Entering the second year of the Mike Macdonald era, the Seattle Seahawks have basically removed all traces of Pete Carroll. The team traded DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh, sent Geno Smith to Las Vegas, and released veteran Tyler Lockett after 10 NFL seasons in Seattle.
While some of these changes were expected, others left fans scratching their heads. Regardless of whether these moves pan out in the long run, they set up some interesting matchups in 2025. The Seahawks were featured in two of NFL.com's top 10 revenge games for the upcoming season.
The first matchup highlighted was Seattle vs. Los Angeles. The article praised the Rams for adding Davante Adams, while also crediting Kupp for signing in Seattle where he'll face Los Angeles twice next season.
"On Kupp's end, though, I could see how the 31-year-old, who returned to his roots in Washington when he signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks, would want to show the only NFL team he's ever played for to this point that he's still got it," wrote NFL.com's Adam Rank. "And he'll have two chances to do so during the regular season."
That wasn't the only Seahawks game highlighted in the article. The team's upcoming matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers also made the cut.
Pittsburgh is expected to pair Metcalf with All-Pro Aaron Rodgers, but the former Packers quarterback seems intent on dragging out the decision as long as possible. Nonetheless, Metcalf has a chance to show the Seahawks that they made a terrible mistake.
"While Metcalf ultimately did secure both the exit he wanted and a four-year, $132 million extension from Pittsburgh, he would no doubt love to put up a dominant stat line against his old team," wrote Rank. "As luck would have it -- at least for this piece -- he'll get his chance when the Steelers and Seahawks lock up this season."
The Seahawks received a second-round pick in return for Metcalf, who's a former second-rounder himself, but they likely won't find another player of his caliber in Round 2 of this year's draft.
Metcalf has topped the 1,000-yard milestone three times over his six-year NFL career and never finished with less than 900 receiving yards in a season. Kupp has reached greater heights than Metcalf, but he hasn't been as consistent from year to year, mostly due to injuries.
After winning 10 games in 2024, the pressure is on this team to produce in 2025. Otherwise, general manager John Schneider could be feeling the heat.
