Since Mike Macdonald took the reins in Seattle, the Seahawks have undergone a transformation that’s as strategic as it is spectacular. This isn’t just a team that got hot at the right time - it’s a roster built with purpose, precision, and a whole lot of upside.
From breakout rookies to seasoned veterans, the 2025 Seahawks are a masterclass in roster construction. And it’s no wonder GM John Schneider just took home the Pro Football Writers of America’s Executive of the Year award.
He earned it.
Let’s break down how this roster came together - and why it’s working at every level.
Rookies Making a Statement
- LG Grey Zabel
- S Nick Emmanwori
When your top two draft picks walk in and immediately become difference-makers, you know you’ve done something right. Zabel, the first-rounder, didn’t just hold his own - he helped power an offensive leap from 18th to third in points per game.
That’s massive. And Emmanwori?
He’s in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The second-round safety has been a tone-setter on the back end, showing instincts and physicality well beyond his years.
These aren’t just rookies - they’re foundational pieces.
Second-Year Surge
- C Jalen Sundell
- DT Byron Murphy
- TE AJ Barner
Year two is where you hope to see the leap - and Seattle got it. Murphy was a force in the trenches, tying for the team lead in sacks (seven) while anchoring the run defense.
Sundell solidified the interior of the offensive line, and Barner emerged as a reliable target in the passing game. These guys aren’t just filling roles - they’re elevating them.
Third-Year Playmakers
- RB Zach Charbonnet
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- RG Anthony Bradford
- S Ty Okada
- CB Devon Witherspoon
- LB Drake Thomas
This group is the heart of the Seahawks’ young core - and they’re thriving. Smith-Njigba didn’t just break out; he exploded, leading the league in receiving and putting himself firmly in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year. Witherspoon, meanwhile, continued his ascent as one of the league’s top corners, earning second-team All-Pro honors from the AP and first-team nods from Pro Football Focus.
And let’s not forget the draft class that brought them here. The 2023 haul - headlined by Witherspoon at No. 5 (thanks, Denver) and JSN at No. 20 - was a franchise-changer. Add in Charbonnet and Derick Hall from the second round, and you’re looking at a draft class that reshaped Seattle’s trajectory.
Fourth-Year Foundation
- RB Kenneth Walker III
- RT Abraham Lucas
- LT Charles Cross
- S Coby Bryant
- CB Riq Woolen
- OLB Boye Mafe
Here’s where the Seahawks’ long-term planning really shines. Every single player in this group was drafted in 2022 - and all of them are still key contributors.
Cross and Lucas have been ironmen on the offensive line, with Lucas playing every offensive snap and Cross just a few behind. Mafe continues to grow as a pass rusher, and Woolen remains a ballhawk in the secondary.
This is the kind of draft class that builds a championship window - and keeps it open.
Savvy Acquisitions Paying Off
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- CB Josh Jobe
- LB Ernest Jones IV
These aren’t just depth pieces - they’re impact players. Shaheed, acquired via trade from the Saints, has added a dynamic vertical threat to the offense.
Jobe, picked up as a free agent in 2024, has been a steady presence in the secondary. And Jones, brought over from Tennessee, has been a stabilizing force at linebacker.
These moves didn’t make the biggest headlines at the time, but they’re looking like home runs now.
Veteran Leadership, Big-Time Impact
- QB Sam Darnold (Year 8)
- OLB Uchenna Nwosu (Year 8)
- P Michael Dickson (Year 8)
- WR Cooper Kupp (Year 9)
- K Jason Myers (Year 11)
- DT Leonard Williams (Year 11)
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Year 12)
Let’s start with Darnold and Kupp. Both were bold free agent moves - and both have paid off in a big way. Darnold has played some of the best football of his career, and Kupp has been a steadying force in the receiving corps, bringing championship experience and elite route-running.
On special teams, Myers led the league in points, and Dickson earned second-team All-Pro honors - a testament to the hidden yardage battle Seattle has been winning all year. And on defense, Williams and Lawrence have been ageless wonders, wrecking pockets and setting the tone up front. These guys are seasoned, but they’re playing like they’ve found the fountain of youth.
A Roster Built for Complementary Football
Mike Macdonald has preached it all year: complementary football. Offense, defense, and special teams feeding off each other.
And when you look at this roster - with impact players across every experience level - it’s clear that philosophy isn’t just coach-speak. It’s the identity of this team.
From rookies like Emmanwori and Zabel, to third-year stars like JSN and Witherspoon, to veterans like Kupp and Lawrence, this Seahawks squad has found the sweet spot between youth and experience, upside and consistency.
They’re not just knocking on the door of a Super Bowl - they’ve built a roster that’s ready to kick it down.