If you’re trying to figure out why the Seahawks keep showing up in the conversation for best defense in the NFL, the answer starts with the simple stuff: they don’t give up points. In 2025, that was the difference, even if fantasy football players want to chase sacks and turnovers instead.
That distinction matters. The fantasy world can get a little sideways because splash plays get all the attention, but Seattle’s case is built on something sturdier.
By the standard that actually decides games, the Seahawks were the league’s best defense in 2025. Houston is right there too, and there’s no argument against that.
Denver is obviously strong, though its aggressive pass rush may earn it a bit too much credit. And as for the rebuilt Rams, loaded with Pro Bowl names, they still have to prove it on the field.
What makes Seattle stand out is the way the whole operation is wired. Mike Macdonald is steering the ship, with Leslie Frazier helping as assistant head coach and Aden Durde serving as defensive coordinator.
Just as important, the roster doesn’t have obvious weak spots. There’s depth across the board, which matters over a long season when injuries inevitably hit.
Start up front, where the Seahawks may have the best defensive line in football. Leonard Williams is still doing All-Pro things at 32, and Byron Murphy II looks like a superstar in the making thanks to his leverage at the point of attack.
Jarran Reed brings the veteran presence, Rylie Mills adds explosiveness, and Brandon Pili and Mike Morris are there when called upon. Could the group be even better?
Sure. Williams and Reed won’t stay at this level forever.
But right now, this is the foundation of the defense.
The edge group has a different feel, but it’s still dangerous. DeMarcus Lawrence changed the tone of the unit last year and helped turn it from solid to dominant.
With Boye Mafe gone after his sack total led some people to underrate him, veteran Dante Fowler Jr. steps in as a short-term answer. The name to watch, though, is Derick Hall.
He looks primed for a breakout season and could have a huge year. There is some worry that Lawrence, Fowler, and Uchenna Nwosu could decline because of age, and Seattle still hasn’t clearly found the next star edge rusher beyond Hall.
That may not be a problem this season, but it is something John Schneider and Macdonald will have to keep in mind, and likely address in next year’s draft.
At linebacker, Ernest Jones IV gives the group real bite. He’s coming off his first Pro Bowl and has become a clear leader since arriving midway through the 2024 season, which is when this defense started its climb toward greatness.
Drake Thomas played so well last season that Tyrice Knight, who would start for plenty of teams, is still in a backup role. Patrick O’Connell rounds out a group that fits the rest of the defense: fast and aggressive.
Cornerback is where the Seahawks are strong, but not quite finished. Devon Witherspoon is one of the league’s best, and Josh Jobe gives them a dependable CB2.
The depth behind them is where the questions start. Trevon Diggs was recently signed and could help if he can stay healthy, but that has been a problem for some time.
Julian Neal is a rookie who still has to catch up, and Nehemiah Pritchett may have another level to reach. That depth issue is part of why John Schneider has been so involved with the Terrion Arnold situation.
Nick Emmanwori deserves special mention because he doesn’t fit neatly into one bucket. He came in as a safety, but he has spent more time lining up as a nickel cornerback than as a traditional safety so far. However you classify him, he adds another layer to the secondary.
At safety, Julian Love is the big name. Injuries limited him much of last season, and the league may have forgotten just how good he is.
He should remind everyone soon. Ty Okada stepped up and played like a quality starter while Love was out.
Bud Clark is the one concern in the group, though the fact that he hasn’t been producing highlight-reel plays early in training camp shouldn’t be overblown. John Schneider and Macdonald have earned some trust there.
AJ Finley could start for a lot of teams, and D’Anthony Bell has a real chance to make the final roster.
If Emmanwori is used as a traditional strong safety, he would be a perennial Pro Bowler, and paired with Love, Seattle might have the best safety tandem in football, or at least one that matches Detroit’s. Even without that version of him, the Seahawks are in good shape. If Clark reaches his ceiling, the grade rises again.
Special teams fits the same theme. This is how they are listed on the unofficial depth chart, and Myers and Dickson are both among the best in the league. Horton should handle most of the returns on kickoffs and punts, and he should be fine.
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Seahawks Suddenly Have A Kicking Problem As Milroe Makes His Case
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Jason Myers, though, is the storyline that lingers. His missed 52-yard field goal as time expired would have won it for Seattle, and it came against the backdrop of continued kicking struggles that have become hard to ignore. Jacardia Wright also had a quiet night, which only sharpened the contrast with Milroes performance and left the Seahawks with a preseason snapshot that felt equal parts promise and concern. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fans Already Have One Big Concern About Their New Owner
Vinod Khoslas first press conference as the Seahawks new owner was supposed to be a fresh start, but one answer immediately gave fans something to chew on. He acknowledged that he has been, and still is, a Steelers fan, a candid admission that landed awkwardly in Seattle and quickly stirred up criticism online and beyond.
Khosla pushed back on the backlash on social media, stressing that his support for Pittsburgh does not change his commitment to the Seahawks. Even so, the reaction had already taken on a life of its own, drawing commentary from media and even his own family, which only made the conversation around his first days in charge feel a little more complicated than he probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Have 3 Roster Concerns Hanging Over Week 1
The Seahawks are heading into their preseason finale against the Chiefs with the real work still ahead, since the next roster cutdown will force some hard decisions. Before Week 1 arrives, Seattle has to sort through a few lingering issues that go beyond the final exhibition, including how it wants to round out the back end of the roster and whether the current group is equipped to handle the early part of the season.
Safety Nick Emmanwori remains a name to watch as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery on the preseason PUP list, and the team is also weighing whether it needs more help at safety and receiver after recent injuries thinned those spots. On offense, rookie running back Jadarian Price is suddenly in the spotlight with Kenneth Walker III sidelined, and Mike Macdonald has sounded cautiously upbeat about both Emmanworis progress and Prices readiness even with limited preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]