The Seahawks' offseason was absolutely one of change.
Gone are Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and even offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Arriving, of course, are new players and coaches, like Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and several draft picks, including lineman Grey Zabel, safety Nick Emmanwori, and quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Certainly, we've seen these guys, whether it was at prior NFL stops or even this spring's rookie camp.
But seeing them all together? OTA's giving us our first chance at that and, in turn, our first glimpse at the 2025 Seahawks.
"I think we're just becoming a lot closer this year, and we're just continuing to build on what we did last year" said star defensive back Devon Witherspoon. "Our culture in our locker room is we just stick together, it's a brotherhood in there. We have fun and we kick it with each other."
Certainly, you can see that, in a spirited OTA session on Monday, it was "Spoon" getting after it and giving it his all. While that sounds cliche, practice that's largely devoid of contact and performed in shells (shorts and shoulder pads) doesn't always add up to the kind of effort that would inspire folks.
Unless you're talking about Witherspoon.
"I'm just being me every day, that's all that is. A quiet day. My teammates expect me to be myself, so that's who I'm going to be," Spoon said.
It was a defense that gave new quarterback Sam Darnold some issues in the red zone portion of practice. In what can be described as a little bit of everything for the new signal-caller, there were some beautiful throws threading the needle, and then there were some interceptions and pass breakups by the defense.
That's not something to be concerned about, rather, it's Darnold getting acclimated to a new system and, of course, going against a defense that was in the top-five of the NFL late last season.
After the acquisition of Ernest Jones IV, the Seahawks were a different unit on defense. It felt like the start of something special, and that's the word from Monday's OTA session.
This defense is very good already, and they know it. They also know, they can be even better.
"To continue building off of that, that's what we're doing right now, that's what this time is for. And then we come back in training camp, put the pads on and just keep building the standard for our defense," said veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
"My personal goal, my opinion, which I think that everybody will back me on, is that we want to be number one. We want to be number one in every category. That's what we're striving for, we're hungry. Every game may not be perfect, but that's what we're striving for, that's what working hard to get to" Reed added.
"It feels a lot different," Seahawks Defensive Coordinator Aden Durde said of this year's offseason with the Mike Macdonald defense, as opposed to installing it last year. "I feel like the energy, the understanding, there's a lot of similarities. You know the people better, there's a lot more trust built, the communication is smoother, it's fun."
OTAs continue through next week before the Seahawks hit minicamp later this month. After minicamp wraps up on June 19, the players will get their last break before training camp begins in late July.
From there? It's full steam ahead to the preseason and of course regular season opener on September 7th against San Francisco.
