Every year for the past 3-4 years the Seahawks have felt like the most perpetually average team in professional football on a year in year out basis. Hoping to buck this trend, the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with head coach Pete Carroll and hired former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald to take over the reigns as head coach. The average trend of the team however persisted in the 2024 season where Seattle once again won between 7 and 10 games for the fourth consecutive season. Seattle also missed the postseason for the third time in four years, with the one postseason appearance they had in that stretch resulting in a very early blowout playoff loss. Going forward in the 2025 season and beyond, Seattle must upgrade their roster or upgrade their quarterback position if they wish to buck the average trend of the franchise. Geno Smith although he is capable is certainly not a tier 1 quarterback with the likes of the Lamar Jackson’s and Patrick Mahomes’ of the world. As things currently stand, Geno Smith is not even a tier 2 level player at the position with the likes of the Jalen Hurts’ and Jared Goff’s of the world either. The Seahawks will need to have a truly elite roster around him along with Mike MacDonald proving to be an elite defensive mind at the head coach spot in order for Seattle to truly contend with Geno Smith at the helm. Otherwise, Seattle should certainly look into exploring different quarterback options for the franchise going forward.
On the offensive side of the ball the Seahawks led by quarterback Geno Smith had one of the weakest offensive lines in the NFL in 2024. A complete breakdown of the offensive line of Seattle can be found below. I have listed the offense grade that each player was given during the 2024 season as well as me assigning each player a subjective grade that indicates how strong of players I deem them to be in totality outside of just 2024. With this subjective evaluation being based upon yearly statistical output and subjective grades that have been assigned to them by Pro Football Focus.
Seattle Offensive Line Starters
LT – Charles Cross – (10/87) offense grade in 2024, C+ to B- caliber player
LG – Laken Tomlinson – (49/83) offense grade in 2024, C+ to B- caliber player, free agent
C – Connor Williams – (23/43) offense grade in 2024, B+ to A- caliber player
RG – Anthony Bradford – (77/83) offense grade in 2024, C to C- caliber player
RT – Abraham Lucas – (59/87) offense grade in 2024, C to C+ caliber player
Key Seattle Offensive Line Reserves
T- Stone Forsythe – (86/87) offense grade in 2024, D+ to C- caliber player, free agent
T – Mike Jerrell – (83/87) offense grade in 2024, only season in NFL thus far
G – Sataoao Laumea – (83/83) offense grade in 2024, only season in NFL thus far
G – Christian Haynes – (77/83) offense grade in 2024, only season in NFL thus far
C – Olusegun Oluwatimi – (21/43) offense grade in 2024, C to C+ caliber player
As you can see from the above data, the Seattle offensive line is one of the weakest units in professional football. Four of the five starters are average to below average caliber NFL starters with center Connor Williams being a standout on the offensive front, however. Williams had one of the weakest seasons of his NFL career, perhaps as a result of being lulled back by the remaining players on the unit. The above offensive line also had some of the weakest output if not the weakest output of any offensive line in the NFL during the 2024 season. The Seahawks’ overall output on the offensive line can be found below.
Pass Blocking Efficiency – (32/32)
Pass Blocking Grade – (26/32)
Run Blocking Grade – (24/32)
Sacks Allowed – (28/32)
Seattle unfortunately does not have that much cap space as they currently rank 30th in the NFL in that department. With whatever limited cap space they have and with the draft capital they have, the Seahawks should certainly look into upgrading the offensive front this offseason.
The offensive line for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2024 season ranked last in the NFL in terms of pass blocking efficiency, ranked 28th in the NFL in terms of sacks allowed, was graded as the 24th best run blocking line, and was also graded as the 26th best pass blocking line as well. The Seahawks offensive line was in the definitive conversation for being the worst offensive line in the NFL this past season. 2022 first round pick Charles Cross played in over 1000 snaps at the left tackle position for the 2nd consecutive season for Seattle. Cross has been mostly a bust unfortunately for the Seahawks as a first rounder selected three seasons ago. Cross in all three of his NFL seasons has ranked as below average to well below average in terms of pass blocking efficiency among tackles including in 2024. In terms of run blocking grade Cross has ranked as below average in that department in his first two NFL seasons. However, there was an improvement in this third year in 2024, where he ranked (16/87) in that department. Left guard Laken Tomlinson started for Seattle in the 2024 season appearing in over 1000 snaps for the team. Tomlinson is also a former first round pick who has underwhelmed in the NFL thus far. Tomlinson has ranked below average in terms of pass blocking efficiency and run blocking grade on all 4 instances in the past two seasons in the NFL. The below average production that Tomlinson has produced in the past two seasons is akin to the production he has had throughout the duration of his career as well. But Tomlinson has however shown some flashes of brilliance in his NFL career ranking above average in terms of both run blocking grade and pass blocking efficiency on multiple occasions as well. At the center position the Seahawks offensive line had two players split the snaps for them there this past season. Center Olusegun Oluwatami played 435 snaps and center Connor Williams played 618 snaps. Oluwatami was solid in the time he spent on the field registering a (21/43) offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Connor Williams played the vast majority of the remaining snaps for the Seahawks at center this past season and logged a (23/43) offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Williams was however far more effective the previous two seasons for the Dolphins at center ranking in the top 5 in terms of offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. At the right guard spot, the Seahawks had three players alternate in for them at the position during the 2024 campaign. Anthony Bradford, Sataoa Laumea, and Chrisitan Haynes all alternated taking snaps for the team at right guard. All three players were drafted in 2023 or 2024 and as young players all three of them struggled for the team. Bradford played nearly 600 snaps and ranked (77/83) in terms of pass blocking efficiency and (60/83) in terms of run blocking grade. Laumea, in 355 snaps, ranked last among all qualified guards in terms of an offense grade in the time he spent on the field. Christian Haynes, a 2024 third round pick, ranked (77/83) in terms of an offense grade in the 167 snaps he played at guard for Seattle for this past season. Seattle also lacked stability at the right tackle position with three players alternating in for the team during the 2024 season. Stone Forsythe in over 414 snaps ranked (86/87) in terms of an offense grade in the time he spent at right tackle this past season for Seattle. Abraham Lucas ranked (73/87) in terms of pass blocking efficiency and (52/87) in terms of run blocking grade at the time he spent at right tackle this past season. Tackle Mike Jerrell ranked (83/87) in terms of an offense grade in the 250 snaps he spent at right tackle this past season as well.
I conducted a similar analysis of the Seattle skill position players which can be found below.
Notable Skill Position Players for Seahawks
WR1 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba – (18/110) offense grade in 2024, 2023 1st round pick, B+ to A- caliber player thus far in NFL
WR2 – D.K Metcalf – (33/110) offense grade in 2024, B+ to A- caliber player
WR3 – Tyler Lockett – (70/110) offense grade in 2024, C+ to B- caliber player, was B+ to A- prior but had a weak year in 2024 and is now aging
TE1 – Noah Fant – (23/45) offense grade in 2024, C+ to B- caliber player
TE2 – A.J Barner – (32/45) offense grade in 2024, 2024 fourth round pick
HB1 – Kenneth Walker III – (7/57) offense grade in 2024, 2022 second round pick, B+ caliber player
HB2 – Zach Charbonnet – (15/57) offense grade in 2024, 2023 second round pick, B caliber player
HB3 – Kenny McIntosh – 5.5 yards per attempt on 31 career attempts
The Seahawks skill position players in recent memory have been led by running backs that lead a power running game along with the likes of D.K Metcalf and Tyler Lockett who are both highly productive at the wide receiver position for the Seattle Seahawks. At the running back position, Seattle is led by 2022 second round pick Kenneth Walker III who has been productive thus far in the NFL. Although Walker III only has a career yards per attempt of 4.2 while only averaging 3.7 yards per attempt this past season, that reduced production is more-so due to the weak Seattle offensive line play. As Walker III in terms of an overall offense grade has graded very highly according to Pro Football Focus. In 2022 as a rookie, he logged an offense grade of (22/60), in 2023 he logged an offense grade of (7/63), and in 2024 he logged an offense grade of (7/57). The team’s second leading rusher was 2023 second round pick Zach Charbonnet who has also been effective thus far in the NFL as a high draft pick. Like his counterpart Walker III, Charbonnet also has a relatively low career yards per attempt of 4.2. However, just as was the case with Walker III, this reduced production is more-so due to Seattle’s poor offensive line play rather than the running back being weak. Charbonnet was ranked (15/57) among qualified running backs in terms of an offense grade during the 2024 season. The teams third leading rusher out of the halfback position was Kenny McIntosh who was a 2023 seventh rounder who logged his first NFL snaps in 2024. McIntosh in limited snaps was productive, amassing 5.5 yards per attempt albeit on only 31 attempts.
As aforementioned, the receiving core for the Seattle Seahawks has ben led by veterans D.K Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in recent memory. With tight end Noah Fant and 2023 first rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba being thrown in the fold in the past few years as well. I have always felt for years that the combination of Metcalf + Lockett at the wideout spot was good but not great. As Metcalf felt more like a very good to a great #2 wideout as opposed to a true #1 wideout. With that in mind, I always felt as if Seattle should pursue a legitimate #1 wide receiver in order for Metcalf to thrive in a #2 role and for Tyler Lockett to be among the best #3 wide outs in the NFL. Seattle did eventually take that route by drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Smith-Njigba has been productive in his time in the NFL thus far for the Seahawks amassing over 1100 yards on 100 receptions with Pro Football Focus grading him (18/110) among wide receivers during the 2024 campaign. It remains to be seen if he is an upgrade at the #1 wide out spot over the likes of D.K Metcalf for the Seahawks as the production that Smith-Njigba had in the 2024 season was no better than the production that Metcalf had at his peak for the team as the #1 wide out. It remains to be seen if Smith-Njigba can improve upon his production thus far as perhaps his NFL production has been capped in his time in the league so far. As Geno Smith is still an average caliber quarterback, the Seattle offensive line is perhaps the weakest in the NFL, along with Seattle having a rookie defensive minded coach this past season as well. Smith-Njigba improved mightily on his 2023 rookie season where he was only able to log slightly over 600 yards and was graded (70/102) in terms of an offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. It still remains to be seen if he is the true #1 wide receiver that the Seahawks have been looking for although he was highly effective in 2024. D.K Metcalf has been a very good player for Seattle in his time in the NFL as outside of his rookie season he has logged over 967 receiving yards and has been graded well above average every year in terms of an offense grade according to Pro Football Focus. As stated previously, Metcalf was very good but not great for the Seahawks as their #1 wide receiver. He has been graded as above average to well above average among wide outs in every season he has played outside of his rookie year. But he has never been graded in the top 10 among wide outs and has had multiple years where he failed to cross the 1000-yard mark as well. With the addition of Smith-Njigba moving D.K Metcalf to the #2 wide out role, former #2 wide out Tyler Lockett has now been moved to the #3 wide out role for the team. Lockett consistently has crossed the 1000-yard mark in his career and has been consistently graded as above average to well above average in terms of an offense grade among NFL wide outs during his time in the NFL as well. Lockett with the emergence of Smith-Njigba and with Lockett now aging has fully transitioned to the #3 wide receiver role for Seattle. Lockett’s production took a big dip this past season with him having the among the least amount of receptions and reception yards in a single season for his career in 2024. Lockett also logged the lowest offense grade of his career as well during the 2024 season as he fully transitioned to the #3 wide receiver role along with turning 32 years old as well. The tight end spot for the Seahawks is led by former first round pick Noah Fant who is inconsistent but at times effective. Fant, as a 2019 first rounder has consistently logged yards in the ~500 yard range but Pro Football Focus has only graded him as above average in 2 of 6 seasons. In the two seasons he was graded as above average, he was only graded as slightly above average as well. 2024 fourth rounder A.J Barner was the remaining tight end for the Seattle Seahawks who spent a significant amount of time on the field for the team. Barner accumulated 30 receptions for 245 yards and was graded (32/45) in terms of an offense grade among tight ends as well.
Overall, the Seahawks on the offensive side of the ball leave much to be desired although they do possess a lot of talent particularly at the skill positions. The Seahawks offensive line is in the definitive discussion for the being the worst unit in the NFL. The Seahawks skill players are very good but not great. As Smith-Njigba as a #1 wide out has yet to prove to be in the class among the best #1 wide outs in the NFL, and Tyler Lockett had a career worst year and is aging. Noah Fant is far too inconsistent at tight end as well, although capable. The running backs for the Seahawks are graded very highly as former high draft picks but have lacked in statistical output thus far although that is more the result of poor offensive line play. But the meager statistical production of the halfbacks is certainly still maybe a sign of the fact that they are very good but not great at the position. All the above combined with Geno Smith still being average in terms of NFL starting quarterbacks, although he is still effective as well. The team having fired their offensive coordinator from the 2024 season and having just hired a new one. Along with head coach Mike MacDonald still being a young defensive minded head coach, all contribute to Seattle on the offensive side of the ball being average-ish. The combination of the teams points per game average and yards per game average would indicate that the team on the offensive side of the ball was indeed exactly average during 2024. As the team ranked 18th in points per game and 14th in yards per game. Pro Football Focus also graded them as the #16 offensive attack in the NFL, exactly average in that department as well. Looking forward to 2025, things do not seem to be looking up for the team on that side of the ball, as the team currently ranks (30/32) in terms of cap space, and are faced with the proposition of another new offensive coordinator as well. From an optimistic standpoint perhaps new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can click with Geno Smith and the offense can take a big step forward with head coach Mike MacDonald going into year 2 as well. The team also has many young high draft picks who are in line to continue to improve such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Charles Cross, and Abraham Lucas.
With the new hire of Mike MacDonald who is a defensive minded head coach, the defensive side of the ball was the emphasis for Seattle this past season. The team was solid but not spectacular on the defensive end in year 1 under new head coach MacDonald as the team’s defensive ranks were the following for the 2024 season.
Seahawks 2024 defensive ranks
12th in points per game allowed
14th in yards per game allowed
14th in defense grade according to Pro Football Focus
Mike MacDonald did an excellent job with the Ravens defense during the 2023 season as the team’s defensive coordinator. His defense with the Ravens in 2023 allowed the fewest points in the regular season despite having good but not great defensive personnel. I conducted a similar analysis of Seattle’s defensive personnel just as I did for the offense which can be found below.
Seahawks Key Defensive Lineman
ED1 – Derick Hall – (83/135) defense grade over 673 snaps in 2024, 2023 second round pick, C to C+ caliber player
ED2 – Dre’mont Jones – (112/135) defense grade over 617 snaps in 2024, C+ to B- caliber player
ED3 – Boye Mafe – (26/135) defense grade over 607 snaps in 2024, B to B+ caliber player
ED4 – Uchenna Nwosu – (70/135) defense grade over 190 snaps in 2024, B caliber player
DL1 – Leonard Williams – (4/146) defense grade over 750 snaps in 2024, A- caliber player
DL2 – Jarran Reed – (23/146) defense grade over 679 snaps in 2024, B to B- caliber player, free agent
DL3 – Byron Murphy II – (68/146) defense grade over 457 snaps in 2024, B to B- caliber player thus far as 2024 first rounder
DL4 – Jonathan Hankins – (140/146) defense grade over 389 snaps in 2024, D+ to C- caliber player, free agent
DL5 – Roy Robertson-Harris – (99/146) defense grade over 398 snaps in 2024, B caliber player
As you can see from the above set of data the Seahawks have one of the more talented defensive lines in the NFL today. They have six different players who I evaluated to be in the B range or higher out of the 9 players who logged substantial snaps for them in the 2024 season. The remaining three players who were not in that range still had some redeeming qualities to them as well. Derick Hall, who I graded to be in the C to C+ range was a 2023 second round pick who improved a lot from his 2023 rookie season to 2024. Dre’Mont Jones who I graded to be in the C+ to B- range was only not graded higher as a result of the fact that 2024 was his first season as an edge rusher after being an interior defensive lineman the previous five years of his career. Jones based on his play the previous five years as an interior defensive lineman would have warranted a grade in the B range or higher. Perhaps he can adjust to being an edge rusher in year 2 onwards and produce much closer to the level he produced at earlier in his career. Jonathan Hankins who I assessed to be in the D+ to C- range is a former second round pick who has really struggled for the past 3-4 seasons but prior to that was one of the better defensive lineman in the NFL. Jarran Reed is the only significant player on the Seattle defensive line who is a free agent entering this offseason. If the team can retain him, if Derick Hall can continue to grow as a young player, and if Dre’Mont Jones can adapt to life as an edge rusher. The Seahawks defensive line heading into 2025 will be one of the more formidable units in the NFL.
I conducted a similar type of assessment for the teams linebacking unit as well which can be found below.
Seahawks Significant Linebackers
LB1 – Ernest Jones – (59/92) defense grade over 995 snaps in 2024, B to B+ caliber player, free agent
LB2 – Tyrel Dodson – (45/93) defense grade over 603 snaps in 2024, traded to Dolphins in middle of 2024 season
LB3 – Tyrice Knight – (46/92) defense grade over 550 snaps in 2024, 2024 4th round pick, C+ to B- thus far
LB4 – Jerome Baker –(52/92) defense grade over 291 snaps in 2024, traded to Titans in middle of season
As you can see from the above data, the Seahawks had one really talented linebacker in Ernest Jones who had a down year in 2024 and is now a free agent. Going forward the team should look to resign him as his production outside of 2024 was much better. The Seahawks should also be optimistic that 2024 fourth rounder Tyrice Knight can take the next step in his evolution going into year 2 now. The overall unit’s production counting the two players who found new teams in the middle of 2024 was pretty average to mediocre if you factor in all their defense grades.
I conducted a similar analysis of the Seahawks secondary for the 2024 season heading into the 2025 offseason which can also be found below.
Seahawks Significant Secondary Players
S1 – Julian Love – (6/104) defense grade in 2024 over 1079 snaps, B+ to A- caliber player
S2 – Coby Bryant – (23/104) defense grade in 2024 over 785 snaps, B to B+ caliber player
S3 – Rayshawn Jenkins – (93/104) defense grade in 2024 over 550 snaps, C+ caliber player
CB1 – Devon Witherspoon – (10/128) defense grade in 2024 over 1103 snaps, A to A+ caliber player, 5th overall pick in 2023
CB2 – Tariq Woolen – (48/128) defense grade in 2024 over 889 snaps, B to B+ caliber player
CB3 – Josh Jobe – (115/128) defense grade in 2024 over 443 snaps, D+ to C- caliber player, free agent
CB4 – Tre Brown – (108/128) defense grade in 2024 over 290 snaps, C caliber player, free agent
CB5 – Artie Burns – (1/128) defense grade in 2024 over 51 snaps, B to B+ caliber player, free agent
As you can see from the above data the Seahawks possess one of the more talented secondaries in professional football. The high-end talent present in the unit with regards to the team’s first two safeties and the team’s first two corners ranks up there with any team in the NFL. The team however lacked depth as the production they got from their #3 safety and #3 corner positions really lacked this past season. If Seattle can address that need heading into the offseason, then their secondary will be amongst the best in the NFL heading into 2025.
Overall on the defensive side of the ball, a similar story of average play marred the Seahawks this past season as was the case on the offensive side of the ball. If you scroll up and see all their defensive ranks again. They ranked 11th-14th in all the major categories which signifies average to slightly above average caliber play. The team had a very good defensive line and a very good secondary but they were certainly not great in either regard. The team also had an average to a below average linebacking unit which contributed to the good but not great overall personnel they had on the defensive side of the ball. The good but not great personnel combined with defensive minded head coach Mike MacDonald being in his first season lead to the relatively average output on the defensive end. Having recently hired a defensive minded head coach the Seahawks are clearly striving to have a defensive identity as a team led by elite play on that side of the ball. If the Seahawks want to have an elite defense next season, they will need to take their secondary and/or their defensive line from very good to great. They will also need to patch up their linebacking unit as well which was the weakness of the defense. If the team upgrades their personnel on the defensive end with defensive minded head coach Mike MacDonald going into year 2, the Seahawks can certainly expect to have elite output on that side of the ball in 2025.
In totality the Seahawks, as I have stated numerous times, have been the epitome of average-ness in the NFL over the past several years. Their record this past season along with each and every one of their rankings in major team statistical and grading categories indicate this unfortunate average trend as well. If the Seahawks wish to break that trend, they will need to take their defensive personnel from very good to great, they will need to get better offensive line play, and they will need to have their team be coached at a better level heading into year 2 of the Mike MacDonald era with new coordinators on both sides of the ball as well. Being a Super Bowl caliber team in 2025 will be hard pressed for the Seahawks to achieve given that they did not even make the playoffs in 2024 and they currently rank 30th in cap space. But they can certainly be a dangerous playoff team with potentially an elite defense and elite skill players if they play their cards right this offseason.