There’s a reality about the way NFL rosters are constructed that makes scouting the two teams in the Super Bowl especially intriguing. To state the obvious, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have two of the best rosters in the entire league. Perhaps the two best. Quibble if you like, but certainly top five, and better than the Seattle Seahawks, unfortunately.
The best rosters in the league also tend to be comprised of more veteran players. The odd player or two early in his career can have an outsized impact on a great team’s fortunes – see Cooper DeJean or Xavier Worthy – but the core of highly successful teams is typically a little bit more experienced.
And that means that in any given year, more of the players on the highly successful teams are apt to be free agents. Highly sought-after free agents. With that in mind, let’s look at three pending free agents from this year’s Super Bowl who should be figuring prominently in John Schneider's plans for the Seahawks.
Three players from the Super Bowl that the Seattle Seahawks should chase in free agency
Milton Williams, Defensive Lineman, Philadelphia
Williams has been an unsung hero for the Eagles since arriving from Louisiana Tech in the 3rd round of the 2021 draft. Initially, he was overshadowed by veterans like Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. Then, highly-touted draftees like Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter arrived. Through it all, Williams remained a very steady, productive force along the line, generally playing a lot of snaps though technically remaining a backup.
He had his best year as a pass rusher in 2024. It showed up on Sunday as he was part of a defensive front that harassed Patrick Mahomes all night. Williams ended with two sacks and an additional QB hit. Though somewhat overshadowed by Josh Sweat’s outstanding performance, Williams was disruptive throughout the entire game.
Sweat is also a pending free agent and his price skyrocketed after the Super Bowl. Williams will be somewhat less expensive, but more importantly, he fits the scheme that Mike Macdonald seems to favor more than Sweat. A lot of what Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio does across the front resembles Macdonald’s defenses.
Williams is a defensive tackle who often lines up a little wider in a base 3-4 front. Physically, he is very much like Nnamdi Madubuike, who played a similar role for Macdonald in Baltimore.
The Eagles would certainly like to hold onto Williams. However, they have a lot of free agents to consider and the fact is, they are constantly restocking their defensive front. Carter and Davis are still in town (with Carter needing a major salary bump in the next year or two) and Moro Ojomo arrived in the 2023 draft. It will be difficult for Philly to retain Williams, and he seems like an ideal fit in Seattle.
Mekhi Becton, Offensive Guard, Philadelphia
Becton was one of the year’s best reclamation stories. After flaming out as a tackle with the New York Jets, the former first-round draft pick shifted inside to guard this year a became part of the league’s best offensive line.
His trajectory mirrors another massive lineman who failed in New York only to find success by changing position and fleeing the Big Apple. Ereck Flowers was a huge bust for the Giants a decade ago. Like Becton, he was able to resurrect his career by moving to guard. Both players have massive frames – Becton is listed at 6’7” and 363 pounds.
He would fill the Seahawks' biggest roster hole by stepping in at right guard and instantly upgrading the production over the revolving door of players Seattle plugged in during the 2024 season. Becton was PFF’s 18th-best guard in 2024, and his grades, especially as a run blocker, dwarf those of Anthony Bradford, Sataoa Laumea, and Christian Haynes.
Trey Smith, Offensive Guard, Kansas City
And speaking of PFF (subscription required), Smith graded out slightly ahead of Becton in 2024. When the Chiefs were forced to move Joe Thuney from guard to tackle, Smith became the only high-end guard who remained. In the Super Bowl, while Thuney struggled with Josh Sweat and left guard Mike Caliendo struggled with pretty much everybody, Smith held up most of the night lining up against the Eagles' best lineman, Jalen Carter.
Smith has been a huge success story for Kansas City. Originally a sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, he stepped in from day one and became an integral part of an offensive line that won consecutive Super Bowls. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2024.
Like Becton, Smith is built like a tackle, the position he played in college. His talent and physical gifts warranted a much higher draft status, but medical concerns about blood clotting scared teams off. He has shown no ill effects throughout his career, starting every game save one during his time in Kansas City. Also like Becton, he is a right guard.
Smith, Becton, and Williams are all 25 years old. They are all physically imposing players. Whether they have been stalwarts from the beginning, showing steady improvement through their early years, or needed a change of position and scenery to achieve their potential, each is performing at a very high level as we enter the 2025 season. Any one of them would be a major asset for the Seahawks.