NFL expert gives Seattle Seahawks high mark for this key hire

The 2024 Seattle Seahawks are certainly going to look a lot differently this season than in the previous 13. Not since 2011, former head coach Pete Carroll's second season in Seattle, had the team had such a transitional offseason. General manager John Schneider remains and several of the offensive skill position players, but many others are gone.

In place of Carroll is Mike Macdonald. Macdonald has some challenges that even he cannot be 100 percent sure how he will react. He has never been a head coach at any level prior to this season. This is one reason that Seattle hired veteran NFL coach Leslie Frazier. Frazier main job is to help ease Macdonald through troubled waters when they arrive, and they will arrive.

Still, there should be little doubt that eventually Macdonald is going to make the Seahawks' defense better. He has proven his excellence on that side of the ball for a number of years in the league. The last two he was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. In 2023, the Ravens led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards per play, and most sacks.

Seattle Seahawks hire of Mike Macdonald named one of the best moves in the NFC

Because of the coach's defensive expertise, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has named the hire of Macdonald as the Seahawks' best offseason decision. As part of the write-up, PFF's Trevor Sikkema wrote, "Mike Macdonald put on a defensive masterclass in Baltimore the past two seasons after a successful stint with Jim Harbaugh as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021." The writer also points out that Macdonald got the most out of the players given him.

This will be key in Seattle. The team was not without defensive talent the last two seasons, but Seattle was still 31st in rushing yards allowed and gave up the 25th-most points last year. This was even though rookie Devon Witherspoon was as good as expected and second-year player Boye Mafe saw a huge increase in productivity.

While Seattle did lose edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu to injury in Week 7 - an injury which would prove to be crushing to the overall unit - the team added Leonard Williams in Week 10. Still, Carroll and former defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt could not fix the defense. Macdonald should.

The coach has good talent to work with and the players should see an increase in efficiency and productivity. While Mafe went from three sacks in his rookie season to nine last year, he might get to 12 this season under Macdonald. Heck, even underperforming Darrell Taylor might have his best season.

The addition of Macdonald and the talent that the Seahawks already had might mean the quality of Seattle's defense increases quickly. If that happens, the team should make the playoffs. Once there, if the defense is much better, Seattle could be a dangerous team.

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