One of the reasons the Seattle Seahawks are 7-2 — one of the best teams in their division, conference, and the league itself — is the strength of their defense. In every game this season, Seattle's defense has stood together and kept most opponents under 20 points. They are a top-five defensive group in the NFL for good reason.
Long gone are the "Legion of Boom" days. Arrived have the — well, there isn't a cool, intimidating nickname for these Seahawks' defenders just yet, but that doesn't mean they lack the guts and grit that could maybe one day rival those in the old days.
Coming into the 2025-26 season, Seattle's corners were the most notable of the defensive side by name, but over halfway through the season, several names have forced their way into the conversation, and Drake Thomas has done everything within his power to be one of those names. He's no passenger — he's a driving force of Seattle's vaunted defense.
Drake Thomas is emerging as one of the Seattle Seahawks' best defensive players
Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon are the two corners whose names have been known in Seattle for a few years now, rightfully for their high-quality defense and stability as a cornerback duo. While they have both excelled on the outskirts of the field, this season has seen the impact of a few inside defenders, Thomas being one. It has been, without question, a breakout season for him.
The former NC State Wolfpack star has played elite defense this season — his third in the league, all with the Seahawks. In his first two seasons combined, Thomas had just 11 tackles with zero sacks or interceptions. While he's still coming up empty on the interception front, Thomas has excelled in his tackling, recording 46 total tackles (26 solo, 20 assisted), including three sacks.
The contrast between his first two seasons and his third is the very definition of growth and improvement. Thomas's growth was glaringly evident this past weekend against the Arizona Cardinals, where he accounted for six tackles, two for losses.
All season long, Thomas has been wherever the ball is or is going. Mike Macdonald echoed this on Monday following the win, praising his young linebacker for his "elite preparation" and overall impact.
"I think it's elite preparation that allows him to be decisive in those moments, and when you see it, go let it rip, man," Macdonald said. "I mean there's a lot of things that go into a couple of those plays that are some pre-snap processing that he's doing at a really high level, and not a lot of people can do that, and it lets him play that fast, so it's really cool.
"You get more experience, so I think the game slows down for you, it's great to play behind our defensive line. I mean, if I was a linebacker, I'd want to play behind our guys, but Drake deserves a lot of credit too, and like I said, he prepares at an elite level and then go rip it, bro. Go out there and trust what you see and let it rip.
This is how you want your head coach to see you, especially as a younger player on defense. Thomas has evidently caught the eye of his head coach, but only because he is doing his job. Doing your job — doing your job effectively and with impact — is the golden stairway to trust between player and coach.
Since Thomas was inserted into the lineup as the top inside linebacker, he's led the defense in tackles for loss. He's also second in the league in passes defended by an inside linebacker. On top of all the stats, Thomas plays with sheer energy, an element that can ignite a defensive group, sending reverberating shockwaves throughout.
Seattle has indeed boasted a handful of defensive stars in the past. Are we seeing a new one emerging years later? Thomas is showing all the signs, and his trajectory points only up. We should expect the Seahawks' defense to continue rolling, and if it does, Thomas will be a significant part of it.