The Seattle Seahawks took steps forward in 2024. With a new head coach in Mike Macdonald, Seattle went 10-7 and seemed to be on the right track for their future.
That is until 2025 NFL Free Agency took place, and now the Seahawks have taken steps backwards.
The Seattle Seahawks Need to Move on From John Schneider
With the moves made by John Schneider in free agency, they are ones that have set the team up to now fail in 2025. For Seattle to fully progress they must start looking to move on from Schneider.
How John Schneider Failed the Seahawks in Free Agency
With now multiple signings it has become extremely clear that the Seahawks have not improved during 2025 free agency. Seattle as an organization is still banking on John Schneider to construct a roster just as he did during the ‘Legion of Boom’ days, and that is not the case.
There are a few signings that indicate this.
Sam Darnold
Starting with the new quarterback under center for Seattle in 2025. Darnold is coming off a turnaround 2024 season in which he saw a career resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings. Yet, banking on Darnold to have that same production carryover isn’t ideal.
Geno Smith was far from the long-term answer for Seattle, yet he at least had shown multiple seasons of consistency. By trading Smith, the Seahawks made it so that they had to sign a quarterback in free agency, but there is a reason the Vikings showed little effort in bringing Darnold back.
BREAKING: The #Seahawks are signing former #Vikings QB Sam Darnold. It’s a 3-year, $110.5M contract, per @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/h45ZPywss1
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 10, 2025
Darnold struggled still when he saw massive pressure, seeing a completion rate of just 50% and throwing six-of-13 interceptions last season when under pressure. Just last season the Seahawks offensive line allowed 151 pressures (10th most), and 59 sacks. So far this offseason, Seattle hasn’t done anything to improve that offensive line.
Between an offensive line that will expose Darnold’s weakness, plus not having DK Metcalf to throw to anymore will be a recipe for disaster. This leads to the next poor signing.
Cooper Kupp
Kupp is going to be 32 and is not the wide receiver he was a few seasons ago. Klint Kubiak is a rising offensive mind, but to have both Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba be the two primary receivers when they both excel from the slot makes little sense.
Kupp has also experienced three straight injury-riddled seasons, if he misses time this season that slots Marquez Valdes-Scantling in as the WR2. Going back to the Darnold point, he excelled in Minnesota having Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to throw to, and the Seahawks’ wide receiver room is a step-down.
DeMarcus Lawrence
Seattle ended up signing Lawrence to a three-year, $42 million deal despite him coming off a Lisfranc injury and showing signs of decline for the last few seasons.
Lawrence is heading into his age-33 season, and with playing 11 years in the NFL, has reached just double-digit sack totals twice.
While Seattle needed more edge depth to go with Boye Mafe, paying that amount for Lawrence was a bad move by Schneider once again.
