The Seattle Seahawks have been ranked in the bottom half of the league in the most recent National Football League power rankings, despite their ten-win performance last season. According to ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters, the Seahawks are positioned as the 17th-best team in the league ahead of the 2025 season.
Last year, Seattle became the first ten-win team since the National Football League expanded to a 17-game schedule to miss out on a postseason spot. The team relied on its passing attack, which finished eighth in yards, while their running game ranked near the bottom at No. 28. In response to last season’s outcome, management made significant changes on offense. Notably, quarterback Geno Smith and wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are no longer with the team. Six of Seattle’s top nine leaders in snaps played from last year have departed.
The defense will have more continuity; eight leading players by snaps remain from last year’s unit that placed No. 11 in scoring defense.
Seattle’s prospects this season could hinge on how quickly new quarterback Sam Darnold connects with incoming wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Improvement is also expected from an offensive line that struggled last year but has shown promise during preseason play.
Klint Kubiak was hired as offensive coordinator and has drawn attention for his early impact during preseason games.
In two preseason contests, Seattle averaged 219 rushing yards per game—even without Kenneth Walker III, who has led the team in rushing for three seasons. That output is exceptional compared to historical figures; only one other team since the AFL-NFL merger—the 1973 Buffalo Bills—has averaged such a high mark over a full season. That Buffalo squad was led by Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee O.J. Simpson’s record-setting campaign.
If Seattle improves upon its average of 95.7 rushing yards per game (No. 28 last season), there could be marked progress offensively this year.
Despite these signs, ESPN’s NFL Nation placed Seattle just third among NFC West teams and ninth overall within its conference—a drop from their post-draft placement—leaving many surprised given their win total a year ago.
The Seahawks have had only one losing season since 2011 and aim to exceed expectations once again this fall.
