Mission Over Bullshit. This was the theme Seattle Seahawk players chose to embrace before the 2025 NFL season kicked off. Their unrelenting devotion to this theme earned them an unexpected Super Bowl victory.

What does Mission Over Bullshit mean, exactly?

It means a lot of things. It means not getting caught up in the noise of doubters on the airwaves and online. It means not pushing forward personal brands, and being active presences on social media in ways that distract from game preparation. It means having a willingness to sacrifice individual numbers for the greater good of the overall team on Sundays.

The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX by not having a premiere pass rusher who put up gaudy numbers, but rather having a collection of really good pass rushers who played collectively together in a disciplined manner that spread the sack numbers around. Is this the formula that they must repeat year to year, or can it morph into something else if opportunity strikes?

As much as I would love to see John Schneider throw two first round picks at the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, is it wise to do this and potentially break up the formula that made this the best overall defense in the league this year? I am sure that Crosby would fit Mike Macdonald’s defense and culture extremely well, but is this a move that is necessary to make when it appears that there are a number of quality veteran edge rushers who will be available on the market and may yearn to be a part of this thing in the upper left corner of the country?

I think this is the question that if fundamental towards kicking off Seattle’s offseason quest to repeat as Super Bowl Champs. If Crosby is acquired, Seattle should be the hands on favorite to repeat, but if not, they still might be okay, and we will explore that.

As we loom days away from NFL free agency to start, here is where my head is currently leaning towards for the Seahawks and their quest to repeat in 2026. I don’t think they should get caught up in the big dollars it will cost to keep their skill player free agents in town. If the market dictates the Rasheed Shaheed can get $18 million per year, and Kenneth Walker can get $14 million, then God bless their abilities to go get those dollars elsewhere. That is not where I want to see Seattle spend their big with massive extensions around the corner for Jaxon Smith Njigba, and Devon Witherspoon.

Now, I am not suggesting that Seattle punts on all of their pending free agent players. In a perfect world, I would love nothing more than to see Josh Jobe, Coby Bryant, K9, and Sheed stick around longer termed. I just want Seattle to be really smart about this and stay true to their mission.

When Mike Macdonald took over this team back in 2024, he was asked by reporters what his vision for this team is. In paraphrasing, he essentially said that he wanted them to be great on defense, be physical running the football, and play a style of ball that is shocking, and that opponents don’t want to play against. As Seattle veered into the playoffs onto Super Bowl glory, this was very much the style of team that they became. They were outstanding on defense, they were physical running the football, and they weren’t a team that the 49ers, Rams, or Patriots enjoyed playing (especially the 49ers and Pats).

I want Seattle to stay true to this, and for me, that means to continue pouring in resources into the trenches on both sides of the football. Instead of paying Ken Walker $14 million and Rashid Shaheed $18 mill, is there a really good veteran edge rusher out there, and really good right guard available that can make them even stronger and impactful at the lines of scrimmage?

I know how vital K9 was to the success of this team down the final stretch of games, and how impactful Shaheed was as a returner and providing timely explosiveness on offense, but consider for a moment vastly improving right guard, and adding more veteran savvy to a no bullshit pass rush unit that just so happens to also defend the run well. If Seattle’s good not great offense line takes a big step forward in 2026 by adding one really good veteran piece, and their defensive line continues to dominate by adding another, is it not possible to find cheaper solutions at running back and wide receiver and be an even stronger football team, overall? I kinda think it is very possible.

This is where I have learned as a fan over the years to emotionally detach from players a bit. Was it a bit hard to emotionally handle seeing Seattle move on from Mr Seahawk Tyler Lockett last year? Yeah, if I am being truthful, it was for me a bit, but I understood it. The offensive system was changing and he was expensive and not an ideal fit. Cooper Kupp, with his more physical style of play, was a much better fit.

Let us be clear about the offensive style of play that Mike Macdonald has chosen for this team. He has fully embraced the Shanahan/Kubiak wide zone attack. In its truest form, this has been a scheme that placed more of an emphasis on a specific style of offensive lineman and pouring resources into that unit than spending big dollars on running backs.

Decades ago very famously, Mike Shanahan coached a Denver Broncos team into perennial Super Bowl contention using a variety of different running backs while keeping his offensive line intact. They found fellas late in the draft to plug and successfully play, and when their contracts came up, they let them walk elsewhere for the big dollars. Up until his Christian McCaffery obsession, Shanahan’s son Kyle in San Francisco has successfully had the same approach at the running back position.

Last year in free agency, John Schneider showed incredible smarts and conviction in punting on popular players who may not ideally fit what Macdonald’s schemes called for, and he identified players who would fit, and he brought them in. Sam Darnold was a great fit for the Kubiak scheme, as was Cooper Kupp. Defensively, DeMarcus Lawrence had a lot of familiarity with defensive coordinator Aden Durde, and he proved to be an excellent fit as an edge rusher.

Ultimately, I want Schneider to mimic this same approach for this offseason full of trades and free agency. I want to see him go after players who specifically fit the schemes and who are familiar with the coaches and players, and will fit this culture. I think, at the very least, you want them to bring back Josh Jobe as the starter opposite Witherspoon at corner on defense, and if you can do it, also bring back Coby Bryant who Macdonald seems to especially love, but outside of those two, I am fine seeing others leave if they play their cards right on the veteran market, trades and the draft.

This draft, while not considered especially great, appears potentially good enough at corner and receiver to think Seattle can use it to add a couple decent young players there. If you are paying Spoon and JSN premium dollars, it makes sense long term to have them matched with good young players are cheap rookie contracts. As we get into April, we will talk more extensively about the draft as we always do around that time, but here is a small sample of veteran players available who I think make a lot of sense for Seattle in free agency and the trade market. The theme that connects them all is familiarity and fit.

Edge Rusher Maxx Crosby

The Seahawks have been trying to trade for Maxx Crosby for over a year. When they trade Geno Smith to Vegas, they had an offer for Crosby that included Geno and DK Metcalf. It has also been widely reported that they tried to trade for Crosby again at the trade deadline.

To be clear, the addition of Maxx Crosby in Mike Macdonald’s defense legitimately makes the Seahawks the odds on favorite to repeat their Super Bowl triumph. Macdonald schemed this defense up brilliantly without having a true A Lister at edge rush last year, all respects to DeMarcus Lawrence. What does this defense become if Macdonald has a true game wrecker at edge that forces offensive coaches to pay extra attention towards?

The answer to this question is the reason why Seattle has been in active pursuit of Crosby for a year. Seattle’s defense probably reaches a level of dominance that would be unworldly destructive to offenses, and good luck Rams in hosting their own Super Bowl appearance next year.

The cost of acquiring him is two first round picks and a player. There are teams who can likely outcompete Seattle due to their draft positioning, and this is why I won’t put tons of stock in Seattle pulling this one off, but we shall probably soon see. If they do make this pull this off, however, woof.

Edge Rusher Jonathan Greenard

Can’t get Crosby? How about pivoting to a guy to compares well to a younger version of DeMarcus Lawrence?

The Minnesota Vikings have weirdly found themselves in salary cap hell by having a struggling young quarterback on a cheap rookie contract, and it is a horrific situation for them. For all the talk of landing a veteran quarterback like Kyler Murray to compete with JJ McCarthy, they presently can’t afford to do so. In result, they have let it be known to the league that they are willing to deal 28 year old defensive end Jonathan Greenard who is a player very much in the mold of DeMarcus Lawrence (really solid at a whole bunch of things, but not elite).

Personally, I think Greenard would be a great fit for the Macdonald defense that asks its edge players to set strong edges against the run while also being versatile enough to drop in coverage and pass rush. Greenard does all of this, and is a noted unselfish player at it. He is at a decent age and would come into Seattle with a contract that is more affordable than many alternatives that they would find in free agency.

Seahawks beat reporter Corbin Smith has noted that he is a player Seattle showed interest in trading for at the trade deadline last Fall. The current asking price in Minnesota is a day two pick for him, but they don’t have tons of leverage here given their cap hell that they made for themselves. It will be interesting to see what unfolds out of this, but I can see the stars aligning for Seattle to circle back towards him if they feel like the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes have become too rich. He feels like a Macdonald edge rusher.

Edge Rusher Khalil Mack

I just have a vibe that Macdonald’s defense yearns for smart talented veteran pass rushers and it isn’t scared of players long in the tooth. The strength of the scheme is in its deep defensive tackle rotation, having savvy capable vets on the perimeter gives Macdonald a steadiness that he doesn’t have to worry about. This is why I find Greenard interesting and why I also circle toward Mack who is a player going year to year in this league, and for the past two years, has played in a defense modeled after Macdonald’s.

Mack is connected to Baltimore because of his former DC getting the head coaching gig there, but I wouldn’t count out his interest in Seattle having watched what this defense became and a chance to finally get to a Super Bowl after a long storied career. If DeMarcus Lawrence decides to retire, he becomes an obvious candidate to replace him, but even if he doesn’t, the addition of Mack would be fascinating for a year. This is a player who makes sense for Seattle a lot, in my view.

Offensive Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker

I don’t know how much of a priority it is of Seattle’s to look to continue improving their offensive line this offseason, but I hope it is a higher one than what is anticipated. Anthony Bradford proved very serviceable at right guard last year, and was certainly improved. That said, I still question how much his massive body fits the traditional wide zone scheme that they have adopted. Alijah Vera-Tucker would be an ideal fit, and is young enough to be the answer at right guard for several years to come.

Offensive line coach John Benton coached Vera-Tucker in New York when he first got into the league, and he instantly turned him into a pretty good guard. There is good familiarity with him here because of Benton, and this is a situation where I really do wonder if the stars align for Seattle to finally make a big veteran splash in free agency to address the offensive line as opposed to splurging to keep Ken Walker or Shaheed. This, for me, would be a big sneaky move in free agency that Seattle might look to make.

Wide Receiver Jalen Nailor

If the Seahawks lose out on bringing back Rashid Shaheed, Minnesota receiver Jalen Nailor would be the one free agent out there, I can see them having an interest in. Nailor played with Sam Darnold in 2024, and the two of them had a good chemistry together. If you want to see this offense continue to hum in 2026, give Sam a target that he knows and is comfortable with. Nailor could come in with the expectation to compete for the number two spot with Tory Horton and Cooper Kupp, and at the very least elevate the depth of the receiver room. If they don’t get Sheed back, as it now looks like they might not, I like this move a lot for Seattle if it happens.

Running Back Tyler Allgeier

K9 is most likely outy. I think all Seahawk fans need to embrace that. I also think they need to keep an open mind about who the next running back will be to be added to the mix in 2026. Tyler Allgeier is currently being heavily linked to the Seahawks, and honestly, I don’t think it’s a terrible idea.

He enjoyed a lot of success in Atlanta when they operated the wide zone running scheme under Arthur Smith a few years back, and before they draft Bijan Robinson. The only knock on Allgeier is that he isn’t a burner like K9 is, and if he gets signed, that will be an issue with fans. However, he’s a proved scheme fit who has great patience and vision to go north and south to cut, and he’s really good pass blocker and receiver. A move for him isn’t to replace K9, it is to provide insurance for the style of play Zach Charbonnet offers while he recovers from his knee injury.

Personally, I think it is the style of play that the coaches might prefer, a well roundedness over elite explosiveness. Also, while him mixing in with Charbonnet might sound redundant, I think it’s a redundancy that could provide sneaky value.

Part of the issue I had with the two headed approach of Zach and K9 last year was that I felt like they were too different from each other, and that provided a tell. Zach was the better pass blocker and receiver over K9. So, in theory, when a defensive coordinator sees Zach on the field, that probably provided a tell that Seattle would pass out of a heavy set over when K9 is on the field. As I watched the season unfold, and noticed that the Rams, alternatively, used two backs who more closely mirrored each other, I felt myself wanting that sneaky dynamic in Seattle.

I want an offensive that does not give defenses many tells and clues. If the running back rotation in Seattle consists of Allgeier, Charbonnet, and George Holani, and they all feature fairly equal skill sets in terms of how they run, block, and catch, I don’t think that is terrible, at all, for this scheme, especially if the offensive line continues to evolve. This is something that I am really interested in if Seattle pivots from K9 as I expect that they will.

Cornerback Josh Jobe

For me, of all the pending Seattle free agents, Josh Jobe feels like the player most logical to bring back. He is a player that obviously Mike Macdonald likes a lot, and he fits and understands the scheme perfectly well. He is a really good Robin to Witherspoon’s Batman at cornerback, and his presence allows Nick Emmanwori to stay solely at the nickel role which allows this defense to thrive in a hybrid 4-2-5 sorta way is plays in.

On top of all of this, because he is a bit older, doesn’t have the length and athleticism that Riq Woolen has, I don’t think other teams will likely be looking to break their banks in order to pry away from Seattle. The Seahawks will have to offer him a reasonable contract to what the market demands a starting corner, but I think it’s something they can easily absorb for a few years.

For all these reasons, I think he is the one pending free agent most apt to return, and he should. His presence gives stability and the Seahawks can look to the draft and develop someone behind him.

Safety Coby Bryant

Coby Bryant is the other pending free agent that makes a ton of logic to retain, and I think paying a bit more to keep him around makes sense, even with Ty Okada still being around. Average fans probably don’t sense this, but Bryant does a lot of heavy lifting in the backend of the Dark Side defense. He can play both safety spots, and he’s instinctive against the pass and rush. He is a true safety net player, and he’s sharp as a whip in understanding what Macdonald wants. I think you pay extra to keep him around, and keep Nick Emmanwori in his unique linebacker/nickel corner role. You do not mess with this very special dimension of Seattle’s dominating defense. If I am John Schneider, I try really hard to keep this player, if I can.

Safety Geno Stone

If the Seahawks lose Coby Bryant in free agency, and I think they can pivot to an old Baltimore Ravens Mike Macdonald favorite in Geno Stone. He knows the scheme and was a productive player in his final year in Baltimore playing for Macdonald. It would make a wealth of sense for Macdonald to look to bring him up here. That said, I think there will be an effort by Seattle to get a deal done with Bryant, however. We shall see if that happens, but Stone is a guy worth monitoring if it doesn’t work out.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of ways that Seattle can go this offseason from free agency, trades, and the draft, but let us be real about this team, and try to temper panic at whatever we see happening in the initial stages of free agency next week. The Seahawks are going to lose some really good players of their roster. That said, this is still a roster that is filled with talent, and Seattle’s main task to supplement that talent to keep their window open for more championships.

Personally, I think K9, Shaheed, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe are gone. I feel like they will work something out with Josh Jobe, and I am hopeful that they will hang onto Coby Bryant. If they do these two things, and if DeMarcus Lawrence decides to play another year, they will walk back their entire starting defense along with their entire starting offense minus Ken Walker. That does not leave them with many holes to fill. Go get another starter caliber running back in free agency to hold serve until Charbonnet is fully recovered, and this team is off to the races again.

What Seattle could do, presuming Jobe and Bryant return, is to aggressively add another very good edge rusher in one way or another. If it is not Crosby, I would be very happy with Greenard, or Mack, but there will be others in free agency who will intrigue a lot.

I also think that if they like a player on the offensive line like Vera-Tucker who has worked with their offensive line coach in the past, a move like that would be well worth doing. Nothing wrong with making a good young offensive line potentially a great one, and making Sam Darnold’s life even easier in the pocket.

Last of all, this draft is pretty decent at corner, and receiver this year. If their aim is to pay JSN and Witherspoon this off-season, I think there is a decent chance that Seattle will prep to add a corner and receiver in this draft. It is good salary cap Tetris to match an expensive receiver with a good young player on a rookie contract, and ditto at cornerback.

You cannot tie too much money at those positions because it takes away from the trenches, and let us be clear about something. Under Mike Macdonald, Seattle wants to win the trenches warfare battle. That is why they drafted defensive tackle Byron Murphy in the first round in 2024, and why they drafted guard Grey Zabel in the first last year.

That said, go get Maxx Crosby. Go pull this trade off if you can do it.

Go Hawks