seahawks: What You Need to Know (October 2026)

Seattle's QB Room, a New-Look Offense, and Why the Seahawks Are Back in the Conversation

Search interest in the Seattle Seahawks has spiked dramatically heading into the 2025 NFL training camp window, and it's not hard to see why. After a 10-7 season in 2024 that ended with a Wild Card exit against the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle spent the offseason making the kind of aggressive moves that signal a front office done being patient. The result is a roster that has fans, analysts, and opposing defensive coordinators paying close attention.

The Quarterback Question That Won't Quit

The biggest driver of the trending search interest is the quarterback room. Geno Smith returns for his fourth season as the starter, coming off a 2024 campaign in which he threw for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Those are serviceable numbers, but not the kind that silence doubters in a conference full of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

Seattle's decision to sign Sam Darnold in free agency added immediate fuel to the speculation. Darnold, who threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns with Minnesota last season before the Vikings moved on, arrives in Seattle as a legitimate starter — not a backup. General manager John Schneider hasn't been shy about the competitive nature of the room, and head coach Mike Macdonald is expected to let the competition play out through the preseason. That kind of open quarterback battle draws eyeballs every time.

An Offensive Line Built to Actually Block

One reason Smith's numbers have plateaued is that he's spent most of his Seattle tenure running for his life. The Seahawks addressed that directly this offseason, investing heavily in the offensive line through both free agency and the draft. Left tackle Charles Cross enters his fourth year as one of the better young tackles in the NFC West, and Seattle added interior depth that should give whoever is under center actual time to throw.

The offensive line ranked 22nd in pass block win rate in 2024, per ESPN Analytics. Getting that number into the top half of the league would change the offensive identity entirely.

What the Draft Class Brings

Seattle's 2025 draft class drew strong reviews, particularly the additions at wide receiver and edge rusher. With DK Metcalf entering a contract year and Tyler Lockett aging into more of a complementary role, the Seahawks needed to add speed and explosiveness at the skill positions. They did. On defense, Uchenna Nwosu's return from injury combined with new pass rush depth gives Macdonald more tools to run the aggressive scheme he installed in his first season as head coach.

• Macdonald's defense ranked 8th in points allowed in 2024, a significant jump from the prior year
• Seattle's pass rush generated 45 sacks last season, tied for 12th in the league
• The secondary, led by Devon Witherspoon, remains one of the more talented units in the NFC

The NFC West Is Wide Open

Part of what makes Seattle interesting in 2025 is the division around them. The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a disappointing year clouded by Brock Purdy's durability concerns. The Rams are aging at key positions. The Arizona Cardinals are still building. The NFC West, historically a division that eats teams alive, looks more winnable than it has in years.

Seattle hasn't won a division title since 2020. With a more complete roster, a second-year head coach who has earned his players' trust, and a quarterback competition that keeps everyone sharp, the Seahawks enter camp as a genuine contender rather than a hopeful one. That's the difference — and it's why the search numbers are climbing.