3 Seattle Seahawks next in line to be Pro Bowlers
By Lee Vowell
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No. 2 - Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu
Nwosu probably should have been a Pro Bowler in 2022. He had 9.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits and was good against the run. Seattle might not have known just how much of an impact Nwosu made against the run until he was lost for the season this year when he tore his pec muscle in Week 7. The Seahawks' defense was not great with Nwosu, but they were certainly worse without him.
Macdonald does not like his defenses to blitz very much but requires them to hold true to their assignments. He also has a way of making complex principles simple and this appears to help the on-field communication as well as helping each player understand what they are supposed to do. Nwosu's assignment will be streamlined some and this should increase his production.
While several years younger than Kyle Van Noy, Nwosu might be used in much the same way. Under Macdonald, Van Noy had his most efficient season as a pass rusher as he set a career-high with 9 sacks with the Ravens in 2023 because he understood what his teammates needed to be doing which freed him up to attack the quarterback.
Nwosu is a versatile linebacker and has more raw athletic ability than Van Noy and Nwosu could exceed 10 sacks for the first time in his career next season. More importantly, his return and Macdonald's defense should allow Seattle to be much better against the run. All of this should hopefully get Nwosu more attention and get him a Pro Bowl nod.