Head coach Mike Macdonald made the Seattle Seahawks' defense better in his first season. The unit had trouble over the last few seasons of Pete Carroll's reign, both against the pass and the run, and was seemingly stuck as a bottom-half-of-the-league group. That changed in 2024.
Not that things went perfectly. In the first half of last season, Seattle's defensive efficiency was inconsistent. After the bye week, however, the Seahawks were among the better units in the NFL.
By the end of the season, Seattle ranked 11th in points allowed, ninth in yards per play, eighth in pressure percentage, and ninth in sacks. The team brought back all the key players from last season, and after a year in Macdonald's system, the unit should be even better.
One NFL analyst has high hopes for the Seahawks' defense in 2025
Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut thinks so. In a pre-minicamp ranking of all NFL teams' defenses, Johnson has the Seahawks' group ranked seventh. While Seattle kept the defense together, one of the biggest reasons Johnson gives for Seattle's rise is the new additions.
The Seahawks drafted safety Nick Emmanwori and signed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. Emmanwori reminds many of Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, who worked under Macdonald in his first two seasons.
Lawrence might no longer be able to produce 14.5 sacks as he did for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, but, when healthy, he still puts up good pressure numbers, and he is very good against the run. He fills the same kind of role that Jadeveon Clowney did for the Ravens when Macdonald was the defensive coordinator there in 2023.
Seattle only spent two of its 11 2025 draft picks on defensive players, but Emmanwori might be a perfect fit in Macdonald's scheme. He is already impressing in organized team activities, and besides working with the secondary, he has gotten some reps with the edge rush group as well.
His versatility and speed are going to help Macdonald disguise his pre-snap alignments even more, and that will keep offenses guessing at what the Seahawks plan on doing from play to play, of course.
Of course, the players that remain from last season have already shown in the second half of last year that they are capable of greatness. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon is versatile like Emmanwori, and, despite his size, is aggressive and good against the run. He might see more time as an outside corner in 2025 if Emmanwori plays in the slot.
The defense should also start at a higher level than it did at the beginning of last season. While the offense is working out any kinks due to an overhaul that brought in quarterback Sam Darnold, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the defense could keep the team in a position to make the playoffs.
And if the Seahawks defense is as good as Johnson believes, Seattle could be a very dangerous team once they reach the postseason.
