If you are a Seattle Seahawks fan who went to sleep a couple of years ago and are just waking up (healthy, of course), you might be a bit surprised by what you will see. Pete Carroll is gone, and Mike Macdonald is the new head coach. Quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf won't be with your favorite team in 2025 either.
In fact, the entire offense will look very different. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is going to use a lot of two-tight end sets and (hopefully) run the ball a lot more. Instead of an offensive scheme that requires the quarterback to force-feed the wide receivers, Kubiak's quarterback, Sam Darnold, should spread the ball around a lot more.
To make the plan even more old-school, Kubiak is likely going to incorporate a fullback into a bunch of plays. If nothing else, that should help the Seahawks in short-yardage situations.
Robbie Ouzts is likely to steal a roster spot (or two) with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025
Plus, the Seahawks chose a tight end in the 2025 NFL draft in the fifth round, who will be moved to fullback, and is almost certain to take a roster spot from a veteran. Alabama's Robbie Ouzts is 6'3" and 275 pounds and has the correct technique and strength to move NFL defenders.
Brady Russell has been around the Seahawks roster for a couple of years, but hasn't done anything as a receiver and has been more of a presence on special teams, if he's a presence at all. He is also nearly 30 pounds lighter than Ouzts. As the Seahawks are unlikely to keep two fullbacks, Russell's best chance of sticking around might be signing to the practice squad.
Ouzts could also affect how many wide receivers Seattle keeps. In 2024, the Seahawks had three wide receivers on the field (11 personnel) 77 percent of the time, third-most in the league. The New Orleans Saints, Kubiak's former team, had three WRs on the field less than 40 percent of the time.
If fewer reps for receivers, there is no need to keep seven wideouts on the team, possibly not even six. There will be a higher priority of making sure Seattle can have a good rotation of tight ends and a designated fullback.
Most importantly, Ouzts should be a productive member of the offense who helps the unit be a lot more efficient. Short-yardage situations have been a struggle for the Seahawks in recent years, and that should be lessened with Ouzts on the field. He can also slip out and catch a few passes, as he had 16 career receptions in college.