The Seahawks added more toughness and depth to their offensive line on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Utah tackle Sataoa Laumea with the 179th pick, their first of three sixth-round selections.
"It's a great feeling," Laumea said. "It's a great opportunity, I know a lot about their program. I met some great people from interviews and stuff. I know they just picked up a really great O-line coach. It means a lot to me. It's an opportunity to prove to everybody who didn't draft me wrong, and prove you guys right. So, I'm excited."
Laumea, a four-year starter who stared 44 straight games, brings versatility to the line, having started at right guard for two seasons before moving to right tackle for the past two seasons. He earned All-Pac-12 honors each of the past two years, twice being named second-team, while earning first-team honors once and being named honorable mention all-conference once.
And wherever he's playing on the line, Laumea plans to be physical.
"I would say moving a person from point A to point B is the most fun," he said. "That's what I mean by physicality. We've got to move grown men, and they're not going to let us, so I feel like I don't care, and I'm willing to do my job. I want to do my job. I want to finish. I need to be better at being more consistent with that, but that's what I want to show in Seattle. I would say I am pretty physical in that way, trying to move people off the ball, and trying to finish them."
"I just want to play good football, that's what it is. I want other people to watch, when they watch film, (I want them to say) 'Damn that's some good O-line play right there.' That's what I want to do, I just want to be great. To be great, I have to be nasty sometimes, that's where that drive comes from."
In addition to a drive to be great, Laumea also has a competitive streak that dates back to childhood when he was the eighth of 10 children.
"I'm number eight, the youngest boy," he said. "I didn't get dibs on a lot of stuff."
"Four-year starter with extensive experience at both right guard and right tackle. Laumea is a very competent drive blocker and possesses adequate agility and athleticism to get to lateral landmarks on the move.
He can get from block to block as a climber and is generally conscientious of his footwork to bolster his success on positional blocks. His habit of over-setting and opening inside tracks to the pocket is a concern, whether he's at tackle or guard. One issue that might not be correctable is his propensity for disengaging from blocks after initial contact rather than sustaining. Laumea fits all run schemes and has future starting potential at guard."
This is a developing story. Check back soon for additional news and analysis.
The Seahawks selected Utah tackle Sataoa Laumea with the 179th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the best photos of the 6th rounder from his college playing days.
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (78) sets up to block in front of Florida defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp (94) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin (87) and Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (78) line up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Utah Utes Football vs. Oregon at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics
Utah Utes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on Monday, January 2, 2023. Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Utah Utes vs. Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, November 04, 2023. Keller Nienau/Utah Athletics
Utah tight end Logan Kendall (32) and Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (78) speak during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Utah players, including tight end Dallen Bentley (88), offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (78) and offensive lineman Michael Mokofisi (52) huddle during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea (78) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
National offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea of Utah (73) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Doug Benc/AP Images for the NFL)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea participates in the bench press at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
