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Seattle Seahawks 2025 NFL Season Preview

[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine.Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

Head coach Mike Macdonald’s first year at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks had its ups and downs. Although they finished at 10-7, they became the first team since the 2020 Miami Dolphins to miss the playoffs after reaching double-digit wins, which caused a lot of frustration among the fan base, especially after a 3-6 home record, and resulted in some major changes in personnel.

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Offense

“Facelift” may be a bit of an understatement when describing the Seahawks’ new offense. Quarterback Geno Smith, wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are out, with Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Clint Kubiak, respectively, set to take their places.

Kenneth Walker III

The identity of the offense should remain the same, with running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet as the focal points after the pair received a combined 376 touches in 2024. But with Darnold receiving a hefty $110.5 million contract to take over for Smith, he’s going to need to prove that he can be successful outside of Kevin O’Connell’s system in Minnesota.

Darnold has a nice pair of security blankets in Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. General manager John Schneider snagged Kupp from the Seahawks’ division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, and signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal. If healthy, he should be an effective complement to Smith-Njigba, the third-year product of Ohio State who exceeded 1,100 receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl last season.

However, staying healthy has proven to be a challenge for Kupp, the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year. Since 2022, Kupp has missed 18 games, and in a room that has little proven depth behind Smith-Njigba, free-agent signee Marquez Valdes-Scantling and former undrafted free agent Jake Bobo, Kupp’s health will be critical to Seattle’s offensive success. Keep an eye on fifth-round pick Tory Horton, who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process and was very productive at Colorado State in his final season. He could rise up the depth chart quickly.

Kubiak is going to need a bounce-back season from the offensive line, which was one of the league’s worst units in 2024, allowing 54 sacks, tied for the third-most in the NFL. Right tackle Abraham Lucas has missed 21 games in the past two seasons after a strong start to his career in 2022, and the Seahawks haven’t been able to find much depth behind him. Selecting interior offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the first round out of North Dakota State was a solid move to begin shoring up the unit, which is also hoping for a boost from UConn product Christian Haynes, a third-round pick in 2024.

“I like how he finishes the blocks, then finding his targets down the field in space,” Macdonald said of Zabel after he was selected. “He’s a really great athlete, how he moves. It’s easy to overlook pass protection when you talk wide zone all the time. You can argue that’s really where it starts in the evaluation process. Hard to find a rep that he had a hard time winning down [at the Senior Bowl] in Mobile. He took a lot of them.”

Defense

Anchored by a strong defensive line and one of the best cornerbacks in the league, the Seahawks should be relatively steady on that side of the ball thanks to Macdonald’s scheme.

Up front, last year’s first-rounder Byron Murphy II looked the part of a game-wrecking defensive tackle, even while dealing with an injury that sidelined him for three games. Although he tallied just half a sack and two tackles for a loss, Murphy was consistently in the backfield and required plenty of attention from opposing offensive lines, leading to a very productive season for Leonard Williams.

Dec 1, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates his fumble return for a touchdown during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Leonard Williams

(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

In his first full season with the Seahawks, Williams came up just short of his career-high with 11 sacks as he made his second Pro Bowl appearance after signing a three-year, $64.5 million deal to stay in Seattle. Schneider also gave the unit a big boost in free agency, bringing in former Cowboys pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who didn’t mince words after spending 11 years in Dallas.

“A change of scenery is always good, but, you know, Dallas is my home,” Lawrence said after he signed. “I made my home there. My family lives there. I’m forever gonna be there, but I know for sure I’m not gonna win a Super Bowl there. We here.”

In the secondary, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who earned his second Pro Bowl nod in as many seasons in the league in 2024, has quickly developed a reputation as a shutdown corner. The 2022 top-five pick out of Illinois has broken up 25 passes in his career; in doing so, he presents a lot of opportunities for his running mate, Riq Woolen. Woolen, the former fifth-round pick out of UTSA, pulled in three interceptions and was credited with 14 pass breakups last season, and as he heads into a contract year, he will be looking to produce at a high level. With safeties Julian Love and second-round pick Nick Emmanwori patrolling the back end, Woolen will have plenty of wiggle room to show that he’s not afraid to be aggressive and make a play on the ball.

Linebacker play is critical to Macdonald’s scheme, and after trading for inside ’backer Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans, Schneider made the right move signing Jones to a three-year, $28.5 million deal. In just 10 games with the Seahawks, Jones racked up 94 tackles and an interception as Seattle finished the year ranked No. 14 in total defense.

Specialists

The Seahawks have boasted some of the most consistent special teams play in the NFL in recent seasons. Placekicker Jason Myers is entering his seventh year with the team after converting on 86.7% of his field-goal attempts last season. Punter Michael Dickson is entering his eighth year with the team after averaging 49.4 yards per punt in 2024.

Final analysis

The NFC West wasn’t nearly as tough in 2024 as it had been in previous seasons, and heading into this season, the Seahawks have a great opportunity to take advantage of the division. They should have their sights set on the playoffs, and if they improve on their record at Lumen Field, they could very well end up as the division champions if they can overcome the growing pains of so many new faces in critical places.