Derick Hall Thriving as One of Seahawks’ Biggest Macdonald-Era Risers
The Seattle Seahawks have made several additions over the last few seasons to turn the defense into one of the NFL’s best. Mike Macdonald arrived in Seattle ahead of the 2024 season looking to restore what made Seattle so great in the 2010s decade- a dominant defense that struck fear in opposing offenses. And to do that with versatility and depth unmatched in the NFL.
By most accounts, the 2025 Seahawks look to be heading to that destiny. They are seventh in scoring defense and second in yards per play allowed.
It takes a village for a defense to operate as well as Seattle’s has. One of the integral parts of that village in 2025 and is going unheralded is defensive end Derick Hall.
Seattle selected Hall out of Auburn in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It has been a slow burn for the former Tiger along Seattle’s defensive line. He was mostly a reserve in his rookie year, collecting 38 tackles and five quarterback hits.
Last season, he took another step with the sack production coming with Mike Macdonald’s new scheme and direction. It seems Macdonald values Hall’s abilities. He moved around move along the line last year under Macdonald than he did his rookie year under Pete Carroll. His length, power, and high-motor give Macdonald the freedom to move him around into positions for success.
Now in his second season under Macdonald, it looks like that second round selection was a good one. While his sack totals are not trending to match his eight sacks from last year, his overall numbers and grades suggest he is getting more and more confident and comfortable.
His game against the Titans last Sunday was the best of his season, with a season-high 91.1 PFF grade and eight pressures. In fact, among 90 qualified defensive ends around the NFL in Week 12, Hall earned the fifth-highest grade and the sixth-most QB pressures.
He missed a chunk of time following his injury in the Tampa Bay game. But now, it appears he is rounding into form once again. Last season, he got a quarterback pressure in 12.2% of his pass rushing snaps. This season, that has jumped to 18.5%. He earned a 60.0 overall PFF grade last year. This year, that sits at 75.6. Among 182 qualified defensive linemen this year, Hall ranks 33rd in overall PFF grade.
As Seattle continues to define itself as a physical, disruptive defense, Hall is ideally positioned to be one of its cornerstones and as Macdonald hinted after last week’s win in Tennessee, the sacks likely will come down the line for him. A young, ascending pass rusher with the power, athleticism, and now scheme fit to become a legitimate difference-maker, his best football should still remain in front of him, an exciting development for the franchise.
