Seattle Seahawks fans can likely predict who will be the starters at almost every position. Defensively, almost everyone returns and the only real drama might be at cornerback, and potentially, safety.
Offensively, the offensive line is likely set, except at possibly right guard. Filling out the active 53-man roster, though, is going to be a challenge. There could also be a roster battle at the most important position of all.
Head coach Mike Macdonald has already made it clear that 2025 free agent acquisition Sam Darnold is going to be QB1. Seattle's entire quarterback room is different than it was in 2024, so choosing a starter so early means Darnold is going to keep the gig even if he struggles at first.
Drew Lock might have a roster battle on his hands for the Seattle Seahawks QB2 spot
Obviously, the hope is he doesn't but there is a chance he could simply because he is working with a new receiving group, while many of the receivers are new too. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is WR1, and he will be in his third season with the team, but veterans Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are new in Seattle.
But while Darnold should feel secure in his roster spot, backup Drew Lock might not. The Seahawks gave him a two-year deal this offseason to return to the team after he left for one season and played for the New York Giants. He had a chance to prove he could be a starter at the beginning of his career with the Denver Broncos, but they were lousy and Lock was limited in help.
Lock then spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with Seattle, playing sparingly in 2023.
While Seattle giving Lock a two-year deal might have been meant to give the backup some security, the Seahawks taking Jalen Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft might have done away with that. Not that Milroe is ready to start in the league, but he clearly impressed in minicamp more than expected.
Should Milroe show that he has learned the offensive playbook even more between minicamp and training camp and then apply that knowledge to efficient and productive reps in camp and preseason games, Lock should feel nervous.
His contract has no guaranteed money in 2026, and should the team move on from him when final roster cuts are made, Seattle would eat only $2,250,000 in dead cap. That might seem like quite a lot to some, but general manager John Schneider has proved he is not afraid of dead space.
Plus, if Milroe impresses in camp, why hold him back from getting real snaps if called upon during the regular season? If Darnold fails or gets hurt, Seattle's season is probably doomed anyway, Lock hasn't shown so much ability that he can save it.
Of course, if Milroe hasn't changed much from minicamp to training camp, he will rightfully settle into the QB3 spot and stay there for the season. If Darnold doesn't succeed, his replacement will be Lock and not Milroe.
