The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most active teams in free agency, making major changes on offense. Seattle has parted ways with quarterback Geno Smith, along with wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. While they’ve added Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp as replacements, the Seahawks are still receiving one of the worst free agency grades in the NFL.
Seahawks Receive 1 of the Worst Free Agency Grades
Seattle left its fan base puzzled after trading Smith and Metcalf while releasing Lockett. It also parted ways with safety Rayshawn Jenkins and defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones. And so far, the Seahawks’ replacements haven’t fully addressed the team’s biggest needs on paper.
That’s why PFSN’s Stats and Insights team gave Seattle a D+ grade for free agency. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders are the only other teams with grades this low.
“Seattle Seahawks fans are likely to be nervous about what they have seen during the first portion of this offseason. Sam Darnold is technically a slight upgrade on Geno Smith in terms of QB+ from last season, having ranked 12th compared to 15th for Smith. However, Darnold comes with a lot more risk than Smith, and that is scary, but he also comes with a higher ceiling if they put the right pieces around him.
“The issue for the Seahawks is that they have allowed both Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to depart, signing Cooper Kupp to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba is talented, but asking him to be the No. 1 is a big step, while Kupp’s injury history and potential redundancy in the slot with JSN make him far from a slam dunk add.
“The Seahawks retained some key pieces on defense in Ernest Jones IV and Jarran Reed but then signed DeMarcus Lawrence to a puzzling $14 million per year deal for three years. The 33-year-old Lawrence only projects as a rotational edge rusher at this stage of his career, but the Seahawks are paying him to be far more than that.”
Kupp’s addition to the receiving corps seems to be the biggest bright spot of Seattle’s free agency, yet both he and Smith-Njigba operate out of the slot, creating a potential fit issue for head coach Mike Macdonald.
Seattle’s season will likely hinge on how Darnold performs. He’s coming off the best season of his career — throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions — leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3-2 record and a playoff berth.
However, Darnold’s early career struggles are hard to ignore, and even if he replicates his 2024 production, the Seahawks haven’t built an offense designed to maximize his strengths. Seattle’s offensive line remains a major question mark, which is a concern given that Darnold has struggled most under pressure.