A Seattle Times headline asked: With roster shuffling mostly done, are Seahawks closer to being a playoff team?
The answer to that question is “yes” – because John Schneider found an innovative new coach, improved the defensive line and secondary and seems to have made the offensive line and linebacker spots better, too.
Schneider hit what we consider to be home runs with the hiring of Mike Macdonald as coach, the re-signing of Leonard Williams and the drafting of Byron Murphy II in the first round. Macdonald wanted to “build a wall” — and those two guys should help do it.
In the draft, the Hawks also focused on adding blockers – three linemen and a tight end. And they added a much-needed linebacker and Auburn’s starting cornerbacks as well.
Here’s a positional rundown after the draft (RB not mentioned as nothing to note there).
Quarterback
The Seahawks reportedly tried to get into the top 10 to draft Michael Penix Jr., although that NFL Network report was debunked locally. We suspect they just did their diligence on price and never really thought they would make that move.
Schneider traded for Sam Howell because he knew quarterbacks would be hot commodities and he liked Howell better than Spencer Rattler or the other QBs who went after Day 1. The Hawks got Howell for the equivalent of the 110th pick (fourth round). Rattler went to the Saints with pick No. 150.
Asked about the future of the QB position, Schneider seemed kind of testy as he said, “Are you being serious right now?
“We just traded to get Sam Howell. He’s got two years left on his contract. … Geno’s here. We have a really cool room right now.
“I can’t tell you what our long-term plan is, because I honestly don’t know. But Sam is a huge part of it, because we made a major trade to get Sam before (the draft).”
Wide receiver
DK Metcalf trade rumors heated up again among some Seahawks fans ahead of the draft, but none of them came from reputable sources so there was no reason to think the Hawks would trade him. (Unlike 2022, when national reporters said there was leaguewide buzz about a possible Metcalf trade — and we thought one would happen.)
The Hawks did not draft a wideout this year, so Metcalf is going nowhere for now. However, Schneider and Macdonald do need to decide whether they want to pay him again next year.
The receiver market continues to accelerate. The Eagles recently signed A.J. Brown for $32 million a year and DeVonta Smith for $25 million, and Detroit signed Amon-Ra St. Brown for $30 million. Brown and St. Brown now are 1-2 in APY among NFL receivers.
Metcalf now ranks seventh at $24 million per year. Are the Hawks going to want to give him over $30 million?
Tight end
The Hawks were thin at this spot, but they now have loaded back up – re-signing Noah Fant and adding blocking specialists Pharaoh Brown and AJ Barner.
Just like Will Dissly in 2018, Barner was rated a sixth-rounder but was taken in the fourth. Dissly played up to the fourth-round status when he was healthy, so Schneider is making the same bet again (let’s just hope he doesn’t give Barner a ridiculous contract in four years).
Barner played at Michigan, where he was a special-teams mainstay under Jay Harbaugh, who now runs Seattle’s teams.
Macdonald said: “I think he can block and run pretty significant route tree as well and then he played for Jay on special teams in all four phases so we’re going to expect him to come contribute in the kicking game as well, as soon as he steps in the door.”
Offensive line
In early April, Schneider addressed the huge weakness at guard: “Hope to address things in the draft as much as we possibly can. We’re not playing games tomorrow, so we’ll continue to work our way through post draft, trades, summer, all that stuff. It’s not an area that’s being ignored.”
He wasn’t lying. The Hawks drafted three offensive linemen.
Christian Haynes, rated in the second round on the consensus board, slid to the third, where Seattle caught him. He started 49 games at right guard at UConn and should step into that spot in Seattle.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic said: “His play strength, football IQ and finishing mentality make him equipped for battle against NFL fronts. He has the floor of a high-level backup but should compete for starting reps at guard during his rookie season.”
Sixth-rounder Sataoa Laumea, who started at right guard and right tackle at Utah, had a fifth-round grade on the consensus board but a fourth-round rating by both Brugler and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com; both analysts think he could eventually be a starter. He will play guard in Seattle and could push Bradford and/or Tremayne Anchrum Jr. for the ninth or 10th line spot.
Sixth-round tackle Michael Jerrell is likely a practice squad guy.
Here’s the depth chart:
Defensive line
Earlier this offseason, Macdonald said, “We’re trying to build a wall up the middle. … You don’t want to get gashed up the middle of your defense. You’ve got to have the right guys who can play right there so you can get the job done.’’
The Hawks hope they have found the right guys in Murphy and 320-pound Johnathan Hankins. They are expected to shore up the middle of a unit that has ranked 26th or worse in yardage in four of the past five seasons and has been terrible against the run the past two years.
The Hawks rated Murphy the best defender in the draft – he was the second off the board in an offense-heavy first half of the session.
“He just plays our style of football really,” Macdonald said. “I mean, he’s so talented. Versatility along the front. Such an aggressive player. Plays violently. Heavy hands for a guy of shorter stature. Pass-rush flexibility. You name it. Yeah, just really excited to have him.”
Linebacker
Tyrice Knight was the biggest reach — and the pick that seemed to most irk fans. He was rated a sixth-rounder on the consensus board, but the Hawks took him in the fourth (118).
It was not a good year for linebackers — the first one went in the second round and five went in the third round — so we’ll have to hope Macdonald and his staff can coach up Knight.
Knight led the FBS with 84 solo tackles in 2023 and tied for sixth with 140 tackles. He also had 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and seven pass breakups.
Macdonald said Knight “sees the game quickly” and has the instincts to anticipate where the ball is going and get there first. “I think he brings some thump at the point of attack. … Linebackers are paid to make tackles. He makes a lot of tackles, so that’s a good thing.”
Knight told The Draft Network: “I use length to the best of my ability. Length gives me a unique advantage. It helps me keep the blockers from reaching my body. I’m a sideline-to-sideline defender. People underestimate my speed.”
Zierlein called Knight a “durable three-year starter with loads of tackle production on his résumé. Knight plays a floating, freestyling brand of football from the second level, looking for opportunities to knife in and make plays. While he racks up tackles, he fails to play within defensive structure full time and will lose run fits and overflow action outside the tackle box. He has average speed (4.63) and below-average man cover talent. His size and production will be looked upon favorably, but he might not play with the instincts needed to handle what he will see from NFL offenses.”
So he might be no more than a special-teams player, at best. The Hawks will be looking for more linebackers in 2025 even if they end up re-signing new veteran starters Tyrel Dodson and/or Jerome Baker, who are both in Seattle on one-year deals.
Cornerback
With most of their corners signed only for a year or two, the Hawks invested in the future depth of the position by drafting both of Auburn’s starters, Nehemiah Pritchett (fifth round) and D.J. James (sixth).
“We had those guys right together,” Schneider said, “so it was amazing that we ended up selecting both of them.”
It should be very competitive behind Devon Witherspoon. And Riq Woolen is officially on notice. Pritchett is at least as fast (4.36), and James was ranked a fourth-rounder on the consensus board (higher than Pritchett).
Brugler rated James (6-0, 175) a third-rounder: “James won’t be a fit for every scheme, because of his undersized build, but his quick feet will help him maintain phase in coverage. If he can handle big slots and improve his consistency as a tackler, he will compete for a starting nickel role in the NFL.”
Brugler on Pritchett (6-0, 190): “Pritchett needs to improve his tackling and downfield judgment skills, but his length, speed and football character are traits NFL teams want to bring into the building. He projects as a rotational cornerback for an NFL secondary.”
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