On its face, the Seattle Seahawks' 2024 season looked like a decent one. Albeit they missed out on the playoffs, the Seahawks notched 10 wins and tied for first in a competitive NFC West under a rookie head coach. The defensive unit underwent a major overhaul and it paid dividends, as the defense vastly improved into a great unit.
However, even with 10 wins and an exciting defense, Seattle left a lot on the table in 2024. From inexplicably losing to the New York Giants early in the season to blowing a two-score lead against the Rams midseason, the Seahawks had nobody to blame but themselves for their playoff absence. Many of the team's issues stemmed from the offense, a unit with playmakers all around that inexcusably was largely ineffective in several games.
When it comes to the Seahawks in 2025, there are a few nagging issues to address this offseason. Put simply, if they are not addressed, these issues will continue to plague Seattle once again in 2025. But where do the Seahawks even start?
Changes the Seattle Seahawks need to make this offseason to make next season better
Re-build the interior of the offensive line
Rinse and repeat. Since 2015, the Seahawks have had issues on its offensive line. It has been a decade since Seattle has had anything resembling a decent offensive line. This is an issue that has persisted through multiple coaches, missed draft picks, disappointing free agent signings, and an overall lack of investment in the unit.
While the Seahawks have invested some early picks to address the offensive line, they never seem to pan out. Charles Cross, a former ninth-overall pick, has been average to borderline decent but does not look like a top-ten pick. Christian Haynes was a third-round pick but also looks to have an average-to-decent ceiling.
However, the frustration truly begins to mount when you look at guys Seattle did not draft. The Seahawks passed on Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey in 2021 to take Dee Eskridge. Even just last year, Seattle drafted Haynes in the third round when guards Zak Zinter and Dominick Puni (who just made the Pro Bowl for the 49ers) were still on the board.
The good news is that the Seattle tackles seem to be good enough to at least be average, although Abraham Lucas is consistently injured. Center remains a huge, gaping need in the middle of the Seattle offensive line, as do at least one of the guard positions. Anthony Bradford never needs to take another snap in Seattle, but I'm sure Seattle is willing to let Haynes continue to develop.
The bottom line is that Seattle must make it a priority to bring in at least two interior offensive linemen who can play right away, and one of them has to be a center. Whether it's the draft or free agency, Seattle cannot afford to miss on those key positions in another off-season cycle. It even makes sense to trade their first-round pick for an interior lineman who has proven dependable.
Hire an offensive coordinator who will maximize the offense
The recent firing of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after his first season is actually a good sign for Seahawks fans. Grubb, who proved weekly he didn't have the ability to adjust the offense to align with his personnel, was flat-out frustrating to watch. It seemed like Grubb single-handedly wasted a year of prime Geno Smith and held the offense back, as he refused to gameplan a balanced attack.
The fact Seattle cut ties with Grubb after only one season shows that the team has clear values and goals, and anyone who does not share them will be cast off. Mike Macdonald has reiterated that he wants his team to have a balanced offensive attack and be able to physically run the ball and control the clock. In 2024, Grubb simply refused to run the ball at times, allowing defenses to sit back in the zone and take away everything in the passing game. For Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks, this was absolutely unacceptable.
Since Grubb's firing, Seattle has conducted some interesting interviews. The one that piqued my interest was Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley. If you took one look at the man, you'd have a pretty good idea of how he would want to run his offense.
A behemoth of a gentleman, Fraley is responsible for developing arguably the league's best offensive line in Detroit after playing 11 years as an offensive lineman in the NFL himself. Fraley is lauded league-wide for how instrumental he has been in establishing Detroit's wildly effective run game. He is just what Seattle needs.
Extend core players
In my opinion, one of the biggest issues Seattle has had in the past 10 years is their willingness to let good players walk in free agency. You could make a laundry list of the players Seattle has declined to re-sign that have been exceptional on other teams. Guys like Jordyn Brooks, Damien Lewis, Will Dissly, and DJ Reed were all let go by Seattle in just the past few years and ultimately ended up being solid players elsewhere.
This trend cannot continue in the near future. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV, a player instrumental in elevating Seattle's defense in 2024, is currently a free agent. The Seahawks simply cannot afford to lose Jones in a bidding war with another team. Jones is that important in the middle of the Seahawks' defense. While Jones appears to be the only player the Seahawks cannot afford to lose in 2025, there are some major players expiring next season that Seattle should extend.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf's current deal is set to expire in 2026. Metcalf is an integral piece in Seattle's offense, whether it's his big-play potential or the sheer attention he attracts in the secondary that allows other wide receivers to produce.
Losing DK Metcalf next offseason would be disastrous for the Seahawks, but so would losing Ken Walker, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe, who are all also free agents next season. Getting at least some of their deals done before they become free agents would be a monumental win for the Seahawks.
Make a splash trade
In recent years, Seattle has been fairly active in terms of the trading block. It's worked out, for the most part, relatively well for Seattle. If you put the Jamal Adams shenanigans aside, Seattle has come out on top recently, including coming away with an enormous haul for declining quarterback Russell Wilson, an All-Pro defensive lineman in Leonard Williams, and a game-changing linebacker in Ernest Jones IV.
With Seattle continuing to evolve under Mike Macdonald's leadership, the team looks and feels different than it did in the last several years of Pete Carroll. It feels like this new Seahawks team addressed needs immediately instead of playing the long game, which was such a frustrating process. It feels like it's time for another John Schneider move, especially with the 18th pick in a very weak draft class.
The one name I personally am drawn to is Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Pittsburgh safety signed a massive four-year deal with the Steelers in 2023, which puts him under contract through 2026. However, turmoil in the locker room between Fitzpatrick and his teammates, as well as some apparent inefficiency in Pittsburgh's system, makes his $22 million cap hit in 2025, and subsequent $24 million cap hit in 2026 feel pretty tradeable. One of the best safeties in the league over the past several years, Fitzpatrick could have a new home by the time the 2025 season kicks off.
For Seattle, Fitzpatrick would be an instant upgrade at safety. He's a ball-hawking middle of the field safety who is a complete difference-maker. Coby Bryant was decent in his newfound role after being thrust into the starting lineup amidst injuries in the defensive backfield, but I think his role is better suited as a dime safety who plays rotational snaps. A safety duo of Julian Love and Minkah Fitzpatrick in Mike Macdonald's defense could take this defense into "elite" conversations.
Don't be afraid to spend money in free agency
It feels like every single free agency period, Seattle is asleep and is trying to catch up on the leftovers. Perhaps some years, it's a smart thing to wait for the free agency market out and let the best deals fall into your lap. But being intentionally passive and watching great players sign with other teams every single offseason feels irresponsible.
I don't expect Seattle to go out and sign the best players in the NFL to astronomical contracts, but one blue-chip free agency signing could be the difference between 10-7 and 12-5 on the season. The fact Seattle doesn't even attempt to negotiate with players in the first wave of free agency is maddening, and that needs to change. Seattle won't come out of the gate swinging on a guy like Tee Higgins who will want $25-30 million per year, but there are a few key players who they need to at least offer.
There are multiple quality offensive linemen set to test the free agency market this offseason. Center Ryan Kelly, guard James Daniels, tackle Jedrick Wills, and even veteran guard Zack Martin will all likely be available to negotiate with once free agency opens.
The Seahawks would be doing a disservice to themselves if they fell asleep at the wheel for another year and let the quality-free agents sign elsewhere. Seattle cannot afford another year of cleaning up the scraps of free agency, only to be shocked when the players nobody else wanted didn't work out.