Overview
2024 Record: 10-7
General Manager: John Schneider
Head Coach: Mike Macdonald
Starting Quarterback: Sam Darnold
Key Extensions:
EDGE Uchenna Nwosu (3 years, $45 million, $32 million guaranteed)
Key Additions:
QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, EDGE Demarcus Lawrence, iOL Grey Zabel, S Nick Emmanwori, QB Jalen Milroe, TE Elijah Arroyo
Key Departures:
QB Geno Smith, WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, TE Noah Fant, DL Dre’Mont Jones, DL Roy Robertson-Harris
Offense
Offensive Coordinator: Klint Kubiak
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 19th Success Rate: 16th PPG: 18th (22.1ppg)
Projected Starting Offense (11 personnel):
QB Sam Darnold
RB Kenneth Walker III
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
WR Cooper Kupp
WR Tory Horton
TE AJ Barner
LT Charles Cross
LG Grey Zabel
C Olu Oluwatimi
RG Christian Haynes
RT Abraham Lucas
Offense Notes:
If I had one word to describe the 2024 Seahawks offense, it would be ‘fun.’ Geno Smith routinely hitting the deep passes to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett is one of the highlights of NFL RedZone. JSN breaking out in his sophomore season was incredible as well. The short game and the run game struggled, but the overall passing offense almost propelled the Seahawks to a division crown in Macdonald’s first season as head coach.
All the stuff I said about the 2024 Seahawks offense can be thrown out of the window. Smith is gone, as are the two mainstay receivers in Metcalf and Lockett. In their places are Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, respectively. The Seahawks brass has replaced many key pieces and invested in a first-round guard, all hoping to inject youth into an offense that was aging (which is ironic considering the WR signings). Hopefully, this gambit of switching up many of the starters pays off in 2025.
Defense
Defensive Coordinator: Aden Durde
2024 Ranks:
EPA/play: 11th Success Rate: 16th PPG: 11th (21.6ppg allowed)
Projected Starting Defense (Base 3-4):
DE Leonard Williams
NT Byron Murphy II
DT Jarran Reed
OLB Demarcus Lawrence
OLB Boye Mafe
LB Tyrice Knight
LB Ernest Jones IV
CB Devon Witherspoon
CB Riq Woolen
S Julian Love
S Coby Bryant
Defense Notes:
While it wasn’t a staple Mike Macdonald defense we saw in Baltimore, the 2024 Seattle defense took strides following how poor they were in 2023. Hitting Top 10 marks in 3rd down, 4th down, and red zone defense were huge in the Seahawks stacking up wins late in the season.
Going into 2025, the Seahawks are banking on a lot of internal development from their younger players. We know how good Devon Witherspoon is, but getting more from Boye Mafe, who had his own breakout last season, and Byron Murphy II along the interior, will allow for this front to be even more dominant.
Outlook
Overall, Seattle is in an odd spot. They tied for the most wins in the division with the Rams last season, ultimately losing the tiebreaker. Naturally, you’d think the next step is winning the division, especially considering how much older the Rams quarterback is. However, this goal, and whether the Seahawks can achieve it, all depend on your perception of how much better, if at all, Sam Darnold is than Geno Smith.
Being someone who watched Darnold for years (Panthers fan, unfortunately), I know how well he can perform when in a good ecosystem. I also know that when things begin to break down, Darnold breaks down even worse. Do the Seahawks have good enough weapons, play-calling, and protection to sufficiently insulate Darnold?
Personally, I’m not sure that’s the case. I think Smith-Njigba is a star in the making, and I love the Zabel pick to help solidify a shaky offensive line, but I’m not sure it’s enough. Even with Kevin O’Connell at the helm and Justin Jefferson flanking him, Darnold broke down when it mattered. Hopefully, Darnold can go above and beyond what we’ve seen from him so far.
Expectation/Goal for 2025: Compete for NFC West, Wild Card
2025 Schedule
Primetime games are BOLDED, all times EDT/EST