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[Seattle Seahawks]

Let’s Chat: What was your favorite move of the Seahawks offseason?

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The whole floor is open. Draft, free agency, trades, firings, hires, whatever is on your mind!

We’re in the quiet part of the NFL offseason. Unfortunately, for the third time over the past four seasons, the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason started immediately after their regular season finale.

This has been one hell of an eventful past few months for the Seahawks. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired, Klint Kubiak and several offensive assistants were brought on board, Geno Smith and DK Metcalf were traded, Tyler Lockett was released, Ernest Jones and Jarran Reed were re-signed, Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, and DeMarcus Lawrence signed in free agency... and that’s before we even got to the NFL Draft! Just look at this draft class, which included Grey Zabel at No. 18 overall and Jalen Milroe in the third round!

For this weekend’s discussion, we’re zeroing in on your favorite move of the Seahawks offseason. I know I’ve been stringent on limiting you to one answer over the last couple of open threads but that’s not happening here. It’s impractical to limit you to one offseason move when so many answers could be interconnected (e.g. trading Geno led to signing Darnold). I’m very happy with not just the Ernest Jones IV re-sign, but the comparative bargain of a deal it turned out to be. I didn’t want to head into the draft with starting linebacker as a glaring need in a weak LB class. This was a great piece of business from John Schneider. I also love that they didn’t overthink it and addressed offensive line early in the draft by taking Grey Zabel. My preference was for Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson but Zabel was held in higher regard to begin with, so mission accomplished as far as I’m concerned.

Have at it! Scroll down to the comments and tell us what you’ve liked about Seattle’s offseason! The entire window from Grubb’s departure until right now is fair game.

Head to the comments section to leave your answer and join the conversation! You can sign up for a commenting account here and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...your-favorite-move-seattle-seahawks-offseason

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Is ‘Bobomania’ nearing its end or is it just the beginning?

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Jake Bobo enters the last year of his contract with plenty of fans, but is Seahawks roster spot secure for 2025?

One of the players who quickly became a Seattle Seahawks fan favorite was Jake Bobo.

‘BOBOMANI’A was a sensation during the 2023 preseason and everything got even happier when the former Duke and UCLA player remained on the roster.

In 2024, Jake Bobo maintained his relevance for the Seattle Seahawks even with a drop in traditional statistics. The WR who excels in blocking and special teams is entering the final year of his contract, and after the departure of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, he will have to fight for offensive snaps on the roster with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Tory Horton.

Will this be the end of BOBOMANIA?

Jake Bobo’s field production​

Bobo played in 17 games, was targeted only 17 times throughout the year (24 in 2023) and had 13 receptions for 107 yards (average of 8.2 yards per reception), with one touchdown scored in the last game of the season — the 30–25 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. He had only one drop, a catch rate above 75% and received two of the three contested targets he had. Of the 13 receptions, all were for a first down and when he was a pass target he gave his QB rating above 110.

In addition to being a reliable target, he is able to be on the same page as the QB by seeing the field and finding the spaces between the zones for the reception.

After the motion we see the linebacker’s movement. Bobo knows he will have an advantage against the defender and quickly looks for space to help his QB. Geno Smith sees the play well and quickly looks for Bobo.

Yes, he is lining up against a linebacker, but he sells the route well to create a more than comfortable space for reception. He is very underrated in these matters of route running and release.

It took “only” the entire regular season for a jump ball to be used by someone other than DK Metcalf in the Seahawks’ offense. DK is not dominant in this regard, despite the high number of targets. Bobo proved to be a good option in the fight with his hands here.

Jake Bobo’s impact far beyond the passing game​

In addition to the offensive line, Bobo made an impact with his blocks on returns, securing space and contributing to kickoff and punt plays. His utilization in special teams remained high in a discreet but vital way. Bobo played 313 snaps, which ranks him 82nd among all players in the league, mainly in coverage and blocking returns. Among Seattle players, he was second in special teams snaps, behind only Drake Thomas, who had 317.

He manages to get the OLB out of the way and create a gap for the run.

Baker had 25 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack in the two games against Seattle. The team simply couldn’t find alternatives to block him. Bobo at least manages to take him to the ground.

Just a note: this game had everything and it was probably this loss that knocked the Seahawks out of the playoffs this season. But, back to the play, Bobo performs a stunt that creates space for Cody White to advance and block the punt.

Excellent job taking a great angle to make the tackle.

Conclusion​

In 2024, Jake Bobo reinforced his small but essential role: efficient catcher, tactical discipline, refined technique, and impact on the details that make a difference. Even with modest numbers, he will continue to be the silent “jack of all trades” that sustains and elevates the Seahawks’ style.

The 2024 season was light in terms of offensive statistics, but it served to consolidate Jake Bobo as one of the most valuable players on the roster. His versatility, tactical intelligence and solid blocking earned him internal respect and recognition from analysts.

Forever a 12s!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...omania-nearing-its-end-just-the-beginning-nfl

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

On the Zombie Sonics NBA title, and why I cherish the Seahawks Super Bowl even more now

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

The Seahawks’ Super Bowl winning season needs greater context in light of Seattle’s former NBA team winning a title.

It finally happened, much to the disappointment and bitterness of former Seattle SuperSonics fans.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the best team all regular season, avoided what would’ve been the greatest upset in NBA Finals history with a 103-91 win in Game 7 over the inspirational underdog Indiana Pacers. OKC’s triumph cannot be told without noting the Achilles rupture suffered by Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’d already been playing through a calf strain. The emotional devastation on his face is the cruelest of lasting memories for a player whose playoff run was nothing short of legendary, while the Pacers played some of the most eye-catching and logic-defying basketball in recent memory.

This is also the first time the Thunder have won a championship since Howard Schultz sold the Sonics to Clay Bennett, who moved the team to Oklahoma City in 2008. I don’t really need to rehash this story to those who’ve followed the Sonics or Seattle sports in general.

For those who haven’t paid attention to the NBA since the Sonics’ departure, the Thunder have made the playoffs 12 times in 17 seasons after leaving Seattle. Oklahoma City, home to zero other major sports teams, was handed a future contender that would reach the Western Conference Finals in 2011 and the NBA Finals by 2012. General manager Sam Presti started the rebuild during the final Sonics season and built a contender in next to no time. The current iteration of the Thunder is a potential dynasty in the making based on their extremely young core group of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (league MVP, Conference Finals MVP, and Finals MVP), Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, all of whom are under 26 years old. They’re also stocked with first-round picks for seemingly centuries thanks to Presti’s trades and have built out the rest of their roster with mostly undrafted and second-round gems, which in a two-round NBA draft is like a Day 3 NFL Draft pick. OKC’s elite, physical, turnover-forcing defense is subject to scrutiny over how much of their success is just uncalled fouls, an irony given the complaints that nobody plays any defense in the NBA anymore... and perhaps a callback to a certain Seahawks team we’ll talk about later.

In an alternate universe (in which everything somehow plays out the same way, which would’ve been nigh impossible, but stay with me), Sunday could’ve been the coronation of the first Sonics championship since 1979. We’d be looking at six combined titles between the Sonics and the WNBA’s Storm, who at least are still around and have their special place in Seattle sports lore.

And it got ripped away. A city with a rich basketball history lost its men’s team, (at the time) its only major league champion, and most consistently successful team. The Sonics only missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons twice: its final years in Seattle and its first seven years as an expansion franchise. Compare that to the Seahawks going nearly the whole of the 1990s without a playoff berth and the Mariners... well I mean we don’t want to open that book up, do we?

Mind you, Seattle is hardly unique and not even the third-most recent city to lose a major franchise to relocation. That doesn’t mean the wounds have healed, however. I can tell you as a Portland Trail Blazers fan television play-by-play voice Kevin Calabro, who’s been with the team since 2017, still occasionally says “Sonics” on the broadcasts. When ex-Blazers star Damian Lillard famously knocked out the Thunder (and inadvertently created a monster) in the 2019 playoffs, he said, “That was for Seattle.” The Sonics leaving meant a lot to the greater basketball community.

So how does this relate to the Seahawks?

Before the start of last season, I wrote about the importance of the 2005 Super Bowl team and how it rejuvenated a fanbase that wasn’t even consistently selling out the stadium for the better part of a decade. This came on the heels of what was ultimately the final Sonics postseason run and it was a thrilling experience to be a part of as a new Washington resident. As the Sonics faltered, the Seahawks won two more NFC West titles and reached the Divisional Round twice.

Then 2008 came along and everything fell apart for Seattle sports. The Seahawks went 4-12 in Mike Holmgren’s farewell season, the Sonics were awful and on their way out, the Mariners lost 100+ games for the first time in 25 years, the Washington Huskies football team went 0-fer, while the men’s basketball team finished below .500. You’d be hard pressed to find a worse singular year for a sports town than that.

Photo by Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE via Getty Images

While the Sounders would soon join Major League Soccer and immediately produce a quality product, times were generally tough to be a Seattle sports fan entering the 2010s. The Jim Mora “era” of Seahawks football was uniquely distasteful and the franchise was in need of a hard reset, with no guarantee of a quick fix.

Enter Pete Carroll. Enter John Schneider. Enter Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Russell Okung, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson, and all of the other foundational pieces of an eventual powerhouse.

If the 2005 team (and the other playoff seasons on either side of it) caused a fanbase reinvigoration, the 2012-2013 Seahawks sparked a fanbase expansion and city-changing revolution. Those Seahawks had an exciting, young franchise quarterback, a nationally popular superstar running back, and a punishing defense with a cool nickname and a hugely talented array of personalities all over the field. All coached by the most youthful “old” head coach there’s ever been. The Seahawks were a must-see national attraction and a ratings mega-draw locally.

When the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL in Detroit, it would’ve been easier to play “Where’s Waldo?” finding Seahawks fans amid the wave of Pittsburgh Steelers terrible towels. They were few and far between going up against one of the most well-traveled fans in the NFL. Fast forward to February 2, 2014, in New Jersey and it sounded like a Seahawks home game against the Denver Broncos.

A dominant performance from the Legion of Boom.

Watch the entirety of the @Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII victory for free on NFL GamePass: https://t.co/drPCDqhKNF pic.twitter.com/lEvYyp35NI

— NFL (@NFL) April 8, 2020

Once the clock reached triple zeroes, Seattle’s 35-year wait for a major men’s sports champion was over.

Holy shit, the best team and one of the all-time best defenses in America’s biggest sport is in Seattle, Washington.

It cannot be forgotten that the Seahawks almost moved a decade prior to the Sonics. Paul Allen rescued the ‘Hawks from a virtually certain relocation to Southern California. There’s a really grim alternate world where Seattle is the only top 20 media market without either an NFL or NBA team.

As we approach 50 seasons of Seahawks football, I think it’s worth contextualizing the magnitude of their Super Bowl win. It’s easy for us to lament the Seahawks not being the dynasty of the 2010s when they lost Super Bowl XLIX, and even easier to bemoan the zero playoff wins since 2019. Heck, we’re in the middle of moving on from that era and hoping Mike Macdonald can carve out his own great path to success. But 2013 was more than just the first Lombardi Trophy for the Seahawks. It was a triumph for a championship-deprived city in desperate need of a sports lift. I understand not every bygone Sonics fan is a Seahawks fan and vice versa, but it is human nature to root for your city. In the bigger picture, the Seahawks grew their local, national, and international network of fans, many of whom are reading this site right now, on their way to becoming Seattle’s undisputed No. 1 team.

I don’t begrudge anyone who’s grumpy over the Thunder’s championship. Call it a “stolen” ring or a title with an asterisk, it’s still a championship that could’ve been won at Climate Pledge Arena in a just world. But last night’s game inspired this article and, I suppose in a more reflective mood, made me more grateful about getting to witness what the Seahawks achieved. When the legacies of Messrs Carroll, Wilson, Lynch, Sherman, Wagner, Thomas, Chancellor, and others are written for years to come, the 2013 Seahawks need to be etched in stone for their cultural impact and significance in Seattle. They were the saviors in a city yearning for a winner and still reeling from the travesty of what transpired in 2008. As I wrote last year, Coach Holmgren elevated the Seahawks to new heights by creating a perennial playoff team, then Pete Carroll, John Schneider, and company shattered the glass ceiling like Kam Chancellor shattered Vernon Davis.

With all of that said... it’s time to bring back the damn Sonics.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...cs-nba-championship-oklahoma-city-nfl-history

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Report: Shaquill Griffin returning to the Seahawks

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Griffin began his NFL career in Seattle, playing there for four seasons from 2017 to 2020.

Shaquill Griffin is going back to where it all began.

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Griffin is signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, returning to his former team after four years away from the organization. Griffin had been rumored to be coming back to the team throughout the spring.

Veteran corner Shaq Griffin is signing a one-year, $3M deal with Seattle worth up to $4M, per source. Sides have been talking through offseason, now reach deal. https://t.co/M0Fj4mojHG

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 25, 2025

The 29-year-old cornerback had been linked to Seattle throughout the off-season, meeting with the organization back in April following one season with the Minnesota Vikings. Earlier this month, Griffin also visited with his old coach Pete Carroll over in Las Vegas.

Griffin was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, earning a Pro Bowl alternate selection in 2019. In four seasons with Seattle, Griffin had six interceptions and defended 48 passes.

Following the 2020 season, Griffin signed a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing two seasons there before being released in early 2023. He then began 2023 with the Texans, playing 10 games there before being traded to the Panthers. Griffin most recently played for the Vikings, notching two interceptions and defending six passes over 17 games.

After several years away from the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks will be getting a more seasoned Griffin, one who will be able to provide a valuable veteran presence at the cornerback position. Seattle had been looking for cornerback depth all offseason following the departures of Tre Brown and Artie Burns, and it looks like the choice is a familiar face. Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon are the top two corners on the team, with Josh Jobe re-signing after a solid stint as a starter midway through last year.

Welcome back to Seattle, Shaquill!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...l-griffin-returning-seattle-seahawks-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Happy birthday, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald!

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Macdonald, the second youngest NFL head coach, will be entering his second season with Seattle this fall.

The Seattle Seahawks will need some more birthday cake, because Mike Macdonald is celebrating his 38th birthday today.

Macdonald, who will enter his second season as Seattle’s head coach this year, was initially hired as the ninth head coach in franchise history in January of 2024. At the time of his hiring, Macdonald was the youngest head coach in the league, and he is now the second youngest behind New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore, who will turn 36 next month.

Macdonald succeeded long-time coach Pete Carroll, who was removed from his position a few weeks prior to Macdonald’s hiring. Currently, Macdonald is overseeing a rebuilding squad that hopes to return to the days of postseason glory that were had under Carroll.

Prior to obtaining his first head coaching position, Macdonald spent his first seven seasons at the NFL level under John Harbaugh on the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff from 2014 to 2020. Following the 2020 season, Macdonald left to accept a position as the defensive coordinator for the University of Michigan, returning to the Ravens to take the same position in 2022. After two seasons as Baltimore’s DC, Macdonald was hired as the Seahawks’ head coach.

In year one under Macdonald, Seattle went 10-7, earning double-digit victories for the first time since 2020. Sitting at 8-5 entering Week 15, the Seahawks had a good shot to reach the playoffs, but lost a pair of critical games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings to drop to second in the NFC West.

Though the team rebounded with wins over the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams during the final two games, Macdonald did not see any postseason action in his first year as Seattle’s head coach. Nevertheless, Macdonald became the first coach in franchise history to win 10 games in his inaugural season.

Macdonald looks to improve upon his first season as head coach in 2025, aiming to help the Seahawks reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. While it is obviously too early to say if Seattle will be in the postseason in 2025, it is fair to assume that a playoff berth is a strong possibility.

Happy Birthday, Coach! How do you think the Seahawks will do in year two of Macdonald’s tenure as head coach? Tell us in the comments below!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...current-seahawks-head-coach-turns-38-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Russell Wilson suggested as one of NFL’s best values of millennium

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Around The NFL had a spicy take about the last 25 years of football, and believe it or not, Mr. Unlimited himself featured prominently.

Ironically, in the week we learned about how Russell Wilson tried to become the highest-guaranteed paid player in NFL history, NFL.com declared Wilson one of the best value picks in quarterback history.

Look he even made the thumbnail!

Top five NFL draft values of the millennium at QB (via @Eric_Edholm): Russ qualifies as one of the best draft bargains ever -- regardless of positionhttps://t.co/WYusfnzJyZ pic.twitter.com/zrvy0l4crF

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 27, 2025​

The argument in his favor reads as such:

Earning the Seahawks’ top job by Week 1 as a rookie, Wilson (who measured 5-foot-10 5/8 at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine) would go on to start 149 straight regular-season games (165, including playoffs) for Seattle, the sixth-best QB mark in NFL history. He led the franchise to a rousing Super Bowl XLVIII victory over Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Wilson has made 10 Pro Bowls, including in each of his first four seasons in the NFL, and he’s been a top-five finisher in Offensive Player of the Year voting three times.

That not only qualifies him as one of the best value quarterbacks ever, but also as one of the great draft bargains of all time, regardless of position.

The quarterbacks valued ahead of Russ are Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson.

The kicker? Brock Purdy rounds out the list for the fifth spot.

Recency bias, much? If we’re allowing the final pick of the first round to be considered for “best value of the millennium,” might I humbly suggest Drew Brees? Also selected 32nd overall (though that was Round 2 back then), an undisputed Hall of Fame QB and Super Bowl champion, Brees seems a stronger candidate than ol’ dubious arm strength himself.

You all, oh mighty Field Gulls Faithful, weigh in! Does Russell Wilson feel about right? Anybody else fit the bill for this list?

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/28/24456863/draft-value-seattle-seahawks-russell-wilson-nfl

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

The evolution of Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Will JSN be able to maintain the same level with a new QB and after the departures of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett?

In his second season in the NFL, Jaxon Smith-Njigba made an impressive leap, establishing himself as the Seattle Seahawks’ top target, especially in the slot. This was not only because of his numbers, but mainly because of the refined quality of his route running — one of the main weapons that sets him apart on the field. JSN made a technical and tactical leap that solidified his role in Seattle’s offense — although full stardom is still a work in progress.

In the Seahawks’ offensive scheme, Smith-Njigba established himself as the “engine” of the intermediate passing game. Playing mostly in the slot, but also lining up in stack and bunch formations, he increased the versatility of the system, opening up space for DK Metcalf on vertical routes and helping to relieve the ground game by keeping defenses honest in coverage with screens.

More than numbers, his impact lies in the functionality he brought to the offense. He has become a key player in 11-personnel formations, essential for play-action and quick progressions — especially on third-and-short moments or fast-paced drives.

What will we see from him in 2025?

Stats and Records​

Overall numbers and 2024 ranking:

Receptions: 100 (7th among WRs);

Receiving Yards: 1,130 (10th among WRs);

Touchdowns: 6 (tied for 28th);

Reception average: 11.3 yards (72nd);

Routes run: 617 routes (36.3/game) — 95.4% of snaps;

Slot Usage: 74.3% of routes in the slot — the highest in the NFL;

Drops in 2024: 2 in 137 targets → 1.5% drop rate, 55th in the NFL (Note: 8 drops and 11.3% drop rate in 2023);

Highlights​

Week 9 vs. Los Angeles Rams: 7 receptions for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, his first career multi-TD game and the game with the most receiving yards (these numbers could have been better if not for OL penalties).

Historic streak: Five straight games with at least 70 receiving yards, tying Metcalf and Steve Largent ; in this stretch, he maintained consistent averages above 70 yards per game .

Played in 17 games, with 16 starts, and recorded 100 receptions, 1,130 yards (11.3 per reception average) and 6 touchdowns. He broke the franchise record of 100 receptions in a season, tying Tyler Lockett (2020).

Slot dominance​

He led the NFL in receptions (83), yards (993) and targets (64) coming from the slot. He was decisive with windows in zone coverage, finding his spaces intelligently.

In addition to his technique, Jaxon demonstrates a sharp tactical sense to find and exploit spaces in the opposing defense. Whether adjusting routes after the snap or detecting the movement of the secondary, his quick read allows him to reposition himself and create spaces, increasing his chances of reception and gaining yards after contact.

Being in the slot allows him to line up against LB on some plays. In this play, his matchup is against Jamie Sherwood, who was a safety in college. The LB can’t keep up with him, but what draws the most attention is his noticeable adjustment to the route to catch the pass.

Release​

Smith-Njigba is known for his combination of speed, agility, and technical ability. He uses a variety of catching and separation techniques that help him stand out:

• Jab Step: A quick move in which he fakes to move in one direction, creating space to disengage from the defender. This is crucial to gaining immediate separation early in the play.
• Stack Release: Used when aligned in slot formations, where he can use his position to quickly move away from a nearby defender.
• Vertical Stem + Sit: Main release in zones, with a high success rate in sits/digs.
• Skip/Hop: Short hops to create quick separation in man defense and throw off defenders’ timing.
• Stutter: Brief hesitation that favors slants and sits;
• Stem + Slant: Outside feint followed by an inside cut — effective in man coverage;
• Stop and go + fake stack release and nice dig.

He mixes up his releases well. It starts with a stop n’ go that threatens vertically. He takes a strong step towards the sideline, as if he were going to keep the deep vertical route, but this only creates space for his route in the middle of the field. In fact, this backside dig is a route used a lot by new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

He forces the DB to commit and the defender turns his hips. JSN comes back to attack the ball and makes the catch with the ball almost touching the ground. The WR still gets good yards after the catch on this play.

Another good combination. He pauses/hops at the beginning of the snap to try to mess with the defender’s timing and then adds the stutter-step, creating immediate separation for himself.

Route Running​

The routes that Jaxon uses the most include:

- Slants: 35% usage, with a 75% success rate. These quick routes take advantage of his quickness and are often used in short-term situations.

- Outs: 25% usage, with a 70% success rate. He uses these routes to quickly disengage and gain yards after the catch.

- Comebacks: 20% usage, with a 65% success rate. These routes are effective in maintaining separation in coverage situations.

However, his routes that need further development include:

- Go: 10% usage, only 40% success. The need for better separation and timing on these plays is evident.

- Posts: 10% usage, 50% success. While he made some nice plays, the accuracy and execution of these routes needs refinement.

Alignment Types​

During the season, Jaxon was used in several positions, reflecting the versatility of his game:

Slot Receiver: 60%

Outside Receiver: 30%

Motion: 10%

This distribution allows the Seahawks to explore favorable matchups and use Jaxon in different tactical contexts such as play action, taking advantage of him on third downs and in screens, creating situations for yards after the reception.

Great call. A 3x1 formation that would become 4x1 with Kenneth Walker coming in motion. It seems that the three receivers are there to block for the RB after receiving the pass. LB Fred Warner advances and would make the easy tackle on the RB. However, the pass is to JSN, who still gets a lot of yards after the reception.

JSN has good vision to find and anticipate spaces in order to maximize his gains.

Another screen. Once again, he shows his ability to see the field, looking for a way to escape. He succeeds and even breaks tackles on the way to do so.

Impact of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett’s departure​

As we said before, Seattle let Metcalf and Lockett leave this offseason. Even though their production was nowhere near as outstanding as JSN’s in 2024, the role of the two veterans caught the defense’s attention, leaving space for JSN. Is he still capable of producing at this level without them both?

Lockett and his experience can throw one CB on top of the other in traffic, giving JSN a free release that ends up being converted into a TD.

DK even seems to have a gravitational orbit. He attracts the three defenders who allow JSN to be free deep down the field.

The Seahawks tried to protect this release from JSN with bunch formations and spacing and here with what we call a shielded release. It’s almost a bunch formation after Lockett’s move. AJ Barner advances and with the crossing of the route with Lockett prevents the DB from reaching the line against JSN, who has another free release. Let’s see how the team can maintain this without the two stars, Lockett and DK.

Where Smith-Njigba evolved in 2024​

JSN’s main improvement in 2024 was his consistency as a reliable target on third downs and intermediate zones of the field. His chemistry with the quarterback — especially on short and medium routes — made him a key factor in moving the chains. He increased his production of yards per reception, improved average separation and became more efficient after the catch.

Good exit on the release to get free on a quick route. However, Geno Smith is pressured and can’t pass the ball at first. JSN sees the field well and improvises his route so that the QB has an option.

In addition, JSN demonstrated greater physicality in contact and refinement when dealing with tight marking. His coverage reading has improved, allowing for quicker adjustments in option routes and better use of empty zones.

Finds the space in the middle of the field and gets back to the QB. Geno had difficulty with some passes in the middle of the field in this game, but JSN doesn’t wait for the ball, but attacks it. That’s enough to make the reception.

Where Jaxon Smith-Njigba can still improve​

Despite the jump in 2024, Smith-Njigba still has room for growth in two main areas:

1. Verticality and deep-field threat:​

Although he is a specialist in short and medium routes, JSN lacks explosiveness on go routes, posts and other vertical routes. His initial burst and stacking over the corner after the release still do not make him a constant threat for explosive yards. His execution on “deep ball” routes still needs refinement, as on several occasions he was unable to maintain the separation necessary to be a deep threat.

2. Contested catches in depth:​

JSN is still inconsistent when he needs to contest contested balls in depth. Despite his reliable hands, his timing of jumps and body positioning in 50/50 situations could be more aggressive.

Conclusion​

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a truly defining second season — from young prospect to franchise star. With consistent production, records, and elite recognition, he showed that he is the key piece of the offense. What is missing now is to raise this level even further with new offensive weapons, but the foundation is already solid.

JSN benefited from the seasons of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Although the veterans were not at their peak in 2024, they caught the eye at certain times and that helped Smith-Njigba. In 2025, things will be different. The former Ohio State WR will be a target for defenses and he will need to find ways to produce even with this special attention.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...ution-of-jaxon-smith-njigba-2024-nfl-analysis

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

ESPN proposes Seahawks sign former All-Pro guard as ‘one final offseason’ move

Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

There’s a new Scherff in town?

We’re in the quietest part of the NFL offseason; minicamp is done across the league and

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggested a final offseason move for all 32 teams, including signings, extensions, signings, and trades. For the Seattle Seahawks, his proposal is for Seattle to sign former Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff.

The interior offensive line was a major problem for the Seahawks in 2024, and while first-round rookie Grey Zabel should stabilize the left guard position, the other positions are still in flux. Olu Oluwatini is penciled in at center, where he was below average in both pass block win rate (92.4% versus NFL center average of 93.8%) and especially in run block win rate (64.5% versus 72.8%) last season.

The current leader at right guard is 2024 third-round pick Christian Haynes. Why not bring in a former Pro Bowler who can provide some stability and veteran leadership? Scherff is still available and could take the right guard position, kicking Haynes over to battle Oluwatini for the center position at training camp.

One little detail left off regarding Scherff? He’s 33 years old and will be 34 by the end of the regular season.

Scherff has made the Pro Bowl five times and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2020 with the Washington Commanders. If nothing else, after dealing with some injuries in his final years in Washington, he started all 51 regular season games in this three years with the Jaguars. He also didn’t make any Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams during that span. While Scherff still has generally good PFF pass blocking grades, run blocking was a bit of a nightmare during his time with the Jaguars. Scherff clearly wasn’t as good in Jacksonville as he was in Washington and he’s at an age where the decline could be precipitous.

The right guard competition for the Seahawks is primarily between incumbent starter Anthony Bradford and second-year player Christian Haynes, so I’m not sure about calling Haynes the “current leader” at RG. Nevertheless, Haynes has had some (minicamp) reps at center so it’s not totally off-base to suggest he could move there.

Signing Scherff on the cheap to see if he has anything left during camp and preseason? Not against it. Expecting him to be a serviceable starter through the regular season while Christian Haynes could face being a backup across multiple positions? I’m not sure about that.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/2...former-all-pro-guard-brandon-scherff-nfl-news

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Can you guess this college All-American in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Seahawks player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey, Seahawks fans! We’re back for another day of the Field Gulls in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Field Gulls in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, June 28, 2025
Friday, June 27, 2025
Thursday, June 26, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Field Gulls in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Seattle Seahawks player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/29/24458277/sb-nation-seahawks-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Leonard Williams returns to NFL Top 100 Players list

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After a dominant performance in 2025, Williams is ranked 99th in the NFL by his peers.

Middle of the summer is typically the slow-time in the NFL, if there even is one (see the recent blockbuster trade between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins.) With this slow(ish) time of year, comes the many different rankings of teams, units, players, etc. However, some of those rankings tend to raise eyebrows a tad more than others.

One ranking that does is the official NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, as voted on by the players themselves. Last year, the Seattle Seahawks had three players in the top 100. Safety, Julian Love came in at 95, cornerback, Riq Woolen came in at 91, and former Seahawks wide receiver, DK Metcalf came in at 84. Of course, some notable names were left off the list (Geno Smith, Devon Witherspoon), but unfortunately, being underrated is par for the course with Seattle sports.

That par is seemingly continuing this year as well. The Seahawks have had their first player announced in the Top 100 Players of 2025. Coming in at number 99, Leonard Williams!

NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Seahawks DL Leonard Williams lands at No. 99! #NFLTop100 @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/ln7xXUolpG

— NFL (@NFL) June 30, 2025​

Williams had a dominant 2024 season, where he posted 64 tackles, 11 sacks, and one very notable interception which he returned 92 yards for a touchdown against the New York Jets. This interception is the longest pick-six by a defensive lineman in NFL history.

Those who watched the Seahawks last season know that Williams won multiple games for them, with a dominant performance against the Arizona Cardinals (posting six tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one stuff) and the next week against the Jets (posting four tackles, two sacks, a blocked kick, and the aforementioned pick-six.)

Despite this dominant performance, arguably worth an All-Pro, if not at least a Pro Bowl selection, Williams failed to be given either honor for the last season (Williams was named as a Pro Bowl alternate in place of Jalen Carter once the Philadelphia Eagles made the Super Bowl.) Some honors that Williams did earn in 2025 were NFC Player of the Week after his performance against the Jets in Week 13, as well as NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December/January. Now Williams can add being ranked the 99th best player in the NFL by his peers to the list.

Perhaps, Williams will see this ranking as another slight, in addition to missing the All-Pro selection, and will use this as a chip on his shoulder to improve upon his already outstanding 2024 season. This is his first appearance on this annual list since he was 97th in 2022 as a member of the New York Giants.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/6/3...onard-williams-makes-nfl-top-100-players-2025

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks Reacts Survey: Who will lead Seattle in sacks in 2025?

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Also, what position will the Seahawks finish in the NFC West?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Seattle Seahawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Happy July, Field Gulls readers and Seattle Seahawks fans! We have ourselves a Seahawks Reacts survey for you on this holiday week, with many more to come as we ramp up toward training camp and preseason.

The first question is a season prediction for the Seahawks as a team. Where will they finish in the NFC West? Are they going to win their first division title since 2020? Will they finish as runners-up for the second year in a row? What about third place like they were in 2023? Are they going to finish last like they did in 2021? The NFC West figures to be super competitive, such that last place could be something like 8-9.

The second question is a positional prediction, which we love to do here. Leonard Williams led the Seahawks in sacks last year with 11, becoming Seattle’s first double-digit sack getter since Frank Clark in 2018. The two main edge rushers Boye Mafe (8) and Derick Hall (6) were next on the list, while Uchenna Nwosu (1) was limited all year due to injury. Dre’Mont Jones is gone and replaced by Dallas Cowboys veteran DeMarcus Lawrence. With all of that in mind, who will lead the Seahawks in sacks for 2025? Big Cat, Mafe, Hall, Nwosu, and Lawrence are all options. If you choose “Other” I’m assuming you’re thinking of Byron Murphy II or Jarran Reed, but maybe I’m forgetting someone else.

Vote in the survey below!

Check back during the holiday weekend for the results of this survey.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/7/1...s-2025-leonard-williams-boye-mafe-derick-hall

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Let’s Chat: Which Seahawks training camp battles intrigue you the most?

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Seahawks training camp is just three weeks away, with many roster spots and starting jobs on the line.

We’ve reached the start of July, which means Seattle Seahawks training camp is almost here. Fans will get their first real glimpse at the remade Seahawks in several public practices, of which I can tell you that Field Gulls will be on-site for a couple of these. Stay tuned on that front.

For today’s discussion we want to know which Seahawks camp battles interest you the most. This was a topic on the most recent Pulse of the Hawks episode of the HawksZone Rundown podcast with fellow Field Gulls staffers Bryce Coutts and Ryan MacMillan.

I didn’t really have anything that interested me on the defensive side of the ball because most of those positions are generally set at the top level, and the bubble battles aren’t super interesting to me. It’s a different story on offense, where the following positions intrigue me:

• Third running back. No, I don’t think Kenneth Walker is getting traded and I think his trade value is very low after an injury-riddled season with career-worst numbers. Kenny McIntosh, Damien Martinez, and I suppose George Holani are all in the mix for RB3 behind Walker and Zach Charbonnet.
• Bottom-end of the wide receiver depth chart. Or, more specifically, how many receivers they do keep? If we assume Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are the top three, who takes the remaining spots? Jake Bobo, Tory Horton, Ricky White III, and Cody White most likely won’t all be on the squad at once. Who will lose out?
• Fullback. It’s either Robbie Ouzts or Brady Russell; they’re not keeping both on the active roster.
• Starting center and right guard. Olu Oluwatimi vs. Jalen Sundell... versus anyone else? Remember Olu vs. Nick Harris last year turned into Connor Williams getting the nod instead. At right guard there’s Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes, but we’ll see if Bryce Cabeldue factors in at all. Sataoa Laumea having his minicamp reps at left guard may indicate having him as a backup to Grey Zabel. Josh Jones surely isn’t starting but he has RG experience in addition to being a swing tackle.

Watch our segment in the video below, timestamped at 48:21!

And now we want to hear from you! Chat away in the comments!

Head to the comments section to leave your answer and join the conversation! You can sign up for a commenting account here and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/7/2...s-training-camp-battles-intrigue-you-the-most

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seattle Seahawks Hidden Gems: 3 Secret Superstars on the 2025 roster

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Coby Bryant, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Damien Martinez are three Secret Superstars who could help take the Seahawks over the top in 2025.

Pete Carroll is one of the most impactful figures in Seattle sports history, so when the mutual decision was made for Carroll to move on from his position as the Seahawks’ head coach following the 2023 season, anybody replacing him was going to have a tough road in following a guy who completely redefined the franchise on and off the field.

The team took its time in deciding on Carroll’s replacement, hiring Mike Macdonald on Jan. 31, 2024 — three weeks after Carroll “stepped down.” The former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator had put together great units on that side of the ball both in the Charm City, and for Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines in 2021. Macdonald seemed to have all the attributes to lead a team at the highest level, but even so, moving to an entirely new environment is no small thing.

Overall, Macdonald’s first season struck an interesting balance between frustration and encouragement. The offense floundered under Ryan Grubb, who has been replaced by Klint Kubiak. Geno Smith was cast aside in a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he’ll be reunited with Carroll, the man who saved his NFL career. Sam Darnold, Smith’s replacement, had an unexpectedly great season for the Minnesota Vikings last season, and the marriage between Kubiak and Darnold would seem in principle to be just about perfect.

New @Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is big on three things: QB under center, play-action, and pre-snap motion. Sam Darnold seems to like all three, and he really likes them when he has them all at the same time.

Darnold's new team could attest to this. pic.twitter.com/IdnE9BIGDM

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 11, 2025​

Will Year 2 of the Macdonald regime bring the first postseason slot for the Seahawks since 2022, and the first playoff win since Jan. 5, 2020? If that is to happen, everyone will have to be at their best — not just the prominent names.

In the continuation of our “Hidden Gems” series, we look at three Secret Superstars for these Seahawks — one underrated veteran, one underrated free-agent signing, and one underrated draft pick — who could help bring back the glory days.

Underrated Veteran: Safety Coby Bryant​

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 2024 season marked an interesting transition for Seattle’s defense. In the switch from Carroll to Macdonald, the Seahawks picked up a lot of more advanced concepts that Macdonald adopted through his career, and really perfected in 2023.

When players have a new defense to learn, it always takes a minute for everything to hit the right way. That was the case for Macdonald’s Seahawks, who ranked 15th in Defensive DVOA in the first half of the season, and jumped to seventh from Week 10 through the end. Fans should absolutely be excited about what things could look like in 2025 given Macdonald’s own defensive genius, and the talent on the roster.

One guy who really started to show up and show out in the second half of the season was defensive back Coby Bryant, who has seen his own career become a series of transitions. Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati as an outside cornerback, Bryant played mostly slot defender in his rookie season, and had far fewer overall reps in 2023.

But with the Macdonald move, Bryant finally found his ideal spot in Seattle — the last line of defense as a deep safety. Injuries pushed Bryant to the fore on that role in Week 7, and overall last season, Bryant allowed 20 catches on 25 targets for 213 yards, 57 yards after the catch, one touchdown, four interceptions, two pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 75.9 — the lowest for any Seahawks starting defensive back.

In conjunction with veteran Julian Love, Bryant showed a real acuity for the constant safety shifts from pre- to post-snap in Macdonald’s defense, and his intelligent opportunism was all over the tape. Bryant didn’t seem out of step with all of those tactical requirements, and he could play single-high just as well.

Coby Bryant was a man without a defined dominant position for the @Seahawks in his first two seasons, but he found a home as a deep safety in 2024. D.K. Metcalf compared him to Ed Reed, which is... interesting. But Bryant is a developing force on a rising defense. pic.twitter.com/4c9GALLR97

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 2, 2025​

“Coby is a great example of how we want to build this thing,” Macdonald said in December. “Come in, work, compete, do the things every day, stack all the great reps, get the confidence, get an opportunity, take advantage and run with it. Then let your abilities go from there.”

Former Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf was even more impressed, giving Bryant the nickname “Ed Reed.”

“I know it’s a stretch, but just hear me out,” Metcalf said last year. “No offense to Ed Reed or anything, but just the way that [Bryant] tracks the ball, he’s always near the ball. Just going back to when he was a rookie, he’s always had a nose for the ball, whether that was punching it out, catching picks or making an open-field tackle. I just thought he had the complete package to be a great defensive player.”

Well, let’s not go all the way there just yet, but it is good to know that in Bryant, the Seahawks now have one of the most important things any NFL team can hope for on its roster — the young, legit deep-third defender that allows coaches to scheme and players to roam elsewhere with confidence.

Underrated Free-Agent Signing: EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence​

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

DeMarcus Lawrence isn’t really underrated in a career sense. Selected in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Boise State, the 6’3” 265-pound Lawrence has put up 69 sacks and 475 total pressures in a remarkable 11-year career with the Dallas Cowboys. And the Seahawks certainly weren’t underrating him when they gave him a three-year, $32.5 million contract with $18 million guaranteed this offseason.

But you may have to pick through your memory banks a bit if you want Lawrence highlights. Last season, he missed all but the first four games with a foot injury, and given that he turned 33 on Apr. 28, you may wonder just how much Lawrence still has in the tank.

If you do watch his 2024 reps, when he had three sacks and nine total pressures on just 89 pass-rush snaps, it’s pretty clear that Lawrence’s combination of power, gap speed, technique, alignment versatility, and pure effort was still a major factor when he was out there. This was especially true in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, when Lawrence had two sacks and seven total pressures, and it was basically impossible to stop him.

DeMarcus Lawrence putting the entire Cleveland Browns offense in hell last season. The old guy's still got it when he's healthy. pic.twitter.com/pics9614Z4

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 2, 2025​

At the owners meetings in April, Macdonald laid out exactly how he sees Lawrence contributing to an edge group that already has Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall.

“Really excited about him,” Macdonald said. “He compliments our room really well. He’s a heck of a six-technique [aligned over the tight end, or just outside the offensive tackle]. He’s a disruptor. He plays the way we want to play technique-wise. He’s really, really smart. He creates more negative plays on early downs to get us in more advantageous situations [third-and-long]. And then obviously the pass rush element. He fits right in.”

Reports indicate that Lawrence has been participating in minicamps, so the foot injury appears to be a thing of the past. Macdonald is one of the NFL’s better minds when it comes to varying pressure concepts, so if he sees a specific role for a productive veteran like Lawrence, that could be a very big thing in 2025. Maybe Lawrence won’t be a 10-sack guy (he’s only totaled double-digit sacks twice in his career), but that’s not really the point. Every great defensive line has one guy who glues everything together, and Lawrence certainly has the chops to get that done.

Underrated Draft Pick: RB Damien Martinez​

Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The 2024 Seahawks had a reasonably productive running back duo in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. In some ways, that is. Those two guys combined for 15 rushing touchdowns and 11 runs of 15 or more yards, but there’s only so far you can take the committee thing when it comes to actual yards gained. Last season, Walker gained 573 yards on 153 carries, Charbonnet totaled 569 yards on 135 carries, and overall, Seattle’s 1,627 rushing yards was the NFL’s fifth-lowest total. Only the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets had fewer rushing first downs than Seattle’s 88, and this is not where Mike Macdonald wants things to be.

At the scouting combine, Macdonald shone the light on the positive side, hoping that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s run concepts will help.

“I think we’ve got three really good football players, good runners. They can all do all three things. Play all three downs for us. I think Ken and Zach’s styles complement one another. Kenny [Macintosh has] shown the ability to run wide zone really well, too. So it’s going to be fun to see how the reps shake out throughout the year and the roles we have for him.

“But keeping Kennedy Polamalu as our running back coach was awesome for us, and he did such a great job with those guys this year. And I know Klint has a great vision for all three backs on our offense. And, excited to work with him when they come back.”

That’s all well and good, but with the 225th pick in the seventh round, the Seahawks stole a guy who could be a major addition to that run game in Miami’s Damien Martinez. Last season, Martinez gained 1,006 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on just 160 carries, forcing 42 missed tackles, averaging 4.46 yards per carry after contact, and gaining 15 or more yards on 13 of those carries. Martinez was dinged in the draft process because he’s more of a sustainer than an obviously explosive back at the second and third levels, but that could be just what this offense needs. And Martinez does have more wiggle in the inside zone reps he had at Miami than some may think — he’s an intelligent headbanger.

“I think you know that,” Macdonald said at the end of the draft, when asked if Martinez fits the style of run game he prefers. “I think you respect that about him, about guys that can run the ball physically, downhill. Had a lot of great guys come through this building that have run it like that. Nod to those people. Just again, really excited about the guys we have on our roster. Come in and come kick butt with the rest of them. It’s going to be a great competition. But we’re really excited about him.”

Life hack: It will be good for your internal Zen if you never hate anyone or anything as much as Damien Martinez hates being tackled. pic.twitter.com/t0w9ugoItX

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 15, 2025​

While Martinez was more of a gap and inside zone runner at Miami than a pure outside zone guy, every run game has different wrinkles. Last season, the New Orleans Saints under Kubiak ran outside zone 200 times, the fifth-highest rate in the league. But they were also conversant in inside zone (77 carries), and there were enough gap and power concepts to tell you that Kubiak isn’t just going to lean on one thing.

There’s also the fact that in 2022 and 2023, when he was at Oregon State, Martinez ran a lot more zone concepts, and he was just fine with that.

Damien Martinez running outside zone for Oregon State in 2023. Much more of a gap runner for Miami last season, but the @Seahawks got themselves a broken tackle machine in the seventh round. Watch out for him. pic.twitter.com/UgufMpLJKm

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 2, 2025​

“I know it’s a lot similar to kind of what I ran when I was back in the Pacific Northwest with Oregon State,” Martinez said of Seattle’s run concepts after he was drafted. “It will definitely be good for me to run the zone.”

Martinez also said this when asked to describe his overall style:

“Physical runner. You’ve got another Beast Mode 2.0 coming up there. Get ready to see it.”

Well, that would be nice.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions).

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/7/3...coby-bryant-demarcus-lawrence-damien-martinez