Seahawks selected Utah OT Sataoa Laumea with the No. 179 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Laumea (6'4/319) was a four-star prospect and the 17th-ranked Offensive Guard in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. The four-time all-conference honoree is a shade undersized when compared to traditional NFL offensive tackles, but he has a proven track record in the Pac-12 against some notable Edge rushers. We have come to expect rugged run blockers with capable stability in the pass game from former Ute blockers, and Laumea is no exception. What he lacks in height and reach, Laumea makes up for in movement ability and nastiness when engaged with a defender. Whether it’s moving forward or on a vertical set, the four-time All-Pac-12 lineman is able to quickly gain ground and reestablish himself in a stance. Laumea works quickly between reads to ascertain his specific assignment on each play, so long as his timing isn’t disrupted. In the run game, Laumea needs to ensure his hand engagement lands lower on the chest plate, as he can get caught too high on the shoulder pads despite his smaller stature. At the next level, Laumea offers positional flexibility, coming into the league with 18 starts at Guard and 26 at right tackle. His thicker lower body may point to a future on the interior, but the ease by which he can set vertically suggests he could stick on the outside with additional NFL coaching.
