2025 season thread

[flyerhawk]

I am not upset that we didn't rush out at the very beginning of free agency and throw a bunch of money at a guard. These type of moves rarely work out as good as you hope. The OL certainly is and has been an enduring issue seemingly for most of the last decade, but we do have several young players (a few of them starters) on the team now that have been drafted in the early rounds the last 3 years. We have a substantial number of draft picks to use in the first 3 rounds this year as well to add more talent to that part of the team. I might be more upset about not signing free agents if 2025 was the NFL's final season, but as far as I know that's not the case.

Geno being traded was a bit of a surprise, but I think the QB situation is in a better place now than it was a week ago. We got younger and cheaper, and we were rewarded with an additional 3rd round pick to do it. Even if Darnold is just a lateral move (which I don't necessarily agree with), that's fantastic maneuvering.

Trading DK was prudent. You got out of the way of that next contract freight train, and you got paid a 2nd rounder to do it. You drafted him with the very last pick of round 2, got 6 productive years from the player, then traded him for a better pick than what you used to draft him originally *and* got some cap relief in the deal. The overall amount of talent on the team might take a dip, but not at a position that truly impacts what you say your identity is going to be: running the ball and playing tough defense. WRs help with that about as little as any other position, and now we have more cap room and more draft capital to use on parts of the roster that do. Great move.

I'm totally fine with what's going on right now. We are setting ourselves up to better build a team that matches the style of play the coaches want, as opposed to years gone by when we made ill-fated trades for Jimmy Graham, Percy Harvin, and Jamal Adams. They are just getting started, and I think they're on the right track even if the fans don't approve of every decision .

That's certainly a pretty optimistic view.

Relying on day 2 or 3 draft picks to come in an start has not worked super well for the Seahawks, at least when it comes to the OL. At some point you have to try something different.

I don't have a problem with trading Metcalf. The Lawrence signing is ok. Not really a fan of the Darnold signing, as I think he will REALLY struggle behind our OL.

But, as it stands, we don't have a LG. Our C and RG are wobbly and our RT has big injury concerns.

Our WR corps isn't scaring anyone either at this point.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

That's certainly a pretty optimistic view.

Relying on day 2 or 3 draft picks to come in an start has not worked super well for the Seahawks, at least when it comes to the OL. At some point you have to try something different.

I don't have a problem with trading Metcalf. The Lawrence signing is ok. Not really a fan of the Darnold signing, as I think he will REALLY struggle behind our OL.

But, as it stands, we don't have a LG. Our C and RG are wobbly and our RT has big injury concerns.

Our WR corps isn't scaring anyone either at this point.

More playaction should help. Interestingly enough, for Geno in 2022 when he got CPOY he did playaction about 140 times. It declined in 2023 and then declined severely in 2024 with only 80 playaction attempts (very low considering how much we passed). His rating dropped every year with his worst year last year with ignoring playaction. It's odd because some folks on the forum kept telling me "Geno can't turn his back to the defense" or "He needs shotgun because he can't see the field!" Well he ran playaction perfectly fine in 2022.

Darnold had almost 150 playaction attempts in Minny. Their line was not as good after Darrisaw (LT) went down. Geno (2022) and Darnold (2024) stats were almost identical. What was common? Well, playaction attempts and a run game. Now you need guards for a run game, so let's talk about that.

Our line has huge holes I agree, and if you look at the draft last year, only a couple guards really panned out. Beebe went to Center where he was serviceable. For free agency outside of Zeitler not many of the guards available fit the ZBS scheme we want to run.

Now that being said, Christian Haynes ran a wide ZBS with the Huskies in College. So with Kubiak running a zone running look with lateral/stretch plays and playaction, Haynes IMO is a starter and it may already be pegged in. It may be that's what Mac envisioned and Grubb just wasn't aligned at all. I think we were all screaming at the screen last year wondering why we were jamming Walker up the middle instead of stretching him. Well Grubb wanted a POWER run game - which Haynes doesn't do well. He's not a PUSH the pile guy, he's a 'get in place quick and control' guy to open holes. That's not what we were doing at all last year. We WILL be doing it this year.

Still leaves a glaring hole at LG and we have to get a backup plan for Lucas. What's annoying is we did that last year, and they all got injured lol... Oluwatimi wasn't horrible last year but from what I know he's NOT a good ZBS player.

 

[JMR]

That's certainly a pretty optimistic view.

I just refuse to do the freak-out 1 day into free agency. It's really just as simple as that.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I just refuse to do the freak-out 1 day into free agency. It's really just as simple as that.

Also, we all know we need OL... but I don't see a lot of great ZBS OL available. And if Kubiak is doing ZBS and playaction, Haynes IMO will be the starter immediately (see my above post). That solves one of the guard problems.

Anyway, the free agency class is not great for OL. So what is the point of going and signing/overpaying 2-3 OL that don't fit your scheme or just are bleh. I get Fries was a big name... but he came off an injury, the Vikes offered 5 years (only team to do that signing a player from a different team not traded for - don't think I've even seen 4 years), and didn't even medically examine him. LOL, they were just like, "Yah here ya go. Fuck it, we'll assume your leg is good to go." At least with Lawrence we got to medically examine him and also gave him an incentive based contract.

 

[flyerhawk]

I just refuse to do the freak-out 1 day into free agency. It's really just as simple as that.

Well I don't think we should be freaking out.

But I do think there are reasons to be concerned. I'm going to be pretty disappointed if JS goes with another Luke Joeckel type signing because he wasn't willing to invest in more established players.

 

[MrS]

More playaction should help.

good luck with that if you cant run the ball.

Well I don't think we should be freaking out.

But I do think there are reasons to be concerned. I'm going to be pretty disappointed if JS goes with another Luke Joeckel type signing because he wasn't willing to invest in more established players.

its looking like i was right about their view of the OL. they like the guys they have and in all likelihood they draft some guy we have never heard of in round 3 and call it good.
the rest of the top picks will be WR/TE/CB/S in some order.

 

[blstoker]

Pretty sure Sam Bradford retired a while ago...

Oops

 

[HaroldSeattle]

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Not sure how I feel about signing Kupp for a boatload of money. Rams cut him to sign old Davante Adams for a big contract is a big red flag about what he has left in the tank after injuries, but Kupp is a pro pro who has worked at his craft to learn all the little things that helped make him so effective. Doesn't have the separation any more but has the know how. Won't mind signing him but not for a large contract, something like 6-8 million would be fine but sounds like he's going to be expensive, which in that case I'd pass. Seahawks are one of three teams rumored to be in the hunt for him.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Yah I saw that Harold. Jenkins is a good zone blocker, so it would fit. He's not elite at it, but definitely would fill a hole and he's a fit for the scheme. He's a better ZBlocker than Fries. It'd be nice to go into the draft with only a hole at WR and moreso areas of concern to address.

If we sign Jenkins, these would leave the following CONCERN areas, but I wouldn't say they are HOLES - you have someone that can step in. It would give you a lot of flex in the draft. I bolded my 3 higher concerns:

OT: Lucas if he can stay healthy and get back to form works fine. If he doesn't though, yikes.
C: Olu was decent last year, but he's not great at zone, maybe he can learn though.
RG: I still think Haynes will start given what he did at UCONN (wide zone).
S: Mac needs his 3rd safety, Love isn't getting younger.
DB: Woolen in final year, looked horrible at times last year.
ILB: Nothing really behind Knight/Jones, although we did sign Ross.
EDGE: Nwosu is struggling to stay healthy, Mafe/Hall are in 4th/3rd years, D Law is 33.
DL: Reed is 33, Murphy needs to stop being our nose tackle, Big Cat is 31...
QB: Darnold could see ghosts, definitely was given a bridge contract.
RB: K9 in final year, can't stay healthy (consistently)
TE: Fant in final year, save $10M in cap by cutting him.

Now with my 3 highest concerns and the hole... if our first 4 picks are OT, S, DL, and WR... I'll be a very happy shark . That's of course assuming we sign Jenkins.

Darnold, D Law (IMO), Valdes (at least deep threat, again, he was more productive than DK while in New Orleans for 8 games) and Jenkins (if we sign) are filling literal holes on the roster.

 

[flyerhawk]

If we sign Jenkins I'll feel a little better about things

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

View attachment 391644

A tad high on the dollar amount but not bad if he's our #4 WR. Gotta fill #2 and #3 spots.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

A tad high on the dollar amount but not bad if he's our #4 WR. Gotta fill #2 and #3 spots.

Kubiak doesn't use wide receivers as much, but Valdes played great for him last year. In the second half of the season and 8 games he was better than DK (who was clearly mailing it in). He's a deep threat, which we do need to some degree. He may get some reps as the #2. I still think we need to address WR in the draft and that's fine because the middle rounds of this draft have quite a bit of serviceable wideouts... perfect.

Everyone keeps saying get Kupp, but I really don't get that. We have the same player in JSN and Kupp is prob. gonna want $10-15M per. Not worth IMO. Can't stay on the field.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Kubiak doesn't use wide receivers as much, but Valdes played great for him last year. In the second half of the season and 8 games he was better than DK (who was clearly mailing it in). He's a deep threat, which we do need to some degree. He may get some reps as the #2. I still think we need to address WR in the draft and that's fine because the middle rounds of this draft have quite a bit of serviceable wideouts... perfect.

Everyone keeps saying get Kupp, but I really don't get that. We have the same player in JSN and Kupp is prob. gonna want $10-15M per. Not worth IMO. Can't stay on the field.

I'd prefer more #3 WR and leave the #2 to a drafted stud who can learn from day 1. If rumors are true and Kupp is in play that'll drop MVS down to #4WR which also works.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I still don't get Kupp. If he wants to come here on a 2 year $15M deal for $5M guaranteed fine. He's been injured the last 3 seasons and declining after ONE AMAZING season. Just resign Lockett at this point who would prob. gladly come here for 2 years $10M.

 

[JMR]

I still don't get Kupp. If he wants to come here on a 2 year $15M deal for $5M guaranteed fine. He's been injured the last 3 seasons and declining after ONE AMAZING season. Just resign Lockett at this point who would prob. gladly come here for 2 years $10M.

At this point in their careers, I think Kupp is much more likely to be an effective possession type guy. Lockett is 4 inches shorter, probably 30 pounds lighter, and he doesn't get behind defenses anymore. For similar price, Kupp is the better buy in my view.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

At this point in their careers, I think Kupp is much more likely to be an effective possession type guy. Lockett is 4 inches shorter, probably 30 pounds lighter, and he doesn't get behind defenses anymore. For similar price, Kupp is the better buy in my view.

Sure, for the right price. If it means giving Kupp some 2 year $30M deal, no...

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Sure, for the right price. If it means giving Kupp some 2 year $30M deal, no...

I'd go 3 for 30mil with 15mil guaranteed plus an out after the 2nd year.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I'd go 3 for 30mil with 15mil guaranteed plus an out after the 2nd year.

Rumor is Kupp is going to sign today. I could stomach what you proposed... as long as it doesn't impede signing Jenkins... although, a signing like this could be the clincher to getting Jenkins.

We SHOULD have the cap for it. I estimate we have about $20M left AFTER taking into account draft + injury reserve. We just took White as well...

Anyway, grab Kupp or Lockett, grab Jenkins, and head to the draft IMO.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Rumor is Kupp is going to sign today. I could stomach what you proposed... as long as it doesn't impede signing Jenkins... although, a signing like this could be the clincher to getting Jenkins.

We SHOULD have the cap for it. I estimate we have about $20M left AFTER taking into account draft + injury reserve. We just took White as well...

Anyway, grab Kupp or Lockett, grab Jenkins, and head to the draft IMO.

It's sucks the NFL doesn't release contract and cap info immediately during free agency. Obviously they have to know the info to make these signing legit but they delay giving out the info for some reason. We are sitting here wondering what cap space the Seahawks have left after the latest signing, obviously the Seahawks know, obviously the NFL knows but they with hold the info. Very frustrating for fans.