Field Gulls
The Seattle Seahawks entered Mike Macdonald’s tenure hoping for a defensive turnaround.
Two years later, it’s fair to say they’ve gotten one.
What was once one of the roster’s biggest weaknesses has become one of its greatest strengths. Macdonald’s scheme has brought versatility, aggression, and, perhaps most importantly, development. Several players have elevated their games since his arrival, helping transform Seattle into one of the league’s more difficult defenses to face.
The encouraging part for Seahawks fans? Many of the defense’s most intriguing pieces are still young.
Veterans like Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence provide proven leadership and production, while stars such as Devon Witherspoon have already established themselves as cornerstone players. But the next step for Seattle may depend on another wave of talent taking on larger roles and making significant jumps in production.
If that happens, the Seahawks could field an even more dangerous defense in 2026.
Few players enter the NFL with a physical profile as unique as Nick Emmanwori.
From the moment Seattle drafted him, it was obvious the organization viewed him as far more than a traditional safety. His combination of size, speed, range, and explosiveness gives defensive coaches an almost unlimited number of options.
And if there’s one coach who knows how to maximize that type of player, it’s Mike Macdonald.
Throughout his career, Macdonald has built defenses around versatile defenders capable of filling multiple roles. Safeties in his system aren’t simply deep coverage players. They’re expected to blitz, rotate into the box, cover tight ends, disguise coverages, and move around the formation depending on the matchup.
That’s exactly the type of role Emmanwori was built for.
The biggest hurdle for most rookie defensive backs isn’t physical talent. It’s processing speed. Learning adjustments, understanding route concepts, mastering communication responsibilities, and reacting instinctively all take time.
Once those mental aspects begin to click, however, athletic gifts tend to take over.
If Emmanwori adapts as quickly as Seattle hopes, he could become one of the most impactful pieces in the secondary before the season is over.
Not every breakout candidate arrives with first-round expectations.
Sometimes the biggest jumps come from players whose development gets delayed before it ever begins.
Rylie Mills might fit that description perfectly.
When Seattle selected the former Notre Dame defensive lineman, much of the conversation centered around the injury that ended his final college season. In many ways, 2025 became a redshirt year. The focus wasn’t on immediate production but on recovery, development, and preparing for the long term.
Now comes the opportunity to show why the Seahawks were so interested in him in the first place.
One trait that repeatedly came up during the draft process was Mills’ get-off. Seattle’s coaching staff consistently praised his first-step quickness and ability to win immediately after the snap. Before his playoff injury, many evaluators believed he had significantly more draft value than where he was ultimately selected.
Now healthy and entering his second season, Mills finds himself in...
