As the Seahawks enter 2025 training camp, can new QB Sam Darnold and veterans Cooper Kupp & Demarcus Lawrence define a new era after major roster changes?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Forget what you knew about the Seattle Seahawks. As training camp 2025 dawns, the team is entering a bold new chapter, moving on from franchise mainstays Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett. In their place arrives a new Pro Bowl quarterback in Sam Darnold and a pair of high-profile, high-risk veterans. The mission is clear: retool, reload, and reclaim the NFC West. But as the team prepares for camp, its success hinges on a few massive 'what ifs'.
4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. That's the stat line new quarterback Sam Darnold is bringing to Seattle from his career year with the Vikings.
The biggest storyline is undeniably the man under center. After a career renaissance in Minnesota that saw him earn a Pro Bowl nod, Sam Darnold is the new QB1 in Seattle. His 4,319-yard, 35-touchdown performance last season is precisely the kind of stability and playmaking ability the Seahawks were looking for to lead this new-look offense. The pressure is on Darnold to prove that last year was the new standard, not an outlier, and to quickly build chemistry with a receiving corps missing its familiar faces.
To support Darnold, the front office made splashy, yet risky, veteran signings. Former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp and ex-Cowboys pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence bring Pro Bowl pedigrees, but also significant injury concerns. Kupp has missed 18 games over the last three seasons, while Lawrence was sidelined for 13 games just last year. If they can stay on the field, they provide elite talent and veteran leadership. If not, these calculated risks could leave major holes on both sides of the ball.
None of the offensive firepower matters if Darnold is running for his life. The offensive line is the team's most critical battleground heading into camp. While Charles Cross provides a solid anchor at left tackle, the interior is a puzzle. First-round pick Grey Zabel is expected to compete for the left guard spot, while the center and right guard positions are wide-open competitions. Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell will battle for the starting center job, with Christian Haynes, Anthony Bradford, and Bryce Cabeldue all in the mix at right guard. Forging a cohesive unit is priority number one.
While the offense retools, the front office made a powerful statement about its defensive future. The Seahawks signed rookie safety Nick Emmanwori to a four-year, $11.6 million contract that is fully guaranteed—an unprecedented move for a non-first-round pick. As noted by Seattle Sports hosts Michael Bumpus and Curtis Rogers, this isn't just a contract; it's a declaration of faith. The team is betting big that Emmanwori will be a foundational piece of the defense for years to come, and they've backed it up with historic money.
With training camp just around the corner, the Seahawks are a team defined by compelling questions. Can the veteran gambles pay off? Will the offensive line coalesce into a protective unit for their new star quarterback? And how quickly can a rookie class, led by a historically compensated safety, make its mark? The journey begins now, with the formidable 49ers waiting in both Week 1 and the season finale. The slate is clean at 0-0, but the expectations for this new era in Seattle are anything but.
