The Seattle Seahawks could have set themselves up for a long run of success after the last four drafts and financially smart and savvy offseason moves this year. Sam Darnold, for instance, is a huge risk, but he is seven years younger and cheaper than Geno Smith.
Seattle also brought nearly everyone back from last year's defense, and the team is hoping that side of the ball is what leads the Seahawks to the playoffs. But being great on defense and inefficient on offense is no way to get loads of wins. Darnold needs to find a way to not have as many red zone interceptions as Smith did in 2024.
Several people in the Seahawks organization could be entering their final seasons with the team, though. If things go horribly south, changes will need to be made.
These three Seattle Seahawks should be nervous entering what could be their final training camp
Running back Kenneth Walker III
Walker is capable of being explosive, but after three runs of 60-plus yards as a rookie in 2022, he has had zero since then. Plus, he has struggled to stay healthy. He missed two games in each of his first two seasons, but six in 2024. That is a trend he has to reverse in 2025.
It also doesn't help that his yards per rush has gone done nearly half-a-yard every season since his rookie year. Meanwhile, backup Zach Charbonnet's number has stayed close to the same in his two seasons at 4.3 and 4.2, respectively.
The presumption is that Walker will be RB1 in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's system, but Walker has to show he can stay healthy and productive entering the final year of his rookie deal. If he gets hurt and misses time, he could be gone from the Seahawks after this coming season.
Quarterback Sam Darnold
Playing the most important position on any football team is always going to bring pressure, but Darnold is a special case. He has only been good for most of one season out of his seven years in the NFL. That was last year with the Minnesota Vikings, and he turned that one-year success into a three-year deal with the Seahawks.
Now, Darnold has to prove he learned a lot about himself and how to be a good professional quarterback, and he has to do that immediately. Getting off to a bad start offensively, even though Seattle's defense is expected to be very good, could cripple the Seahawks' postseason hopes.
Darnold could also conceivably be on only a one-year deal. He has no guaranteed money in years two or three of his contract. If he doesn't work out, Seattle is only out $37.5 million, but the Seahawks would rather have Darnold earn every bit of his $100.5 million, of course.
General manager John Schneider
The Seahawks roster is firmly in Schneider's hands now. When Pete Carroll was still with the team, he had the final say over all roster moves. Schneider clearly had input, but Carroll had the final word. Since the 2024 offseason, the gig has belonged to Seattle's general manager.
Last offseason was pretty much a waste, especially with free agent signings. None had a great impact, and some were gone midway through the season. The 2024 draft class is still under review, of course, but first-round pick Byron Murphy II needs to be much better in season two.
But nothing in 2024 looked like 2025. After trade requests were made, Schneider traded the team's starting quarterback (Geno Smith) to the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle's most consistently producing wide receiver (DK Metcalf) to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fan-favorite wide receiver Tyler Lockett was released.
If it turns out that all the moves don't work for the second-straight season, despite the obviously clear coaching talent of Mike Macdonald, then Schneider's job needs to be in question. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.