The Seattle Seahawks were a tie-breaker away from making the playoffs in 2024. Ending the season with a Week 18 win over Los Angeles Rams, the team enters the offseason looking to vamp it up at some key positions.
Could one of those positions be at quarterback?
That is an intriguing question for a team at the brink of the playoffs. While Smith is a solid and serviceable starting quarterback, is he the QB who can get them to a Super Bowl? If they believe he is, the next focus for Seattle is solidifying the team around him which starts with the offensive line.
According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, it’s the team’s most desperate need.
In addressing the team’s needs in the 2025 NFL Draft, Henderson writes:
“The offensive line will likely be a focus. That unit had its best game of the season in Seattle's win over Arizona [in Week 14] but it's still a major question -- particularly with the three interior spots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson will be a 33-year-old free agent, center Olu Oluwatimi is starting only because Connor Williams abruptly retired midseason, and rookie Sataoa Laumea is the third player Seattle has used at right guard this season. General manager John Schneider refuses to overpay for offensive linemen in free agency, which means his only chance at landing difference-makers is drafting them.”
Seattle Seahawks 2024 NFL season
2024 NFL season record: 10-7, 2nd in the NFC West
Team offense: Rank 15th (332.2 yards per game)
Team defense: Rank 12th (332.7 yards per game)
2025 NFL Draft position: No. 18
Top positional needs: OL, LB, CB, EDGE, DL
2025 NFL Draft outlook
The Seahawks aren’t a team that usually spends big money on the offensive line, so the draft will more than likely be where Seattle looks to beef up on offensive line help. This is where top guards like Alabama’s Tyler Booker stands out, but there are tackles in the draft who are versatile enough to play guard. That starts with Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. who is noted as a top tackle but has that ability to start at guard. Other players who fit that mold are Missouri’s Armand Membou and Ohio State’s Josh Simmons. Some later round options for the Seahawks include Georgia duo Tate Ratledge and Dylan Fairchild.
Other areas of need could include linebacker, wide receiver, EDGE and cornerback. The Seahawks are also a team who could take a QB in this draft. Here is a look at what John Schneider and the Seahawks will do in this three-round NFL Mock Draft.
2025 NFL Mock Draft (Three-round)
The Seahawks eyes light up on draft night when they see Kelvin Banks Jr. slide to them at No. 18. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle was one of the best in the nation in 2024 and has the versatility to slide inside at guard. The Seahawks are simply taking the best available offensive lineman with the selection of Banks Jr., who should instantly improve the offensive line as his size and athleticism will allow them to move him around the OL whether that be tackle or guard.
With the No. 50 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Seahawks address a need at linebacker with the selection of UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger.
A 2024 AP First Team All-American, Schwesinger is a linebacker with a high motor and tremendous range as a second-level defender. His strength as a blitzer and ability to play special teams will make him an instant favorite amongst fans, coaches, and teammates.
The Seahawks go after more of a want with the No. 82 overall pick with the selection of Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo. Not a huge need for the Seahawks, but the cap hit the team may face by keeping Noah Fant steers the team in the direction of selecting an athletic tight end like Arroyo to play alongside AJ Barner. At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Arroyo hauled in 35 receptions for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has seen his draft stock rise at the Senior Bowl which will have him on the radar of a team like the Seahawks.