The Seattle Seahawks set themselves up well for free agency by trading expensive players Geno Smith and DK Metcalf and releasing wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The team had the money to replace Smith with Sam Darnold, and the team was able to bring back linebacker Ernest Jones IV and sign edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence.
The moves that Seattle has made have gone toward improving an already-improved defense. Lawrence should be a tremendous fit in head coach Mike Macdonald's system. The team also re-signed Reed. All the key pieces of what turned out to be a top-10 defense in 2024 are back, plus Lawrence has been added.
Still general manager John Schneider has some moves he needs to make. He could also create more cap room, if needed, by releasing tight end Noah Fant, but that is unlikely to happen. Even without that, Seattle still has more cap room than most other teams in the league. This means Seattle could bid competitively against any other team. What else should Seattle do?
Three moves Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider could make to win the offseason
Sign right guard Mekhi Becton
Becton is a free agent for the first time. After struggling in his first three years, he was very good as a run-blocker. Seattle is quite likely to run the ball a lot more under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Plus, while Seattle's offensive line was not good last season, they were worse at blocking for the run. Becton would help fix that.
He will also be just 26 years old when next season begins. If getting him means making an offer that includes four years, Seattle should do it. According to Spotrac, his market value is around $10 million on average per season. The Seahawks can afford that.
Find a way to draft Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden
The NFL draft is a bit of a guess at which player will land where because the teams high in the draft might do something unexpected, which calls the proverbial dominoes to fall in different places than projected. Golden is one of the best receivers in the 2025 draft, and he could go near the top 10. The Seahawks do not currently pick until number 18, but Seattle should be aggressive in trying to take Golden.
Golden does not have DK Metcalf's size, but he has Metcalf-type speed. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash. That also translates into making him a dangerous kickoff returner.
Seattle signed 6'4" Marquez Valdes-Scantling and have Jake Bobo, so maybe the team feels as if it has the size it needs at receiver. Schneider still must find more explosive, and the 5'11" Golden would be the answer.
Sign guard Dalton Risner
Risner played right guard for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, but in his previous five seasons, he was solely a left guard. If the Seahawks are able to sign him, they should move him back to left guard, a position where Risner allowed zero sacks in 2023. He has always been better at pass protection than run blocking, but he is a well-rounded guard.
Risner's 2024 season started late as he was rehabbing a back injury, but he missed no time after returning. He also never missed more than two games in any season in his career before last year. Plus, he has experience working with Sam Darnold with the Vikings, and that should make the transition to Seattle smoother. This is especially true, as Risner should be an inexpensive signing.