Honestly, if you blinked during the final hour of the 2025 NFL Draft, you probably missed the Seattle Seahawks snagging one of the most durable players in Big Ten history. Mason Richman isn't a name that was flashing across the bottom-of-the-screen tickers on Thursday or Friday night. He didn't have the flashy "five-star" hype or the viral pancake blocks that make social media scouts go crazy.
But he has 52 career starts.
Think about that for a second. In the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa—a program basically known as an "NFL Offensive Line Factory"—Mason Richman started more games than any other lineman. More than Tristan Wirfs. More than Tyler Linderbaum. He was the definition of "set it and forget it" for the Hawkeyes. Yet, when the Mason Richman NFL draft process finally concluded, he was sitting there at pick No. 234 in the seventh round.
It feels like a massive oversight, doesn't it? Or maybe it's just the classic "Iowa tax" where a struggling offense masks the individual talent of the guys up front.
The Transition from Tackle to Guard
One of the big talking points during the draft cycle was where Richman would actually play on Sundays. At Iowa, he was the blindside protector, a 6-foot-5, 307-pound left tackle who never missed a beat. But scouts are a picky bunch. They looked at his 32-and-1/8-inch arms and immediately started scribbling "move to guard" in their notebooks.
In the NFL, those "short" arms are a death sentence for most tackles. You get those speed rushers in the league who can get their hands on your chest before you even touch them, and it's game over. Richman knew this. He wasn't even defensive about it. During his final year at Iowa, when the whole Kadyn Proctor transfer drama went down (where a five-star tackle from Alabama briefly joined Iowa before sprinting back to Tuscaloosa), Richman was basically like, "Cool, I'll move to guard if it helps the team."
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That attitude is exactly why John Schneider and the Seahawks pulled the trigger. Seattle didn't just see a backup tackle; they saw a versatile interior piece who could potentially start at guard or even center in a pinch. He’s already been listed as a guard on some of their official rosters despite playing tackle his entire life.
Behind the Numbers: A Workhorse Identity
Let’s get into the weeds of why Richman’s draft stock was such a rollercoaster. On paper, his Pro Day numbers were... fine.
- 40-Yard Dash: 5.34 seconds (Nothing to write home about).
- Vertical Jump: 28 inches.
- Bench Press: 21 reps.
- Broad Jump: 9-foot-2.
He isn't a freak athlete like some of the guys going in the first round. He’s a technician. You don't start 43 consecutive games to close out a career by being lucky. You do it by knowing exactly where your feet need to be.
Scouts from teams like the Packers and Ravens (who love these high-floor, high-IQ Iowa types) were reportedly sniffing around him late. The Seahawks eventually jumped the gun because they needed bodies on the interior. Seattle’s offensive line has been a bit of a revolving door lately, and bringing in a guy who helped Iowa rush for 200-plus yards in eight games last season is a smart "value play."
Why He Slipped to the Seventh Round
If he’s so reliable, why the wait? Honestly, it’s the lack of "elite" traits. In the modern NFL draft, teams are obsessed with "ceiling." They want the guy who might be an All-Pro if he learns how to block, rather than the guy who is already a solid B-minus player.
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Richman was an All-Big Ten honorable mention for four straight years. That tells you he was consistently good, but never the best player on the field. He’s "steady but not spectacular," as some analysts put it. For a seventh-round pick, though, "steady" is exactly what you want. Most seventh-rounders are out of the league in two years; Richman feels like a guy who will be a primary backup or a low-end starter for the next decade.
The "Proctor Saga" and Leadership
There was a moment in 2024 that really defined Richman for NFL evaluators. When Kadyn Proctor arrived, Richman could have complained. He was a multi-year starter and a leader on the Player Council. Instead, he embraced the competition.
That mental toughness is a huge part of the Mason Richman NFL draft story. Seattle is a team that values "gritty" players—guys who survived the Iowa winter and the intense scrutiny of a Ferentz-led practice. They didn't just draft a player; they drafted a guy who was the "Hayden Fry Award" winner for his heart and hustle.
What the Scouts Got Right (and Wrong)
Scouts were right about the physical limitations. He’s not going to out-muscle a 340-pound nose tackle on pure strength. However, they might have underestimated his "processing speed." Because he played so much football in a complex pro-style system, he identifies stunts and blitzes faster than most rookies.
He’s basically a coach on the field. That’s why his 2025 cap hit of around $871,481 is such a bargain. If he develops into a starting-caliber guard, Seattle just saved themselves $10 million in free agency.
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What to Watch for in 2026
As we look toward the 2026 season, Richman is no longer a "prospect." He’s a pro. He spent most of his rookie year learning the nuances of playing on the inside. His growth in the weight room will be the deciding factor. If he can add another 10 pounds of "good weight" without losing his lateral quickness, he’ll be a factor in the Seahawks' starting rotation sooner rather than later.
If you're tracking his progress, keep an eye on his snap counts during the preseason. That’s where he’ll prove he belongs. He already has the pedigree; now he just needs the opportunity to prove that the 31 other teams made a mistake by letting him fall to pick 234.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Dynasty Managers
- Watch the Position Versatility: If Richman starts getting reps at Center during camp, his value triples. Versatile backup linemen are the reason teams win in December.
- Don't Overlook the Iowa Connection: History shows that Iowa linemen usually over-perform their draft slot. From Marshal Yanda to James Daniels, the track record is elite.
- Monitor the Seahawks Interior: With injuries being a constant in the NFL, Richman is likely one play away from the spotlight. He’s the "emergency" guy you want on your roster.
The Mason Richman NFL draft journey might have ended with a late-round call, but his professional story is just getting started. He’s the kind of player who makes a career out of being "just good enough" until he's suddenly indispensable.
To see how his transition to the interior is progressing, you should follow the Seahawks' official depth chart updates throughout the 2026 offseason to see if he's listed as the primary backup at Guard or Center.