News Seahawks Team Notes

[Seattle Seahawks]

Report: Joe Milton III gets traded from Patriots to NFC team

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Before signing Sam Darnold, Milton was discussed as a potential option for the Seahawks at QB.

Another quarterback has found a new home this off-season.

The New England Patriots are sending QB Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs as the only two QBs on New England’s roster. The 25-year-old will join Dak Prescott in the Cowboys’ QB room for 2025.

Trade: New England is sending QB Joe Milton to the Dallas Cowboys, sources tell ESPN. With Cooper Rush going to Baltimore, Dallas now has a new backup for Dak Prescott. pic.twitter.com/AIVVuvsel2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025​

Milton was selected out of the University of Tennessee in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, appearing in relief of Maye during the Patriots’ season finale vs. the Buffalo Bills. In the game, Milton completed 22 out of 29 passes for 241 yards and got two touchdowns on the day (one passing, one rushing). Thanks to Milton’s efforts, New England prevailed over Buffalo by a score of 23-16.

Prior to signing Sam Darnold in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks were discussed by some fans and analysts as a possible landing spot for Milton. As noted by Field Gulls’ own John Tapia, Milton “was widely seen as a raw but physically gifted passer, with a massive rocket for an arm.” After Geno Smith was traded to the Raiders, Mike Macdonald’s options for a new QB were wide open, allowing him to try and find a signal-caller that he felt would best fit his vision for the Seahawks going forward.

Although Milton did not turn out to be that guy, it would have been fascinating to see what would have happened had Seattle been the team to trade for him. With only a little bit of playing time under his belt, Milton will be looking to show what he can do on the field over in Dallas.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/3...rading-joe-milton-iii-dallas-cowboys-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Another former Seahawks offensive lineman joins the Cardinals

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Jake Curhan returns to the NFC West.

A former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman is returning to the NFC West.

It was announced on Thursday that veteran tackle Jake Curhan has signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Curhan went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft but signed with the Seahawks shortly thereafter. The former Cal Bear made the initial Seahawks roster in 2021 and went on to start in five games for Seattle in 2021. Curhan did not start again for the Seahawks until 2023, when he started in four games. Over Curhan’s three seasons in Seattle, he started nine games (all at right tackle), and played in 29 games.

After his three-year undrafted free agent contract expired, Curhan went on to sign with the Chicago Bears. He went on to start in two games, while seeing playing time in 10 games. Curhan now joins the Cardinals on a one-year deal where he will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. He’s also not the only ex-Seahawks OL on the Cardinals roster, as former starting center Evan Brown re-signed with Arizona on a two-year contract.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/3...curhan-arizona-cardinals-nfl-free-agency-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks 2025 free agency: Strange things are afoot at the VMAC

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

The Seahawks have changed the way they approach free agency this offseason, which is interesting because organizations don’t make major operational changes when everything is running smooth.

It was in December 2021 that Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported that Jody Allen was not happy with the performance of the Seattle Seahawks that season and did not look at the struggles as a one year issue. There has been no shortage of change in the three plus years since.

Just months later Allen was visible in the Seattle war room as the Seahawks made their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, and following nearly a decade of subpar results, the 2022 draft class proved to be one of the best groups of players added through the draft in nearly a decade. Those results were followed with solid classes in both 2023 and 2024, giving the team a young core around which to build.

However, building around that young core has proven a more challenging task, with the team typically staying away from making significant additions through free agency. Specifically, the front office has tended to build out portions of the roster with veterans on one-year contracts.

None of the one-year contracts themselves are overly prohibitive, but over the course of the past decade the Seahawks have used more than $100M of cap space on players on one-year deals, with the overwhelming majority of players moving on upon expiration of that one-year deal. Over the past decade the only two free agents who joined Seattle on a one-year contract in free agency and then stayed with the Seahawks on a multi-year deal were Bradley McDougald and Geno Smith, both of whom happened to be traded away two years into their three year contract.

With that in mind, here is a look at how many one-year contracts Seattle has signed with free agents that paid $2M or more for that season of work by league year over the past decade.

And for those who prefer to see things laid out in a chart, here is the exact same data in chart form.

Obviously, outside of 2016 when the Seahawks signed a bunch of effectively minimum salary one-year deals with the likes of Brandon Browner, Chris Clemons, Sealver Siliga and Bradley Sowell, as well as a two year contract with J’Marcus Webb, to date 2025 has seen the fewest one-year, $2M+ contracts handed out by the team.

The question, of course, is whether this is simply the result of it still being early in the offseason, or if it represents a change in course for Seattle after the disastrous 2024 free agency class, a group which is set to have zero members on the 2025 roster.

Seahawks 2024 free agent additions:

George Fant: 2yrs, up to $14M
Rayshawn Jenkins: 2yrs, $12M
Jerome Baker: 1yr, $7M
Tyrel Dodson: 1yr, up to $5.51M
Laken Tomlinson:1 yr, up to $4M
Pharaoh Brown: 1yr, up to $3.9M
Nick Harris: 1yr, up to $3.26M
Johnathan Hankins: 1yr, $1.96M

— John P Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) November 8, 2024​

Returning to the key question, have the Seahawks changed their free agency habits? Based on the one-year contracts given out so far, it’s impossible to say either way, but there could be some evidence that they have, given that they haven’t gone overboard signing veterans to multimillion dollar contracts.

However, changing perspectives tells a different story.

---

“But it’s only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve.” -Professor Barnhardt in The Day the Earth Stood Still

---

Having looked at how the Seahawks have handled one-year contracts, the next logical step is to look at the multi-year contracts that have handed out in free agency. Thus, here is a look at the number of contracts that are three or more years in length the Seattle front office has given to outside free agents over the past decade by year, first in table format.

And for those who prefer the visual.

There’s no questioning that change. The front office has signed as many outside free agents to contracts that run for three or more years in the past month as they handed out in the nine prior offseasons combined.

That’s a change, and people and organizations don’t just change for the sake of changing. They change when things aren’t going the way they want them to, which means the previous strategy wasn’t working, and if something wasn’t working it means it was not successful enough to meet the standards of the organization.

So, fans and observers can debate all day whether or not John Schneider is on the hot seat, but at the end of the day this is a material change operations for the team, and change isn’t implemented when everything is going according to plan.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/4...e-agency-strange-things-are-afoot-at-the-vmac

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks 2025 offseason work program dates revealed

Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

We still don’t know training camp dates, but we have a preview of when the Seahawks will be back on the practice field.

Do you like to read about announcements for things you personally cannot attend? I have just the article for you on this Friday afternoon.

The NFL revealed offseason workout program dates for every team, including the Seattle Seahawks. Whether with pencil and paper or a phone app, get to marking down these dates for Seattle’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp sessions.

First day: April 22

Voluntary OTA offseason workouts: May 27, May 29-30, June 2, June 4-5, June 9, June 11-12

Mandatory minicamp: June 17-19

If you need a refresher on the rules for the nine-week offseason program leading up to mandatory minicamp, the NFL has got you covered!

Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.

Unlike last season, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald won’t get the option for an additional (voluntary) minicamp, which is afforded only to first-year head coaches. Seattle had an earlier offseason program start date along with any other team with a new head coach in town.

Post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp dates will be announced soon, while it’ll likely be June when we find out Seahawks training camp dates for the public to attend.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/5...ffseason-work-program-dates-revealed-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks 2025 NFL Draft official 30 visits tracker

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

See which prospects had a formal visit with the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the NFL Draft in Green Bay.

It’s that time of year already!

With the NFL Draft fast approaching, a whole lot has changed for the Seattle Seahawks. Trades of Geno Smith and DK Metcalf have increased Seattle’s draft capital to a whopping five picks in the top 100, including a pair of second- and third-rounders. Is this the year the Seahawks finally draft a quarterback again? Will Schneider trade down in the first round for the first time since 2019? What about an unexpected trade up? It’ll be fascinating to see what happens when Apr. 24-26 in Green Bay.

Once upon a time we would call this a “top 30 visit” but I think it’s generally been agreed upon to stop using this misleading phrase. An official 30 visit simply means every team gets up to 30 formal in-person meetings with non-local* college prospects. Those players are brought into the team facility for interviews and a physical. An official 30 visit doesn’t mean they are the top 30 prospects in the sport or a top 30 prospect for a specific team.

*- A local prospect is defined by the NFL as someone who attends college or is from a “local metropolitan area as defined by a current Rand McNally map.”

As a reminder, not pre-draft visit means the Seahawks will take all of these players nor are they realistically going to get them. However, 30 visits (and official NFL Scouting Combine visits) are a hint that we’ll see at least one of these players taken either in the draft or as an undrafted free agent. Over the past three seasons, the following Seahawks have been either drafted or signed as UDFAs following a 30 visit: Boye Mafe, Dareke Young, Joshua Onujiogu (UDFA), Devon Witherspoon, Anthony Bradford, Jerrick Reed II, Tyrice Knight, Michael Jerrell, and George Holani (UDFA). John Rhys Plumlee was also added to the practice squad midseason in 2024 and he was also a pre-draft visit.

This is the tracker for all confirmed or reported official 30 Seahawks visits. We will update this post with any new names over the next few weeks.

Official 30 visits scheduled​

QB Tyler Shough - Louisville (source)

S Nick Emmanwori - South Carolina (source)

WR Savion Williams - TCU (source)

OL Chase Lundt - UConn (source)

OL Bryce Cabeldue - Kansas (source)

CB Shavon Revel Jr - East Carolina (source)

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/3/1...-nfl-draft-official-30-visits-tracker-updates

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

NFL Draft 2025 player profile: Bryce Cabeldue, OL, Kansas

Ben Queen-Imagn Images

The former Jayhawk was a tackle in college, but guard might be his future in the NFL.

One of my favorite times of the year is getting to write up these pre-NFL Draft scouting reports. I’ve already nailed it down with these notable Seattle Seahawks draft picks over the past few seasons: Byron Murphy II, Christian Haynes, Tyrice Knight, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, Olu Oluwatimi, Kenny McIntosh, Boye Mafe, Abe Lucas, and Riq Woolen, to name just a few.

Throughout the next few weeks we’ll be looking closely at a lot of players going from here until the NFL Draft begins. Today, we’re focusing on Kansas offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue, who has a reported official visit with the Seahawks scheduled.

Let’s get to the Report!

Prospect Info ​

Name: Bryce Cabeldue

Jersey #: 77

College: Kansas Jayhawks

Position: OT

Awards: - All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (OL 2024)

Class: Senior

Style: Power

Comparison: A Stronger Austin Corbett

Projection: 6th round

Combine/Pro Day Results ​

HT 6’5

WT 306 lbs

Arms: 32’ 1/2”

Wingspan N/A

Hands 9’

40 yds 4,95

10 yd split 1,71s

Short Shuttle: 4,59s

3 Cone Drill: 7,71s

VJ 32”

BJ 9’ 6’’

Bench Press 30

RAS: 9.51

Background​

Cabeldue was a three-star recruit out of Clovis High School in the class of 2020. Cabeldue played right tackle for Kansas and moved to LT in 2024. He has logged over 3,000 snaps in his five-year career, which included four seasons as a full-time starter. Cabeldue played the majority of his snaps at tackle, but projects as a guard at the NFL level.

By PFF metrics, the 2024 season was Cabeldue’s best. He allowed three sacks and only eight pressures on 344 pass-blocking snaps. Cabeldue would rank 27th in pass-blocking efficiency among 105 eligible tackles, and he was 22nd in run-blocking grade.

Here’s Cabeldue’s injury history:

Knee injury in 2020;

Sprained ankle in 2023;

He tore his ankle ligaments in 2023 and had to undergo surgery;

Evaluating the prospect…​

Pass Protection​

His arm length makes him vulnerable to long-arm attacks, he needs more hand counterattacks to protect his chest. He was able to reestablish his base quickly and that’s what made him “win” the snap.

Cabeldue has the movement skills to mirror pass rushers in pass protection.

He’s an aggressive OL, who typically uses less reactive and more proactive pass sets. Even with this adjustment, his shorter arms are still a limitation.

Because of his short arms, opponents end up having access to his chest, which makes him able to count on the outside of his shoulders and this can generate fouls. He has already made a lot of appearances at the college level (six in 2024) and in the NFL, where the rule is stricter, it will be something he will need to adjust to.

Run Block​

He has a strong inside hand to drive defenders, with a good first punch capable of moving defenders.

Aggressive mentality to move defenders in the run game. He enters every snap wanting to take down his opponent, it is the type of mentality a guard needs.

His quickness translates into movement in open space, speed to execute lead blocks and long pulls. All are fundamental to Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme.

Initial explosion to execute down blocks, mobility for reach blocks and kick-outs.

Loses the leverage battle in the run game, defenders access his chest to stack their blocks, unable to create consistent vertical displacement.

STRENGTHS:​

– Size / weight / length for the OG position;

– Athletic ability;

– Performs good reach and kick-out blocks

– Starts many games;

WEAKNESSES:​

– Commits many fouls;

– Inconsistent kick-step;

– Short arms that allow easy access to the chest;

Final Thoughts​

Cabeldue was the sensation of the Big 12’s joint Pro Day. In fact, he grew quite a bit down the stretch and was one of the standouts at the Shrine Bowl as well. He only has experience as an OT, but he will be a guard in the NFL. The Kansas player was tested in the role during the Shrine Bowl and looked quite comfortable. He still needs some refinement, but he has good athletic potential. The second half of the third day of the Draft is a great time to start looking for depth with potential.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/6...-profile-bryce-cabeldue-offensive-line-kansas

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Why drafting a wide receiver early is a must for the Seahawks

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The Seahawks do not have a deep receiving group for 2025 and have a scarce cupboard for 2026.

The Seattle Seahawks’ makeover of the offense may lead with the decision to trade quarterback Geno Smith and sign Sam Darnold, but as big a story is the overhaul of the wide receiver group.

Tyler Lockett? Seahawks legend, but no longer on the team. DK Metcalf? Wanted out, got out, got his money via the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s almost 1,100 combined receptions, 15,000 combined receiving yards, and 109 combined receiving touchdowns gone in a flash. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the clear top option on the depth chart entering his third season.

In the immediate, Seattle signed Los Angeles Rams great Cooper Kupp, veteran deep threat Marques Valdes-Scantling, and... I guess we’ll throw in River Cracraft. Of those three listed, only Kupp is on a multi-year contract.

Get beyond the 2025 season and you’ve got a vastly different story.

Seahawks wide receivers under contract through 2026​

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba
• Cooper Kupp

That’s all, folks. Beyond all the players on one-year contracts, Jake Bobo is approaching the end of his rookie deal—UDFAs get three-year deals instead of four. I know we’re in peak optimism season, but I do not believe this is a deep wide receiver group at present and the depth is hugely dependent on the oft-injured Kupp not getting hurt again/looking past his prime.

Only JSN is a clear lock for 2026 given what he’s shown over his first two seasons. Kupp is on the other side of 30 with the aforementioned injury issues, MVS is also in his 30s and an inefficient target whose best asset (downfield threat) is negated by having notoriously un-good hands.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has five drops on passes traveling 30+ yards in the air since 2018. Nobody else has more than three.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 21, 2023​

@nasty.rice.sports
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has dropped 6 passes of 30+ air yards since 2019 #nfl #football #chiefs #packers

♬ original sound - Nasty Rice Sports

The fourth option at receiver is Jake Bobo, whom ideally is used a lot more in the red zone than what we saw last season. He’s also not targeted a lot for a reason and we shouldn’t assume his efficiency will remain unchanged or increase with more looks. There is no getting around his lack of speed and we have to acknowledge that even the best offensive coordinators cannot just scheme any target wide open all the time. He is far from a lock to be on the 2026 roster no matter how hard we meme him.

Dareke Young, Cody White, River Cracraft, and John Rhys Plumlee are all going to be fighting for roster spots. Young and White hardly ever get on the field on offense.

Even if you want to counter with the idea that Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks offense is supposed to heavily feature 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) and rely on their running game, even very 12 personnel dependent teams need a viable receiving corps that’s at least three deep. The Philadelphia Eagles probably aren’t enjoying a Lombardi Trophy if they had their elite offensive line but didn’t have receivers as good as A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

Seattle has an emerging star, a potentially fading and increasingly fragile star, a notoriously inconsistent and one-dimensional player, and a low-ceiling but fairly dependable fourth option. That does not give me any fuzzy feelings of confidence for 2025 and even less so in the long-term.

I do not put it past the Seahawks to take a receiver at No. 18, whether that’s Texas’ Matthew Golden, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, or Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. It’s unlikely but it’s not inconceivable. When I specify “early” I mean the Seahawks should be using one of their five top 100 picks at the WR position. This isn’t considered as deep a receiver class compared to recent drafts but there are many talented projected Day 2 options like Iowa State’s duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, TCU’s Jack Bech, and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor.

The one exception to my stance is if the Seahawks draft Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, whom alongside Penn State’s Tyler Warren are the only TEs expected to go in the first round. There’s almost no shot that Warren is available at No. 18 but Loveland might be. Given how well Loveland performed in a low-volume passing offense—even more so was in 2024 while dealing with a labrum injury and a series of J.J. McCarthy replacements who seldom looked capable of throwing a forward pass—his talents are irresistible. He’d be reunited with his former Wolverines teammate A.J. Barner and present a higher pass-catching ceiling than Noah Fant, who’s been fairly unremarkable even when he played in more favorable circumstances under Shane Waldron compared to Ryan Grubb.

Is the offensive line top priority for the Seahawks? Yeah, no kidding. You have to win in the trenches to contend. You also need high level skill position players in the passing game to be a great offense; it’s even more important if you don’t have some cheat code at quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. I don’t care how improved the offensive line is if the receivers are struggling to get open and there isn’t great depth at the position.

I think it’s imperative for the Seahawks to have a wide receiver (or Loveland) in their class before Day 3 arrives. Pretending it’s not a need is putting way too much stock in Klint Kubiak when he has only two seasons of offensive coordinator experience from which we can draw data from.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/6...receiver-early-must-seattle-seahawks-analysis

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

All the extra details that brought Geno Smith to the Raiders

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

A longer contract discussion than we knew, and a host of past connections facilitated the move to Las Vegas.

From Florida to West Virginia to New York to San Diego to Seattle to Las Vegas, Geno Smith has been on quite a football journey.

This latest - and perhaps most surprising move - that sent Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders involved a culmination of much of Smith’s past.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently shed light on a flurry of connections that helped facilitate the Seahawks trading their three-year starting quarterback.

In it, the initiatory conversation took place, not this offseason, but actually last one. Geno said his conversation with John Schneider was not malicious, but certainly made it clear that the team held no iron-clad commitments towards him.

“Just based on that conversation, I kind of knew the direction the team was going,” Smith said Friday morning, after a workout in his hometown of Miami.

In part, as a result of that discussion, Smith went into 2024 knowing that in ’25, he’d be looking to the Seahawks for a recommitment. Beyond just the money, he’d want them to show him that they saw him as their starter for the foreseeable future.

Now as we all know, Seattle did make a meaningful offer to Geno Smith, which he refused, without a counter offer. There isn’t much in the way of new info as far as that negotiation, but I would like to highlight a couple of revelations in particular before turning attention to the relationship aspect of it all.

Breer suggests Geno felt the following things to be true (these are directly from the article)

• It was a solid offer
• It was well shy of what Smith wanted in average per year
• It was not enough to negate the feelings of low commitment from team to him, especially as it held to typical Seahawk contracts with little to no guaranteed money in the latter years

I continue to not know what to make of the reporting on Seattle’s offer, Smith’s wishes, and the fact that he essentially signed the Sam Darnold contract plus one dollar.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network told Puck that Geno countered Seattle’s ~$35M/yr offer with a $45M/yr ask.

(This has been reported by others as well but yeah) https://t.co/Srw1QEPOx8 pic.twitter.com/sRdOYL9v5h

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) March 14, 2025​

GM John Schneider said the Seahawks traded Geno Smith after they offered him an extension.

“It became apparent that we weren’t going to be able to get a deal done.”

I’m told the offer included $40M in Year 1, and that it was on par with what the Rams just gave Matthew Stafford. pic.twitter.com/I1A2fK4YID

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) March 13, 2025​

And on and on it goes, with only vague agreement as to what was offered and what was expected.

But money wasn’t the only factor, in fact since we’ve seen the final numbers, it wasn’t necessarily the strongest factor.

While Geno Smith did not speak ill of the business dealings between he and Schneider, he did write back about the team’s stated intentions for the future. After hearing the team wanted to lean into this new young core, Smith wanted to see respect for him evidenced in the contract offer.

He apparently didn’t.

But again, man, when you’re talking about business, and you’re talking about a quarterback who wants not only to get paid—every player wants to get paid—but to be respected, that’s the most important thing. It’s the respect factor.

And I just felt like there was a disconnect there.

That search for respect found its home in the coach who finally gave Smith his real big break, the coach that Geno never stopped talking to, even after he was fired last year.

Geno Smith and Pete Carroll continued to talk all throughout the 2024 season.

Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are reunited in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/LoMgOa2kDQ

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 7, 2025​

There were reportedly two other teams interested in trading for Smith. But the Pete Carroll connection was just too strong, and the Seahawks acknowledged that the Raiders would be far and away the best fit for Smith.

Even beyond Carroll, Smith knows the new offensive coordinator. Chip Kelly tried to recruit Geno to Oregon, and has stayed in touch over the years. Kelly just spent the last season coaching Geno’s wildly talented cousin, receiver Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State.

I do want to spend a minute on this coaching bit. We can admit that Mike Macdonald has/had one of the hardest jobs in the recent NFL, because he wasn’t asked to come in and take over something that was dysfunctional. Macdonald was asked to follow a guaranteed-lock Seahawks Hall of Fame coach who was let go because the team had settled into a dirge of five points above average. That’s a tough gig. Not only that, but you’ve also got a situation with a head who is three years older than the starting quarterback, who prefers the insight and advice from his previous head coach.

This starts to feel like the necessary move. Macdonald’s clearly got some good things going, and the team has been - openly, even - trying to create greater alignment across the roster.

Where are you at with all this? How do you feel about the Smith trade now and everything that has transpired, including this latest story?

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/7...ete-carroll-connection-las-vegas-raiders-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Report: Former LSU star Mason Taylor set for Seahawks official 30 visit

Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photos/Getty Images

A top tight-end in the 2025 draft is coming in for a 30-visit.

A good reminder that the NFL Draft is inching closer and closer is that the stream of leaks about different draft prospects visiting the Seattle Seahawks start to come through. The newest 30 visit to be announced this week was tight end Mason Taylor out of LSU. This is the first known Seahawks visit for a tight end, with wide receiver Savion Williams being the only other known pass-catcher to visit Seattle.

Taylor has the NFL in his blood already; he’s the son of Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, Jason Taylor, and the nephew of Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, Zach Thomas. Masonplayed right away as a true freshman and impressed enough to earn 2022 Freshman All-SEC honors. Over his three years at LSU, Taylor became the most productive tight end in LSU history with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and 6 touchdowns. This production has led to Taylor being one of the top tight ends available in this years’ NFL Draft. Daniel Jeremiah ranks Taylor has his 32nd overall player, and third best tight end prospect (after Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland). Mel Kiper meanwhile ranks Taylor has his fourth tight end (behind Warren, Loveland, and Elijah Arroyo). With these rankings, amongst others, Taylor appears to be a lock for Day 2 in this year’s draft.

Seattle’s tight end room currently consists of Noah Fant, AJ Barner, Brady Russell, and Eric Saubert. Both Russell and Saubert are replacement level players and are on one-year contracts. Meanwhile Fant, if cut or traded would save the Seahawks $8.9 million against the cap, with only a $4.5 million dead cap hit. Adding Taylor to the room would immediately raise the floor of the tight end room this year, with the chance of replacing Fant next year and allowing Barner and Taylor to be your one-two punch for the next few years.

Lucky for you, Field Gulls is tracking all of these 30 visits. These visits are better known as “30-visits.” A 30-visit is a formal in-person meeting the NFL teams get to have with draft prospects. Each NFL team gets 30 of these visits (which is where the name comes from) and consists of NFL teams bringing in these prospects to their facilities for interviews and physicals. These 30-visits allow a team like the Seahawks to conduct further interviews and conduct physicals with the players. Local prospects do not count against a team’s limit of visits.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/7...n-taylor-seattle-seahawks-nfl-pre-draft-visit

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Report: Seahawks schedule official visit with projected first-round Georgia edge rusher

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Mykel Williams is one of the more intriguing edge rusher options in the NFL Draft this year.

Add another top SEC name to the list of official 30 visits for the Seattle Seahawks.

On the heels of a report that the Seahawks will soon meet with former LSU tight end Mason Taylor, NFL insider Mike Garafolo revealed on Tuesday that the Seahawks are also expected to have a pre-NFL Draft visit with Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams. Of course, there ain’t exclusivity when it comes to pre-draft visits, and there are two other NFC West teams also on Williams’ itinerary.

Georgia edge Mykel Williams, a consensus first-round pick, is currently touring the NFC West. He visited the #49ers yesterday, is at the #Seahawks today and will head to the #AZCardinals tomorrow. Williams has also visited the #Patriots, #Cowboys, #Jets, #Buccaneers and #Saints. pic.twitter.com/D43ZNPXURx

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 8, 2025​

Williams recorded 14 sacks over three seasons on Georgia’s prolific defense, winning national championships in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Even acknowledging his injury-hampered 2024 season, Williams was lost in the shuffle considering the embarrassment of riches the Bulldogs had across their defensive roster. With a relative lack of high-end productivity and accolades compared to his peers, the 20-year-old two-time All-SEC Second-team selection is thought to have major potential to be a premier pass rusher at a professional level.

Here’s the brief scouting synopsis from PFF:

Williams is a long, strong, versatile edge prospect whose motor is always running hot. His pass-rush profile and consistency (win percentage) are lower than ideal for a projected top-20 pick, but his floor as an elite run defender is so high, and his build is so alluring, that he’s worth taking the chance on in that range for a team running odd or even fronts.

Shades Of

Jermaine Johnson

[...]

Pros

—Great build for an edge player — weight and length are NFL-caliber

—Has a violent and fast arm-over/swimg move when attacking inside

—Good understanding of the advantages of his arm length

—First-step is explosive and can cover a ton of ground

—Great motor that plays to the whistle

—Strong, reliable run defender who can stack blocks/anchor well from a 4i to a 7-tech

Cons

—Consistently one of the last linemen out of his stance

—Hands are active but could be more purposeful and precise

—Must develop more counters

—Eyes for the ball could improve

Williams has positional versatility across the defensive line but otherwise projects as an edge rusher. Seattle doesn’t have a pressing need for 2025 given the current roster, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t keep looking for ways to improve at some of its stronger positions.

Watch some highlights below:

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/8...irst-round-georgia-edge-rusher-mykel-williams

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft has Seahawks taking Texas lineman in Round 1

Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Seattle also goes for a corner and wide receiver in the second round.

When it comes to NFL mock drafts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr may not be the best but he’s certainly the most notable draft analyst in the business. He’s just released his latest two-round mock with a little over two weeks before the actual NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay, and as you might expect he’s got the Seattle Seahawks investing in the offensive line at No. 18.

Where Kiper may differ from other draft analysts is his pick of offensive lineman. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr has perhaps been linked/mocked to Seattle less than Grey Zabel and Donovan Jackson, but Kiper has him donning a Seahawks uniform come Apr. 24. It’d be the Seahawks’ second straight season going to Texas for trench play, having drafted Byron Murphy Iast year.

From the article:

Banks gave up three sacks over 42 career starts at left tackle for the Longhorns. He’s agile for 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, and he has some pop. The Seahawks have Charles Cross at left tackle, so Banks would help elsewhere on this lackluster offensive line. Right tackle Abraham Lucas has played in just 13 games over the past two seasons. The guard spots are both issues. Banks could fit in at any of those spots.

New quarterback Sam Darnold ranked seventh in the NFL in QBR when he had a clean pocket in Minnesota last season (74.5). Facing pressure, he was 22nd (23.4). So it’s pretty clear Seattle has to address the pass protection to maximize the Darnold signing.

Banks played 100% of his snaps at left tackle with the Longhorns. Unless Abe Lucas has some sort of offseason setback there should be no question about who the starting tackles are for the Seahawks in 2025, despite Kiper’s little line about Lucas’ injury history. There has been talk about moving Banks to guard, which means he’d most likely be a left guard should any team move him there in the NFL.

It’s not like the Seahawks haven’t taken tackles in the first round and converted them to guard before. Alabama left tackle James Carpenter was seen as a draft reach when he was selected in 2011 but spent his entire NFL career at guard. Germain Ifedi was a tackle at Texas A&M, started out as a guard in his rookie season back in 2016, then reverted to tackle shortly thereafter.

Kiper’s other picks for the Seahawks have them taking East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr at No. 50 overall, followed by tall and dynamic Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins at No. 52. Revel has a visit with the Seahawks next week. For the record, Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe go at the top of Round 2, while Jaxson Dart is selected by the Los Angeles Rams at No. 26.

How would you feel about a Banks/Revel/Higgins trio in this mock scenario? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/8...seahawks-texas-player-kelvin-banks-jr-round-1

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

NFL Draft 2025 preview: Top 5 best fits for the Seahawks at guard and edge rusher

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“Grey Zabel should be at the top of the Seahawks board.”

In the latest episode of the HawksZone Rundown, hosts Bryce Coutts and Ryan MacMillan dive into the top five best fits for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft, focusing on both the interior offensive line and edge rusher positions. They break down each player’s potential and fit with the Seahawks, starting with the offensive line and continuing with edge rusher. Hosts Bryce Coutts and Ryan MacMillan discuss the following players:

Offensive Line​

• Grey Zabel, North Dakota State - “He’s versatile. He played tackle, guard, center all through college. His athleticism makes him an excellent match for the wide zone scheme. [...] His physical style also aligns with the Seahawks goal of building a tougher o-line.”
• Donovan Jackson, Ohio State - “He had 40 starts at left guard for Ohio State. We’re talking about a guy that knows the position well. He brings experience from a high level program. His improved lower strength is one thing that’s been big in the run game.”
• Tyler Booker, Alabama - “He is more of a gap power scheme guy, but the dude is just such a football player. [...] When I look at Booker’s scheme fit, his strength and ability to combo block really work in the wide zone. The only issue I have is his foot speed.”
• Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona - “He’s a very dynamic run blocker. His NFL caliber feet will also really help with the bootleg and play-action. [...] The thing with Savaiinaea is that he could come in and start. I wouldn’t look at him coming in and just immediately being a plug-and-play guy.”
• Joshua Gray, Oregon State - “I project him to be a mid-round pick, so a Round 4-6 kind of guy. [...] His ability to get out of his stance is really good. He can fire out quick. That’s a big thing with dictating terms. [...] He’s not necessarily, again, a plug-and-play guy.”

Edge Rushers​

• Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College - “He’s got an explosive first step. He had 16.5 sacks in 2024. He is an ideal outside 3-4 linebacker, so exactly what Derick Hall and Boye Mafe play. I think he has a more explosive first step than either one of them.”
• Mike Green, Marshall - “Mike Green has some off-field issues, so he might not even be on Seattle’s board. [...] Breakout campaign in 2024 in college. The thing is he’s got a lean, wiry frame and quick-twitch athleticism. He might be the most athletic edge in the class. He’s a speed-based edge rusher.”
• J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State - “His size and strength make him a high floor edge. He could play 4-3 end or slide into that 3-4 OLB role, even maybe play a little bit of DE in that 3-4 scheme depending on how Macdonald uses his fronts. He’s got the rip, he’s got the bull rush. He often wins via his effort rather than an elite burst.”
• Ashton Gillotte, Louisville - “He’s a bit of a tweener. He’s got a knack for disruption; he had 22 career sacks. His power and effort shine in run defense and interior rushes. This is what I think makes him a candidate for that 3-4 end or a passing down specialist.”
• Gabe Jacas, Illinois - “He had eight sacks in 2024. He’s a mid-to-late third round guy. Gabe’s got raw, athletic pass rusher with a quick first step and a bendy frame. He has a lot of bend toward what Ezeiruaku has. He’s unpolished against the run, though.”

The discussion also includes a look at where these players might be drafted and where the best value could lie later in the draft. To wrap up, the guys summarize the needs at these positions for the Seahawks as they head into the 2025 draft, offering insights on what direction the team might take. Tune in for expert analysis and a closer look at the future of Seattle’s roster! There will be more positional rankings to come over the next couple of weeks as part of our draft preview.

Show Topics (timestamps included)​

• Top 5 Interior Lineman (1:55): Introduction to the top 5 fits at interior offensive line
• Top 5 Edge Rushers (20:29): We breakdown the top 5 fits for the Seahawks at the edge spot
• Closing Thoughts (30:56): We summarize the needs at each of these positions for the Seahawks

Follow HawksZone Rundown hosts on Twitter (X)!​

Bryce Coutts: @brycecoutts_HZR

Ryan MacMillan: @RMac1090

Subscribe to the HawksZone Rundown podcast!​

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/9...-best-fits-seattle-seahawks-guard-edge-rusher

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Brady Russell gets married, re-signs with Seahawks

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Congratulations are in order for the Seahawks’ versatile tight end/auxiliary fullback.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Brady Russell has had a positively eventful past several days.

On a personal level, Russell tied the knot with his fiancée Annie. They were married in Washington on March 30 and will have a wedding celebration later this summer.

The Russells.

Congratulations, Annie and @brady_russell5! pic.twitter.com/PL74GfRPWV

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 8, 2025

Congratulations to the Russells on their big moment! (By the way, congrats are also in order for Leonard Williams and his wife Hailey, who also recently married!)

Then there’s the football news for Brady, who was tendered by the Seahawks as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent back in March. Unless the Seahawks really had zero interest in keeping him at least through the offseason, this was a formality. However, Russell didn’t actually sign his tender until now. As a tendered ERFA, Russell’s contract is one year and $1,030,000.

TE Brady Russell signed his exclusive rights free agent tender on Wednesday.

Read more » https://t.co/2h6xwWFJf0 pic.twitter.com/3y8HGAbJZq

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 9, 2025

Russell was picked up by Seattle after signing him off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in 2023. The undrafted free agent played in 15 games, with 312 of his 328 snaps coming on special teams. An impressive training camp and preseason saw Russell make the 53-man roster as a fourth tight end (behind Noah Fant, A.J. Barner, and Pharaoh Brown) with several snaps as a makeshift fullback.

While Russell’s spot in the offense may be uncertain given Klint Kubiak’s interest in adding a true fullback to the depth chart, Russell remains a key part of Seattle’s special teams coverage unit.

In the meantime, it’s celebration for the Russell family now that Brady and Annie are married!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/9...ts-married-re-signs-seattle-seahawks-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Report: Another Georgia offensive lineman set for Seahawks pre-draft visit

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Dylan Fairchild is another of Georgia’s standout interior offensive linemen.

While the Georgia Bulldogs are known for their veritable assembly line of defensive stars, their offensive line has drawn considerable attention entering this year’s NFL Draft.

Following up on recent reporting that the Seattle Seahawks met with top center prospect Jared Wilson, another report has the Seahawks meeting with former Georgia guard (said in Tommy Flanagan’s voice) Dylan Fairchild.

Source: Georgia iOL Dylan Fairchild had a predraft visit with the Detroit Lions yesterday, has a local scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons, then will visit Seattle early next week.

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 10, 2025​

Fairchild, who turns 22 next month, is projected to be a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick. He was an All-SEC Second-team selection in 2024 after playing exclusively at left guard. While he’s played at both guard spots he’s only started at left guard in his collegiate career.

Here’s a summary from Dane Brugler’s ‘The Beast’ draft guide.

A two-year starter at Georgia, Fairchild settled in at right guard in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s multiple-run scheme (zone and gap). He cut his teeth on the scout team (non-travel) over his first two seasons in Athens before earning a starting job and quickly developing into one of the better guards in the SEC.

Fairchild is built to hold his ground and jolt defenders at the point of attack, and he plays with the fierce demeanor to win his individual battles (wrestling mentality). At times, his feet, hands and eyes can get slightly disjointed as he responds to quickness, but he flashes dominance when his moving parts all stay on the same page. Overall, Fairchild lacks experience — and it shows at times — but he is powerful, tough and naturally aggressive. I expect him to continue getting better with additional reps. He is an ascending prospect with NFL starting upside, in the Wyatt Teller mold.

If we were to rank Fairchild, Wilson, and fellow ex-Georgia OL Tate Ratledge in the prospects list, Fairchild would be third and least likely to be taken any round higher than the third. That’s okay! There are no shortage of good guards in the NFL right now who are not first-round picks.

As always, a 30 visit doesn’t mean the Seahawks (or any other team who schedules a visit) are destined to take that player, but usually there are at least a couple of players each year who eventually become Seahawks draft picks or UDFA signings after a 30 visit.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/1...an-fairchild-seattle-seahawks-pre-draft-visit