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What is going on with the 2025 Seattle Seahawks?
John Schneider’s new approach to the offseason has left the league in a bit of disbelief as we sit here, halfway through March. Following yet another shocking QB trade, Schneider doubled down by trading away the team’s most famous offensive player.
As fascinating as all that was, it’s been followed up yet again with a slew of interesting signings.
In just two weeks, Seattle has not only turned over a significant portion of the top-end talent of its roster, but firmly entrenched themselves in a new approach to free agency.
They’re signing guys you’ve heard of.
A year after the 2024 Free Agent class that boasted:
Pharaoh Brown
Laviska Shenault
Nick Harris
Tremayne Anchrum
K’Von Wallace
The Seahawks have made the following additions:
Sam Darnold
DeMarcus Lawrence
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Cooper Kupp
But the biggest difference is not in the name-recognition, fun as it is to have media reminiscing about the new players’ best plays, instead of me sitting at home going “who?” while they sign another B.J. Finney.
The difference this spring is that John Schneider went full tilt from safe and boring (and financially ill-advised) to unsafe, boom-or-bust, interesting (and possibly still financially ill-advised).
The guys they let go – Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett. Those are safe. You know *nearly exactly what you’re getting with all three of those. Extremely low injury history. Know the team, the coach, the culture. Consistent play, with only Lockett in danger of age-based drop-off. * I say nearly because Geno’s red-zone interceptions are a thing unto themselves. Nobody knows what he’s doing down there. But outside of that he’s been a remarkably consistent 10% above league-average at worst for three years.
Those guy were known commodities and not overly volatile, despite what a portion of the fanbase has routinely decried over Metcalf. Y’all ever even seen his new friend George Pickens play?
But now consider the new guys.
Sam Darnold – 3,667 snaps that point towards him not being the guy. About 980 last season that said he might be the guy, followed by another 130 that left us very concerned.
DeMarcus Lawrence – 33 years old next month, played only four games last year, in which some say he was the best player on the field. Definition of boom-or-bust.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – his entire career is built on a boom-or-bust playstyle. Been to the Super Bowl, caught a TD there, made a bunch of dudes MVPs, has a career yards per reception over 17, which is just ridiculous. He’s a deep go runner, who’s 30.
Cooper Kupp – Triple Crown winner and best receiver in football three years ago, followed by that many ankle injuries plus more.
In short, this is just different than what we’re used to. The safe has not been retained, the risk has been sought. I’m old enough to remember when Schneider could get four backup tackles for one year of Cooper Kupp, and be proud to do it.
I’d not go as far as to say Schneider has put his job on the line for this year, but it leaves the team’s 2025 outlook barely predictable. Far more, it’s the polar opposite of a rebuild. Each of these moves has the ability to contribute to massive win potential, while leaving picks and dollars still on the table. There’s almost as big a chance they all flop, but the bet is different this year.
Instead of betting that a guy could go from roster-bubble to solid contributor at best, the bet is on three guys with All-Pro talent and one plus-contributor on explosive plays.
It is not boring, not advisable most years, and I am totally here for it.
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