The Seattle Seahawks finished 10-7 last season; however, they were the only ten-win team to fall short of the postseason. They made major changes to the offense during the offseason as six of their nine leaders in snaps played are no longer with the team, while they brought Klint Kubiak in as offensive coordinator to replace Ryan Grubb.
Seattle's defense will largely remain the same, however, as its eight leaders in snaps played will return in 2025. There have been multiple analysts who have predicted that a big season could be in store for the Seahawks.
Their defense will play a big role in their potential success after ranking 11th in scoring defense and 14th in total yards allowed last season. An ESPN insider recently predicted that the unit will keep Seattle in the postseason picture.
Insider predicts Seattle Seahawks defense will keep them in postseason hunt
The Seahawks fielded a strong defense in 2024; however, the unit was not quite elite. Dan Graziano of ESPN believes that could be a different story this season in their second year under Mike Macdonald:
"The Seahawks ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency and defensive EPA last year in Mike Macdonald's first season as their coach, but they still finished in the middle of the pack in yards allowed and points allowed. In their second year in Macdonald's system, they should be dominant. His defense has worked everywhere he has been, including the Ravens and the University of Michigan. His ability to scheme up pressures is as good as anyone's. It takes time to learn a new scheme, but after playing in it for a year, Seattle's defensive players are primed for a massive season on that side of the ball."
In addition to bringing back much of their starting defense, they made a major addition by signing four-time Pro Bowler Demarcus Lawrence. While he missed most of the 2024 season with a foot injury, he showed that he still has something left in the tank with 3.0 sacks in four games.
His addition will add more firepower to a unit that finished tied for eighth with 45 sacks. Seattle's top-four leaders in sacks, who accounted for 29.5 sacks, will all return in 2025.
The Seahawks also used the 35th overall pick to draft safety Nick Emmanwori, a first-team All-American in 2024. The rookie appears poised to have a prominent role in Seattle's defense, with many believing that he will play as a hybrid role between nickelback and safety similar to how the Baltimore Ravens have used Kyle Hamilton.
The offensive additions -- particularly the play of new quarterback Sam Darnold -- will determine if the Seahawks will be one of the premier teams in the NFL this season. They appear to have a pretty high floor regardless of the offensive play due to the defense's potential to be elite.