Emergence of Drake Thomas Keys Seahawks’ Top 5 Defense
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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) tackles Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) resulting in an injury during the second half at Northwest Stadium. Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images [/caption]
Under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seattle Seahawks have been able to develop several late round draft selections into bona fide starters, including tight end AJ Barner and safety Coby Bryant.
However, the developmental success of Macdonald and his staff has not been limited just to drafted players, as multiple undrafted standouts have emerged during his two seasons on the sideline as well. In that surprising group, Drake Thomas has stuck around since coming on board in Seattle as a waiver wire pickup in 2023, working his way up from being undrafted in 2023 to starting on one of the best defensive units in the NFL alongside Ernest Jones.
After racking up 293 combined tackles, 46 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks with the North Carolina State Wolf Pack from 2019 to 2022, Thomas initially signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent, making a viable push for a roster spot in Las Vegas. However, he didn’t make the 53-man roster, and the Seahawks promptly plucked him off waivers, adding him to their linebacker stable as a core special teams player.
As a rookie, under former coach Pete Carroll’s staff, Thomas suited up for seven games, recording three tackles while primarily playing on kick and punt return units. He suffered a significant knee injury in a blowout loss to the Ravens in Baltimore, abruptly ending his season and putting his future with the franchise up in the air.
But while Thomas rehabbed behind the scenes, Macdonald became impressed by his work ethic and with positive evaluations from members of the front office as well as returning coaches, the Seahawks kept him and he miraculously managed to return to the field midway through training camp, earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster. He wound up suiting up for all 17 games, finishing with 13 total tackles as he saw limited snaps as a rotational linebacker and racked up over 300 special teams snaps.
Building off extended playing time in 2024, Thomas was expected to be a backup linebacker again for the Seahawks this season, with Jones and Tyrice Knight cemented as the starters in front of him. But an extended absence for Knight in training camp and the preseason due to injury opened the door for him to receive invaluable practice reps throughout the summer, and with Knight not looking healthy and struggling in the early stages of the schedule, Thomas got a chance to show what he could do, gradually cutting into the snap workload.
By Week 4, Thomas had overtaken Knight as the new starter at the WILL linebacker spot and has since started the past five games, taking full advantage of his first NFL starting opportunity. Shining as a run defender and blitzer, he has recorded 40 total tackles, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and three sacks, adding another weapon to Macdonald’s arsenal to pressure opposing quarterbacks from the second level of the defense.
According to Pro Football Reference, Thomas has thrived in coverage as well, allowing 20 completions on 29 targets for just 157 yards, a league-low 61% completion rate, and zero touchdowns for a 74.1 passer rating. His five pass breakups and 19% forced incompletion rate ranks first among linebackers, while he also sits in the top 15 for yards allowed per catch (8.2), illustrating his stellar all-around play and rewarding Macdonald and the staff for their faith in him thus far.
Assuming Thomas continues to play the way that he has so far this season, after seizing the starting job from Knight and not looking back, he could be positioning himself for a bright future in Seattle as a staple in Macdonald’s defense. He will be a restricted free agent next spring, giving the team flexibility with the ability to match any deals made by other teams or offer him a tender for 2026, which would set him up for a second contract if he continues to perform at a high level.
There’s a lot of football left to play this year, but barring a setback, if this is the Thomas that the Seahawks have on the field moving forward, they have a fun one-two punch at linebacker on the roster for at least the next two seasons. With Knight also under contract for two more years on his rookie deal, the cabinet has been set quite nicely for Macdonald at the position he’s best known for coaching and developing.
