Seahawks draft Alabama TE Ouzts, convert to fullback

The Seattle Seahawks are shifting their offensive approach under new coordinator Klint Kubiak by emphasizing the use of a fullback, a role previously de-emphasized in their offense. To facilitate this, they've drafted Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts in the fifth round of the NFL Draft and immediately listed him as a fullback, highlighting his strong blocking abilities from college. At the same time, existing tight end Brady Russell is being converted to fullback, giving the team two potential options at the position. Ouzts is praised for his physicality and blocking technique, while Russell brings special teams experience and pass-catching potential, although he's yet to record a regular-season catch. This increased focus on the fullback position is expected to boost Seattle’s running game, providing better blocking for running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, and possibly easing the transition for new quarterback Sam Darnold. The move reflects Kubiak's previous offensive schemes, which utilized multiple backs more frequently than the Seahawks did last season.