Tag Archives: Mike Macdonald

Fowler (maybe) completes roster; now how good is it?

The signing of Dante Fowler Jr. does a couple of things for Seattle: (1) Finishes the replacement of the four key free agents who left and (2) potentially upgrades the pass rush by a bit.

The roster is now largely set – with maybe seven spots up for grabs or rotation — as the Seahawks prepare for another Super Bowl title run in 2026.

The question is: How much better are the Hawks now than they were in their 2025 championship season?

More important: Are they good enough on defense to stop Matthew Stafford’s Rams?

Continue reading Fowler (maybe) completes roster; now how good is it?

Pending one addition, roster looks stronger after draft

The Seahawks were down two starters and two top reserves as they entered the draft, and they spent the weekend backfilling at running back, safety and cornerback while making .

In the end, we think they might have upgraded over Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen with Jadarian Price, Bud Clark and Julian Neal.

They also made a smart move to give up a 2027 fourth-rounder to get into this fifth round and grab Beau Stephens, who should push and potentially replace Anthony Bradford at right guard.

Continue reading Pending one addition, roster looks stronger after draft

‘No secret’: Hawks want to trade down

“It’s no secret with us, guys. We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back.” – John Schneider

It’s draft week – finally!

Free agency slowed to a trickle five weeks ago, so it has been a long, slow wait for the NFL’s Christmas Day. But it is upon us.

This is considered one of the lesser-talented drafts in several years, which John Schneider anticipated when he traded his fourth- and fifth-round picks for Rashid Shaheed last season. The Hawks have four picks (32, 64, 96, 188) as the week begins, and their top positional needs are running back, edge rusher, defensive back and interior offensive line.

The Hawks also need to focus on finding defenders who can help them stop their biggest nemesis, the Rams. That could mean an edge rusher who gets “quick wins,” as Mike Macdonald has said, or maybe another Swiss Army knife coverage guy in the mold of Nick Emmanwori.

Schneider announced Monday that he plans to try to trade down from 32 – obviously to add a pick and get better value for his first selection. Beyond that, though, there is much debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price or a top defensive player.

Rather than putting our breakdown in one giant post, we have broken it out into the following sections:

Quibbling over Price

Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trades: A running back?

Who are the Rams beaters?

What about offensive line on Day 2?

With three weeks until the draft, most of the focus around the Seahawks is on getting them a cornerback and running back.

One position that is not being mentioned a lot for Seattle is offensive line. That’s because the Hawks have one of the best lines they have had during the John Schneider era. Of course it is all relative. This line was ranked 15th in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus and 17th by Pro Football Network. Only the 2020 unit has ranked higher since 2010 (when Schneider became GM).

The Hawks obviously are locked in at the tackles and left guard for the next few years, which is great news. But center and right guard are positions that can be upgraded. Might the Hawks consider it, even with just four picks?

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Macdonald: ‘We have to rebecome the team we are destined to be’

“We’re a new team, and we have to rebecome the team that we’re destined to be.” – Mike Macdonald, sounding like Yoda at the owners meetings in Phoenix

Mike Macdonald channeled the wizened Jedi master when he told everyone that the Seahawks are “not defending anything” and need to “rebecome” a Super Bowl team all over again.

Macdonald offered some great team-rebuilding philosophy and also talked about various elements of his roster – among other things, saying he expects DeMarcus Lawrence back, looks forward to Rashid Shaheed’s growth in the offense and has high expectations for new and younger players.

Continue reading Macdonald: ‘We have to rebecome the team we are destined to be’

Savvy coaching moves, plus markets for Walker & others

The offseason comes fast for Super Bowl champs, but Mike Macdonald and John Schneider were ready for it.

The Super Bowl celebration is over, and Macdonald is already back to Chasing Edges with some new coaching hires. Meanwhile, in what is no surprise, the Seahawks apparently are not considering the franchise tag for Kenneth Walker III.

Let’s run down the intriguing coaching moves by Macdonald and then take a look at Walker’s situation and project the markets for Seattle’s other key free agents.

Continue reading Savvy coaching moves, plus markets for Walker & others

Back-to-back? Defense that dominated Pats will return in 2026

In his first team meeting in 2024, Mike Macdonald predicted the Seahawks would be in the NFC Championship Game.

“It’s inevitable,” he told his first group of Seahawks, which included many of the guys who beat the Rams in the NFC title game a couple weeks ago.

Macdonald did not predict a Super Bowl win, but he and his team delivered that Sunday, beating the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Afterward, he said he had “100% confidence” that his team would win. That’s certainly how it felt to us (we had predicted a 31-13 win).

Macdonald brought a vision to Seattle, and – along with some great help from John Schneider — he has made it come to life by creating the best defense in the NFL. It is a unit that is poised to dominate in 2026 — and probably beyond.

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Hawks 29, Patriots 13: Super Bowl LX highlights

The Seahawks dominated the Patriots 29-13 in Super LX. Here are all the highlights:

Continue reading Hawks 29, Patriots 13: Super Bowl LX highlights

Another Super Bowl vs. Patriots offers redemptive chance at a dynasty

In the lead-up to Super Bowl LX, there has been a lot of discussion about the previous Super Bowl between the Seahawks and Patriots.

Mike Macdonald’s team is not out to atone for the sins of Pete Carroll in that controversial Super Bowl XLIX giveaway. They DO NOT CARE about that, as Macdonald has made clear. Nor should they. They are their own team out to carve their own destiny.

But, while Carroll ruined a chance at a Seahawks dynasty by losing to those Patriots, it is perhaps apropos that Macdonald could very well begin a Seahawks dynasty by beating these Patriots.

Continue reading Another Super Bowl vs. Patriots offers redemptive chance at a dynasty

It’s Seahawks vs. Patriots Redux. There are tons of great storylines. Let’s check them out …

Sam Darnold is getting all kinds of well-deserved kudos for how he has rebounded from terrible situations in his first five seasons. Christian McCaffrey was teammates with him both in Carolina and San Francisco and calls him “one of my best friends and also an incredible player.” Josh Allen doesn’t usually watch the Super Bowl, but he will Sunday because he and Darnold (fellow 2018 first-round picks) are very good friends.

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