I admit it. I’m antsy. Deprive me of Seattle Seahawks football for half a year, dangle a bit of backup-laden preseason ball in front of me, and then make me wait eight days for my next fix. That’s not playing fair, NFL.
I need something to argue about. More to the point, I need something to write about. And I have nothing more to say about the offensive line right now. These days, I start a new document and the first time I type the letter “r,” Word prepopulates “right guard” into my text.
I will have more to say about right guard and the rest of the line, but not until after we all see them perform against Kansas City.
So for now, I want to get down in print a few predictions for the Seahawks prior to the start of the 2025 season. These will cover individual awards.
Which players and coaches will shine for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025?
We’ll look at eight categories in all, beginning with…
Defensive Free Agent of the Year - DeMarcus Lawrence
We’ll start with the easiest one. John Schneider simply didn’t sign very many free agents on defense this offseason, even counting the players he re-signed. Maybe that’s because of the Tyrel Dodson/Jerome Baker fiasco from last year. But it's probably more due to the fact that Mike Macdonald made a lot more strides on defense than on offense in 2024.
Several defensive backs – like Shaq Griffin and D’Anthony Bell – could play major roles. So could re-signed linemen like Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins. But they are all backups or rotational players. DeMarcus Lawrence is not. He is a veteran edge who plays both the pass and run better than most in the league. He should be a valuable addition along the front seven and a big step up from Dre’Mont Jones.
Offensive Free Agent of the Year - Sam Darnold
I’m not going to overthink this. If Sam Darnold plays at just 75 percent of what he did last year in Minnesota last year, he wins this award running away. If he plays even better, Seattle becomes a serious playoff contender. The problem is, no one knows right now just how he will play, and if it’s bad, it’s trouble.
I don’t think the two new presumptive starting receivers will have a major impact. I actually think the player most likely to displace Darnold here is Josh Jones, but only if Abe Lucas or Charles Cross has to miss an extended period. And I am not entertaining that thought right now.
Defensive Rookie of the Year - Nick Emmanwori
As with free agents, Schneider didn’t exactly stock up on defensive rookies. Only two of his eleven draft picks were on defense. He grabbed a couple of front-seven UDFAs who have a good shot at cracking the roster in Connor O’Toole and Jared Ivey.
But there’s only one star-in-the-making. I think by the end of the year Nick Emmanwori will be in the conversation for DROY for the entire league. Word of caution – I thought the same thing about Byron Murphy II last year and that didn’t exactly work out. But Macdonald traded up to get Emmanwori and I suspect he knows how to best employ the physically gifted defensive back.
Offensive Rookie of the Year - Tory Horton
I am sorely tempted to choose Robbie Ouzts here, because if he shines, it means Seattle will have truly re-established the run as a vital part of its identity. But there are several more likely choices. Obviously, Grey Zabel will be crucial, and Elijah Arroyo could step into a major role. Rookie tight ends have been doing that at an alarming rate in recent years.
READ MORE: Seahawks only needed one preseason to run out of excuses for Kenneth Walker
But I think Tory Horton has the best chance to make a splash. I thought he looked great against Las Vegas, both physically and mentally. He should become an important part of Seattle's passing attack in short order, and may have extra value as a punt returner.
Defensive Player of the Year - Devon Witherspoon
Leonard Williams has been Seattle’s best defender for a while now. Ernest Jones IV was the most important defender last year. Julian Love is on the verge of stardom.
But I’m banking on this being the season that Devon Witherspoon hits on all cylinders. Spoon has been a quality player thus far, but he has yet to break out. Now that Mike Macdonald knows exactly what his young star can do, and now that he has assembled a first-rate secondary to surround him, Spoon will be free to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. I’m thinking All Pro.
Offensive Player of the Year - Charles Cross
It would be nice if this were Sam Darnold. I’m just not confident enough to choose him. And since I’m not confident enough to choose the QB, I’m also not confident enough to choose his top receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
So I’ll go with the best player Seattle has had on offense since he arrived. Charles Cross is the anchor on which a revived offensive line is being built. If the line performs well, a lot of credit will have to go to Grey Zabel. But Cross plays a more vital position, and we already know that he will show up at left tackle week in and week out.
Coach of the Year - Klint Kubiak (but wait...)
This may end up being offensive line coach John Benton. He arrives with more than 20 years of NFL coaching experience, which is a major change from last season. Or it could be Karl Scott, who has built a very strong secondary over the past few years and now has Emmanwori to add to the mix.
But again, I’m going to keep this simple. We know Seattle will have a good defense. MacDonald, Aden Durde, and Leslie Frazier all bring outstanding defensive minds to the club. But this season largely rises or falls on how well the offense plays, and that is the exclusive purview of Klint Kubiak**.** If he can genuinely rebuild a strong running attack, then this offense can be special. Until I see otherwise, I’m going to believe he can.
MVP - Kenneth Walker III
And if Kubiak can revive the offense, it benefits one player more than any other – even more than Sam Darnold. There has been plenty of rumbling that Zach Charbonnet should take over as the Hawks’ primary running back. That is based partly on the talent he has shown, but more upon his reliability.
Charbonnet is a very good back. Kenneth Walker III is special. If Seattle hopes to challenge the league’s best, it needs Walker to stay healthy and show he can still make game-breaking plays like he did back in his rookie season.
I admit it – this is a wish-fulfillment selection. Because Kenneth Walker indeed has a team MVP-type of season, it means that Kubiak did, in fact, re-establish the run, and that has ripple effects through the whole team. It reduces the pressure on Darnold. It keeps the defense fresher. It means Seattle has a very good year. Which is exactly what I am looking for in these patience-testing days before the games begin to count.
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