Is 2025 the year the Seattle Seahawks soar? With new faces like QB Sam Darnold and renewed focus on foundational strengths, head coach Mike Macdonald is navigating a season of high stakes. From defensive powerhouses to offensive line makeovers, the path to contention is anything but smooth. What are your predictions for the Hawks?

The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2025 NFL season under the watchful eye of second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, with expectations significantly elevated after a year of transition. The franchise aims to build on its foundational strengths while integrating new talent, making this a pivotal year for the team’s trajectory in the competitive NFC West.

A cornerstone of Macdonald’s defensive vision is a talented and versatile secondary. A third-year player has already distinguished himself as one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks, capable of excelling both outside and in the slot. With an impressive tally of 11 interceptions and 28 pass breakups over his first three seasons, combined with a career-high 82.2 PFF overall grade last season, this defensive anchor provides a robust foundation. Furthermore, the team bolstered its defensive backfield by drafting the uber-athletic in the second round, adding another layer of talent and potential to the unit.

However, the Seahawks’ path to success is not without significant hurdles, particularly concerning their offensive line, which proved to be a critical weakness in the 2024 season. This unit ranked a dismal 24th in PFF run-blocking grade and 29th in PFF pass-blocking grade, alarmingly allowing the fifth-highest pressure rate across the NFL. Heading into 2025, the team is largely banking on a group of unproven young players, including first-round pick Grey Zabel, to fill these crucial roles, a strategy that could lead to a bumpy transition period for the entire offense.

The offensive struggles could be further complicated by the arrival of new quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold joins the Seahawks following a career-best season with the Vikings, a performance that ultimately earned him a lucrative $100-million contract in Seattle. This move also reunites him with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who previously served as Darnold’s quarterbacks coach in San Francisco in 2023, suggesting a degree of familiarity and established rapport.

Two key elements expected to carry over from Darnold’s successful previous stints are a heavy reliance on play-action and deep passes. Last season, he ranked fifth in the NFL in play-action PFF passing grade and thirteenth in deep PFF passing grade, demonstrating an aptitude for these high-impact plays. This strategic emphasis by Klint Kubiak could be instrumental in unlocking Darnold’s potential and diversifying the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive attack.

On the defensive interior, the presence of Leonard Williams remains a formidable asset. In his tenth NFL season, Williams earned a career-high 87.1 PFF overall grade, ranking fourth among qualified defensive tackles. His exceptional work against the run, highlighted by a 79.5 PFF run-defense grade and 26 run stops (both top-10 marks in the NFL), is invaluable. Additionally, his 55 pressures were the second most of his career, underscoring his continued disruptive capability.

Running back Kenneth Walker III is poised for a significant role in Klint Kubiak’s zone scheme, with the new offensive coordinator prioritizing getting him the football more frequently than in past seasons. While this presents an exciting opportunity for a career-best fantasy football season, Walker’s injury history is a significant concern, having missed 10 games over the past three seasons and playing through injury in several others. His ability to stay healthy will undoubtedly be a defining factor in the Seahawks’ ground game.

Overall, the 2025 Seattle Seahawks are a team in flux, blending proven defensive talent with a revamped offensive core and unproven potential along the offensive line. The synergy between new quarterback Sam Darnold and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, coupled with the continued growth of defensive stars and the health of key offensive weapons like Kenneth Walker III, will dictate whether Mike Macdonald’s second year ushers in an era of sustained success or presents another year of development.