Seattle Seahawks 2025 Season Preview

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

The Seahawks are going through what they hope is a retool instead of a full fledged rebuild. With HC Mike MacDonald going into year two with the Seahawks, they look to take a step forward in 2025, despite undergoing major roster construction.

Trades: The team decided it was time for a new name under center as they traded QB Geno Smith to the Raiders in exchange for a third round pick. Additionally, they traded franchise cornerstone WR DK Metcalf to the Steelers in exchange for a 2025 second round pick. With those two trades alone, the offense will look completely different.

Departures: On top of trading Metcalf and Smith, the team also let Tyler Lockett walk in the offseason. Other names that will not be returning include TE Pharoah Brown, TE Noah Fant, OT George Fant, OT Stone Forsythe, IOL Laken Tomlinson, EDGE Dre’Mont Jones, DL Roy Robertson-Harris, CB Tre Brown, CB Artie Burns, and SAF Rayshawn Jenkins. Every name on that list contributed something in 2024, but the Seahawks clearly want to plan for the future and part ways with the older players who are past their prime.

Additions: To replace Geno Smith, Seattle brought in Sam Darnold on a three-year $100.5M deal. However, the team can move on from Darnold and the contract after the first year with no financial penalty. They also signed WR Cooper Kupp and EDGE Demarcus Lawrence to three-year deals. QB Drew Lock, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, TE Eric Saubert, OT Josh Jones, and CB Shaq Griffin were all brought in on one-year contracts. I like the moves the Seahawks made to add depth, but I think their big signings are guys well past their prime who may not provide the impact they think they will.

Draft Selections: I loved what the Seahawks did in the draft. In the first round, the took NDSU IOL Grey Zabel. This kid is a gritty offensive lineman, my kind of football player. The Seahawks’ offensive line made them almost unwatchable last season, so I am looking for Zabel to help stabilize the interior. On Day 2, they spent their 3 picks on SAF Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo, and QB Jalen Milroe. While I don’t see a path to Emmanwori starting at safety or nickel right away, I like the idea of betting on traits and athleticism to develop in the syste and become a starter down the road. Elijah Arroyo is in line to be their starting Y TE as they let go of Noah Fant. Arroyo has popped in training camp and he should receive a decent workload from the jump. Jalen Milroe will be a backup for at least his rookie season, which I think is the best possible situation for his development. I was originally in favor of Milroe returning to school because he is so raw, but learning the system behind Darnold could make him a great QB to take over the offense in year 2. WR Tory Horton was a pick I loved out of Colorado State and he could be a steal if he manages to stay healthy.

Season Predictions: The Seahawks start the season at home against the 49ers, go on the road to battle the Steelers, return home to host the Saints, and take on the Cardinals in Arizona on Thursday Night Football. The Seahawks will start the season 2-2.

October opens at home against the Buccaneers, followed by a game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville, a home game against the Texans on Monday Night Football, and a Week 8 bye. The Seahawks will go 0-3 in this stretch.

They travel to Washington to take on the Commanders, return home to host the Cardinals, have two straight road games against the Rams and Titans, and close November at home against the Vikings. The Seahawks go 2-3 in this stretch.

They end the season with a stretch of games that includes a road game against the Falcons, a home game against the Colts, a home game against the Rams on Thursday Night Football, and two road games against the Panthers and 49ers. They will end the season going 2-3 in this span.

Final Thoughts: The Seahawks will go 6-11 in 2025. A 6 win season with Sam Darnold signals a likely pivot to Jalen Milroe in the future. While a 6 win second season likely won’t get MacDonald fired, it will put pressure on him to get results in 2026.