The Seahawks did not turn over much this offseason, and that was on display in their opener against the Patriots. Seattle had only four of its new free-agent additions on the field last week, and only one of them made much noise. The rest were mostly background pieces in a roster built so deep that a couple of them might not have dressed at all if the team had been fully healthy.
That’s part of the point under John Schneider and Mike Macdonald. Seattle keeps talking about the “70” - 53 on the active roster and 17 on the practice squad, all expected to be ready. With Zach Charbonnet, Nick Emmanwori, and Ty Okada unavailable on Wednesday, a few of the newcomers got their chance to fit that idea.
Rodney Thomas II was the one who made the strongest case. Signed to a one-year, 1.4-million-dollar deal after four seasons in Indianapolis, Thomas entered a crowded safety room and didn’t exactly look like a lock.
Julian Love was back. Emmanwori and Okada were in the mix.
Schneider had also drafted Bud Clark in Round 2, and the depth chart was already packed with AJ Finley, Maxen Hook, and D’Anthony Bell.
Thomas ignored all of that and played like someone who belonged. He logged 70 defensive snaps, finished with four tackles, and gave up just two catches for nine yards.
He also got a hand on a deep ball to Romeo Doubs, a play that helped set up Nehemiah Pritchett’s interception and became one of the game’s turning points. When Okada returns, Thomas figures to slide back to the bench, but he showed he can handle a real role when called on.
Dante Fowler, Jr. had a much quieter night. Seattle brought him in in May to help replace Boye Mafe, and his deal can climb to five million with incentives, making it the team’s biggest free-agent commitment of the offseason.
But in his first game, Fowler was basically a non-factor. He played 16 defensive snaps, rushed the passer eight times, and did not record a pressure.
It’s too early to call that a problem, but it is worth monitoring. Fowler is 32 and comes off a season with just three sacks. If the production doesn’t pick up soon, Connor O’Toole could start getting more work as a pass rusher.
Emanuel Wilson also came up short in his first Seahawks outing. Seattle signed him expecting he could fill in while Charbonnet was out, but preseason suggested George Holani had already passed him.
That looked true again against New England. Wilson played only three offensive snaps, ran twice for three yards, and was stopped for no gain on a key third-and-one early in the fourth quarter.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba cleaned that up on the next snap, so it did not end up hurting Seattle.
For now, the early read on Seattle’s new free agents is pretty simple: Thomas stood out, Fowler stayed quiet, and Wilson never really got going.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 2 Availability Problem Against Arizona
Tory Hortons return to a full practice was one of the brighter developments around the Seahawks this week, especially after the rookie receiver spent so long working his way back from the tibia fracture that ended his 2024 season in Week 9. Seattle could use any bit of good news on the health front with Arizona coming up, and Horton getting through a full session for the first time since then at least gives the offense another name to monitor as the week goes on.
The bigger concern, though, is the churn on the rest of the roster. Sam Darnold was held out of practice with a glute injury, Nick Emmanwori was limited by ankle and hip issues, and Ty Okada and Cooper Kupp also showed up on the list in some capacity. For a team trying to get through the early part of the schedule without losing footing, the Seahawks are suddenly dealing with a lot of moving parts before a divisional game that already carries more than the usual amount of urgency. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head To Arizona With Two Big Questions Still Hanging
A Week 1 win over New England gave Seattle an early boost, but the trip to Arizona is already bringing a sharper test of where this team really stands. The numbers paint a mixed picture for both sides, with the Seahawks and Cardinals entering the matchup carrying some encouraging efficiency indicators and some lingering questions from last season and the opener.
For Seattle, the bigger issue is not simply whether the fast start was real, but whether it can travel against a divisional opponent that will force the same kind of clean execution. The statistical case for Sunday points to a game that should be tight, and the Seahawks head into it with two unresolved questions that could shape the tone of their season long before the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Now Faces The Seahawks Test That Really Matters
Drew Locks first start of the 2023 season gave the Seahawks exactly what they needed after Sam Darnold went down in Week 1. Filling in against the Patriots, Lock threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and helped Seattle leave with a win, a solid opening act for a quarterback who had to step in without much runway.
Mike Macdonald came away encouraged by the way Lock handled the moment, pointing to his professionalism and the steadiness he brought in a backup role. Now comes the harder part for Seattle, though, because one good relief outing is only the beginning of the test for a team trying to stay on track while its quarterback situation remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]