The Seattle Seahawks knew they didn't need to make many moves in the offseason. They prioritized keeping their guys in town, at least for the most part, hoping to run it back with the same core next season.
While that makes sense to a degree, they're also taking a big risk. DeMarcus Lawrence flirted with retirement, and while he's reportedly leaning toward returning, losing Boye Mafe left the team with one fewer body to replace him.
When asked about that in the annual league meetings in Arizona, Mike Macdonald poured water on the retirement rumors. However, he also acknowledged that Lawrence could change his mind at any point.
The Seattle Seahawks need to add another pass rusher
"To my knowledge he's coming back," the coach said. "He always has the right to change his mind, but as of right now, he's coming back."
The Seahawks rotated their pass rushers last season, so, technically, losing a backup like Boye Mafe shouldn't be that disruptive to their formula. With Lawrence potentially gone, however, that's two fewer bodies in the pass-rushing department.
Still, Coach Macdonald claimed that the team wouldn't sign someone just for the sake of it. They only have four picks in the NFL Draft, so they will be extremely intentional with the players they target with every selection:
“If there was a right opportunity, we probably would have done it," Macdonald said, adding that "we'll roll with the guys we have" if they don't find someone else who makes sense in the NFL Draft or late in free agency.
As things stand now, Lawrence should be the starter, with Drake Thomas, Ernest Jones IV, and Uchenna Nwosu by his side. Still, Ja'Markis Weston, Jamie Sheriff, and Jalan Gaines don't bring much certainty to the table behind him.
Given the way the market has shaped out, it's hard to believe the Seahawks will break the bank to get any of the pass-rushers who remain unsigned. Mike Macdonald likes to go bargain-hunting, and things could always pick up after the draft, but it looks like that unit is pretty much set at the moment.
In an ideal world, Lawrence is going to put those retirement thoughts behind him and continue to do what he does best for at least another season. He was outstanding in his first year in Seattle, earning Pro Bowl honors and logging 53 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, six sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and a league-leading two fumbles returned for touchdown.
He's no spring chicken at 33, but that type of production while playing just 59 percent of the team's defensive snaps shows that he's still got plenty left in the tank. That said, teams always need to hope for the best while preparing for the worst, and this approach could come back to haunt this team in 2026.