The Seattle Seahawks defense took a giant leap forward last season regarding being good again. On third-down conversions alone, Seattle went from 30th in 2023 to 10th in 2024. The defense also led the NFL in forcing three-and-outs. That was just the start of how good head coach Mike Macdonald's defense should continue to be.
The team returned almost all the key pieces from last season's unit and added defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. Lawrence's addition should improve the pass rush, and he is also fantastic against the run. While the Seahawks might not add more defensive players in free agency, the team will likely add quality in the 2025 NFL draft.
If Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is correct, Seattle will take Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams at pick number 18. The Seahawks need help along the interior of the offensive line, but expecting the general manager to address that need in the first round is probably foolish.
Pro Football Focus sees the Seahawks choosing Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft
Based on all the team's moves this offseason, such as remaking the offense by trading quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf while signing Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp, Schneider will try to win with a strong defense. This makes sense as he would be building on the strengths of the head coach.
Taking a defensive player with the team's first pick in the draft makes sense, as does choosing the versatile Williams.
The Georgia product can line up anywhere along the defensive line and be highly disruptive in pass rush. He played three seasons in college, and his snap counts remained the same. His low was 381, and his high was 407. His production also remained consistent. He had 26 total pressures in two years and 33 in the other.
He might be an even better run defender, though. His athleticism allows him to get around would-be blockers, but the 6'5" and 260-pound edge rusher also has the leg strength to push blockers backward. He would likely be an immediately impactful player as part of the edge rusher rotation, but would not be relied upon to be the alpha on the defense. Not yet, anyway.
He does need to work on his tackling. He missed 14.5 percent of his tackle attempts at Georgia, and without proper technique, that number could go higher in the NFL. He must also add upper-body strength, which will probably occur in an NFL weight-training program.
Williams is also more used to a 4-3 alignment, but Macdonald likes to disguise his fronts, and a player with the versatility of Williams can help do that. By 2026, he would probably be among the best of the Seahawks edge rushers.
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