The Seattle Seahawks walked into last season as a team nobody really talked about and walked out with a Lombardi Trophy. That’s the thing about Mike Macdonald’s group — they didn’t care what the national narrative was. They just kept winning.
Now the question is whether they can do it again. The Seahawks lost some key pieces in free agency, including running back Kenneth Walker III who signed a monster deal with Kansas City, plus defensive starters Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen. But the core of a Super Bowl winner is still intact, and the grades across the roster reflect that.
Let’s run through every position and see where Seattle stands as training camp approaches.
Quarterback: Sam Darnold’s encore matters
Rating: 7 out of 10
Darnold was fantastic in 2025. Nobody expected that. But the one-year wonder tag is real until he proves otherwise. New offensive coordinator, new system, same pressure to perform as he plays for a contract extension. Drew Lock returning as the backup gives Seattle a safety net that most teams don’t have. If Darnold is just solid — not spectacular — this number feels right.
Running back: The biggest hole on the roster
Rating: 5
Losing Walker hurts. A lot. The Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price from Notre Dame to start Week 1, but he was a committee back in college and now he’s being asked to carry the load. Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs, so he’s likely out until midseason. Behind Price are Emanuel Wilson and George Holani. That’s thin. That’s worrying.
Wide receiver: Still stacked
Rating: 8
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off an Offensive Player of the Year season and he’s only getting better. Rashid Shaheed is back as the deep threat. Cooper Kupp returns as the reliable veteran. Tory Horton showed flashes as a rookie before getting hurt, and Jake Bobo is still around. This might be the deepest receiver room in the NFC. The only question is health.
Tight end: Underrated but not flashy
Rating: 7
AJ Barner is the kind of player you don’t notice until you watch the tape. He blocks, catches everything, and never misses assignments. Elijah Arroyo has some juice as a second-year option. Nothing sexy here, but it works.
Offensive line: Solid if healthy
Rating: 7
The addition of Grey Zabel last season finally gave Seattle a line that didn’t get Darnold killed every week. Charles Cross and Abe Lucas are quality tackles. The problem is depth. If one starter goes down, things get ugly fast.
Defensive line: The strength of the team
Rating: 10
Even with Boye Mafe leaving for Cincinnati, this group is loaded. Byron Murphy is one of the best young defensive tackles in football. Leonard Williams can play like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate when he’s locked in. DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall, Jarran Reed, and free-agent pickup Dante Fowler Jr. give Macdonald endless rotation options. This is the best defensive line in the NFL.
Linebacker: Unsung heroes
Rating: 8
Ernest Jones IV was a great trade pickup in 2024 and he’s been excellent ever since. Drake Thomas emerged as one of those players who just makes plays every time he’s on the field. Tyrice Knight provides solid depth. This unit is quietly elite.
Defensive back: Still star-studded
Rating: 9
The secondary took the biggest hit in free agency. But Devon Witherspoon is a superstar, Nick Emmanwori looked like a veteran as a rookie nickel, and Julian Love, Josh Jobe, and Ty Okada all played well last season. The depth is thin. If one of these guys misses time, it’s a problem. If they’re all healthy, this is a top-three secondary in football.
Special teams: Perfect score
Rating: 10
Michael Dickson is still one of the best punters in the league. Jason Myers is reliable. The coverage units are stacked with starters who actually want to play special teams. And Shaheed returns punts and kicks like a guy who knows he can break one at any moment. This unit was the unsung hero of the Super Bowl run.
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