at left guard before the switch, and he had roughly one week to adjust to right guard. He spoke about the position change Thursday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, and Seahawks analyst Ray Roberts said the move should be easier because Zabel has played right guard before.
Timeline
2020: Zabel last played right guard, starting three games at North Dakota State.
2025: Seattle drafted Zabel in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Thursday: Zabel addressed the position change at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Season Trajectory
Zabel's return to right guard echoes his 2020 starts at North Dakota State, when he filled the same spot before moving on to other line positions. The Seahawks are using that earlier versatility to build an interior line around Quenton Nelson's presence.
Fantasy managers tracking Seattle's interior line should note that Zabel's role change could shift how the unit performs in pass protection. Those rostering Seattle offensive linemen will want to watch his snap assignments once the regular season begins.
The takeaway
Position changes on the offensive line often hinge on prior experience, and Zabel's time at right guard gives Seattle a fallback if the switch proves smooth. Readers should watch how quickly he adjusts once games count.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Football coverage across Seattle.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
