ClutchPoints
For a decade, the Seattle Seahawks have been a good team but not a great one. They’ve made playoff appearances, delivered highlight-reel moments, and remained a tough out in the NFC. However, they haven’t broken through to the conference championship since 2014. Now, as they open 2025 training camp, the franchise finds itself at an interesting spot. If Mike Macdonald’s squad is going to play well into January, the defense will need to carry the flag. Even a top-10 defense can only do so much, though, if the other side of the ball doesn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
It’s been a full decade since the Seahawks last made it beyond the divisional round. This offseason, they went all-in on change, starting with the offense. Out went coordinator Ryan Grubb, replaced by Klint Kubiak to usher in a more balanced, run-first identity. Then came the shockwaves. Geno Smith was dealt to the Raiders, and franchise cornerstone DK Metcalf was traded to the Steelers.
In their place, Seattle is betting big on two proven names. Sam Darnold arrives fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. That’s where he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, but also endured a nine-sack playoff meltdown. That underscored how badly he needs protection. To replace Metcalf, the Seahawks landed Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. His precision and reliability could steady the passing game.
On the other side of the ball, there’s far less drama. The defense returns almost everyone and gets an added boost from second-round pick Nick Emmanwori at safety. That unit looks ready to contend. The real question: will this rebuilt offense rise to meet the moment or be the reason Seattle falls short yet again?
Here we’ll try to look at the fatal flaw that the Seattle Seahawks must address in their 2025 NFL training camp.
Let’s be clear about something: Seattle’s fatal flaw heading into camp is its offensive line. Sure, there’s more optimism than there was at this time a year ago. However, question marks still loom everywhere except left tackle. Charles Cross remains a bright spot and anchor, but beyond him, there’s little certainty.
The Seahawks used a first-round pick on Grey Zabel. They hope he can stabilize the left guard position as a rookie. The rest of the projected starting line, which includes center Olu Oluwatimi, right guard Anthony Bradford, and right tackle Abraham Lucas, struggled in 2024. They collectively posted below-average PFF grades and failed to hold up in both pass and run blocking.
Lucas, in particular, is a major concern. He’s played in just 13 of 34 possible games over the past two seasons due to injury. The best ability is availability, and so far, Lucas has struggled to provide it.
Darnold’s 2024 success in Minnesota came with a significant caveat. He held on to the ball longer than almost anyone else in the league....
