The seemingly inevitable march to a Kansas City Chiefs three-peat was at all of our doorsteps. It would mean another victory parade and more interviews with Travis Kelce and Jake the insurance guy. It would've meant the extension of their dynasty to an almost untouchable level.
Those dreams were all fractured, battered, and buried on Super Sunday in New Orleans. The Philadelphia Eagles did what the entire league has been trying to do for the last 1,094 days... wrangle an all-time great, in Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs.
How did they do it? Jalen Hurts was sensational, scoring thrice and winning MVP of the game. That must feel like a bit of vindication to him after a year of criticism and skepticism about his impact and abilities. You could argue that the mere presence of Saquon Barkley changed the complexion of this clash. He tore it up all year, and it felt like KC sold out to do everything it could to make sure that "Saquads" couldn't beat them.
Seattle Seahawks should pursue Osa Odighizuwa in free agency to reinforce the defense
The real secret weapon? The Eagles' monstrous lineup is on the defensive front. This group of salty and ferocious behemoths made their imprint in the history of the game by harassing Mahomes from the word go. The craziest part? Philly did not blitz. They just rushed four guys the entire game, stressing and overwhelming the KC offense to the tune of six sacks, six TFLs, a 38.1 percent pressure rate, and two interceptions.
It was a three-possession game once the dust settled. It felt like everything the Ravens' defense had been last year. What does that mean for the Seattle Seahawks?
The Seahawks just this past year invested a top-20 draft pick into DT, Byron Murphy II. Before that, they shelled out second and fourth-round picks, along with a $65M contract for DE Leonard Williams. So why would they go out and make another substantive investment in the defensive front? Ask Andy Reid. I mean, ask Brittany Mahomes. Ask Taylor Swift and Priest Holmes while you're at it.
The Seahawks may feel that they are not far off from contention with the current team... if that's so, recruiting and signing Osa Odighizuwa would be a big swing.
Adding the only interior defensive lineman in PFF's top 30 free agents (Pro Football Focus is a subscription-based website) list would swing for an Eagles-type defensive line rotation. Can you imagine the nastiness and chaos that would presumably be sown by Big Cat, BMII, Odighizuwa, and maybe even junior-year contributions from Cam Young and Mike Morris? Add a big ol' run stuffer to the mix and you've got a panoply of playmakers to push the pocket on the league's best passers.
Odighizuwa is very familiar with Seahawks defensive coordinator, Aden Durde. Durde coached him in Dallas and utilized his skillset as an effective rotational pass-rushing defensive tackle. Double O ranked in the top five for both QB hurries and QB hits in 2024. The most important stat to know is that he was top three at his position in total pressures this past season for the Cowboys.
Importing that kind of ability makes it easy to picture an elite defense in the Pacific Northwest again. It would also be banking on continued development instead of breaking the bank for guys like Khalil Mack, Myles Garrett, or even Milton Williams (after his Super Bowl performance).
Some will want Seattle to spend all it can on improving the offensive line this offseason. Totally understandable and relatable to feel that way after seeing Seattle quarterbacks (Geno Smith right along with Sam Howell) maneuvering a crumbling pocket every week. If John Schneider grasps tight to his belief that guards are overpaid, then making a move like this to develop a superpower on the Seahawks roster could be enticing.
