Ranking Opposing Quarterbacks on Seahawks’ 2025 Schedule

In what has become an unofficial holiday for sports fans around the world, the NFL will announce the 2025 schedule on May 14, including when the Seattle Seahawks will face their 14 opponents next season.

Along with facing their NFC West rivals - the Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams - twice a piece, the Seahawks will face off against all four teams from the AFC South and NFC South as well as out of division games against the Vikings and Commanders. With the 17th game added to the schedule under the current CBA, Seattle also will have an additional road game against Pittsburgh.

Looking towards the schedule reveal, which quarterbacks stand out as the best on the docket for the Seahawks? Considering age, previous production, scheme, and offseason additions/subtractions on the roster, here’s my initial ranking of all 14 signal callers Seattle is set to face in 2025:

14. Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

A textbook definition of a spot starter, Rudolph has flashed at times when granted the opportunity to play substantial snaps, including posting a 3-0 record as a starter with three touchdowns and no interceptions for Pittsburgh in 2023. However, he has not been able to prove himself as a viable full-time starter at any point in his career, including throwing nine interceptions in eight games and five starts with the Titans last season. There’s still a good chance the Steelers lure Aaron Rodgers to the Steel City before the start of training camp, which would send the former Oklahoma State standout back to the bench, but for now, he’s the likely bridge starter with Day 3 selection Will Howard waiting in the wings as a potential starter in the future.

13. Tyler Shough/Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

Following the surprise retirement of Derek Carr, who stepped away due to a shoulder injury, the Saints will be starting over at quarterback under new coach Kellen Moore, and it’s anyone’s guess who will be starting in September. Rattler played in seven games with six starts as a rookie, struggling with a 57 percent completion rate, four touchdowns, and five interceptions while going winless in his half dozen starts, but the 24-year old could make a significant jump in his sophomore season. Meanwhile, Shough comes to town as a second-round pick out of Louisville and even though he’s a year older than Rattler, he’s a more polished pocket passer coming off a 23-touchdown season and due to his extensive experience in college, he’s expected to be as pro ready as they come into the league.

12. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

With Will Levis, a 2023 second-round pick who has started 21 games in his first two seasons, still on the roster, Tennessee will try to drum up a competition between the incumbent and Ward, but unless there’s an injury, the No. 1 overall pick will be a Day 1 starter in Nashville. Coming from Miami, the rookie has a live arm and above-average athletic ability to create as an improviser and runner, but he will be joining a Titans squad that lacks much talent at the skill positions away from receiver Calvin Ridley, which could make it tough sledding for him to thrive out of the gate. If he has protection, however, his arrival could make Tennessee a far better team in quick order.

11. Anthony Richardson/Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Entering the league viewed as a raw project, Richardson hasn’t made the strides that the Colts hoped he would in his first two NFL seasons, including being benched briefly in favor of veteran Joe Flacco after tapping himself out of a game last season before returning to the lineup. The tools remain in place for the ex-Florida star to take a big leap in his third season, but he won’t be given his starting job back by simply being a former top-five draft choice, as Indianapolis brought in Jones as a hedge with hopes he could be a successful reclamation project on his own accord to at minimum push Richardson, or outright beat him out. Either way, it’s hard to see the Colts having a long-term starter currently on the roster regardless of who wins that competition.

10. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota fans had to wait longer than hoped to see McCarthy’s regular season debut, as the former Michigan star suffered a knee injury in training camp that ultimately led to season-ending surgery, thrusting Sam Darnold into the starting lineup and leading to the Vikings surprising with a 14-win season. Expectations will be through the roof with the ex-Wolverine back healthy and Darnold no longer on the team after signing with the Seahawks in March, but if anyone can handle that pressure, it’s McCarthy, who has been a winner at every level he’s played. With a talented array of pass catchers around him and an improved offensive line to bolster protection, the pieces are in place for him to hit the ground running in his redshirt rookie season.

9. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Like Richardson, Young hit rock bottom early in his sophomore season when the Panthers benched him in favor of former Bengals starter Andy Dalton, only for him to return to the starting role a few weeks later. In this instance, the benching seemed to work, as the former Heisman Trophy winner played at a much higher level after being plugged back into the lineup, finishing with a respectable 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions to end the 2024 campaign with positive momentum for the future. Still just 23 years old, the Panthers added a potential No. 1 wideout to the mix by investing a top-10 pick in Tetairoa McMillan to go with veteran Adam Thielen and second-year receiver Xavier Legette, giving him the best arsenal he has had since being picked first overall and setting the stage for a breakout.

8. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

When the Falcons drafted Penix eighth overall weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a multi-year deal, many wondered what the organization was doing. But after Cousins endured a brutal midseason slump, Atlanta turned the offense over to Penix, who started the final three games of the 2024 season with mixed results, completing 58 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and three interceptions. The gunslinging lefty has an intriguing array of weapons around him with running back Bijan Robinson in the backfield, Drake London at receiver, and Kyle Pitts at tight end, and with those pieces around him, he should be bookmarked as a sophomore star in the making to watch.

7. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Even before going down with a season-ending injury, Lawrence was in the midst of his worst season since his rookie year, seeing his completion percentage dip to 60 percent with just 11 touchdown passes in 10 starts. Not all of those struggles were his fault, however, as the Jaguars had a dysfunctional offense with subpar protection in front of him, leading to him being under constant duress and ultimately losing his confidence. A new coaching staff led by Liam Coen hopes to maximize on the former No. 1 pick’s talent and Jacksonville’s offensive personnel as a whole, pairing No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter with Brian Thomas Jr. to form a dynamic one-two punch on the outside along with what they believe will be an improved offensive line in a better designed scheme.

6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray began last season playing at a Pro Bowl level, throwing 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in the first 10 games as Arizona raced out to a 6-4 start to take over first place in the NFC West. But he was far less effective in the second half, struggling with the turnover bug by throwing eight interceptions in the final seven games as the Cardinals unraveled and wound up missing the postseason. His playmaking ability as a scrambler and runner continues to be a dangerous asset for Arizona’s offense, but his decision making took a big hit in the last seven weeks and he has yet to prove that he can jump firmly into the top 10 discussion due to frustratingly inconsistent play even with the organization investing in weapons such as Marvin Harrison Jr. to put around him.

5. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Coming off a spectacular rookie season, Stroud had more bumps in the road to navigate in 2024 that led to diminished overall production, playing behind an atrocious offensive line while watching as his top receivers dropped like flies. Nico Collins still hit the 1,000-yard mark despite missing five games, but the trade for Stefon Diggs didn’t pan out as he tore his ACL and Tank Dell suffered another devastating knee injury, leaving the young signal caller with few reliable options to throw to. If there’s good news, Houston prioritized rebuilding around the franchise quarterback, using each of its first three picks on receivers and offensive line reinforcements, starting with 6-4 Jayden Higgins early in the second round, which should open the door for a strong rebound season.

4. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Similar to Stroud, Purdy’s stat line took a significant hit last season with injuries ravaging the skill positions around him, throwing 11 fewer touchdowns with his completion percentage dipping more than four percent and his yards per attempt plunging a full yard compared to 2023. San Francisco hopes better health for his supporting cast will bring him back to his elite production, starting with the return of running back Christian McCaffrey and receiver Brandon Aiyuk to team back up with tight end George Kittle. On the flip side, he won’t have Deebo Samuel to throw to anymore after the team traded the star wideout to Washington this offseason, so a young receiver or two will need to step up for the offense to return to 2023 levels.

3. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Only a few years ago, Mayfield looked to be the latest top pick who had reached the big-name backup stage of his career after a tough 2022 campaign with the Panthers and Rams. However, he was rejuvenated in Tampa Bay, tossing a whopping 41 touchdown passes running Coen’s offense last season. Though he threw a league-high 16 interceptions, he still earned his second straight Pro Bowl nod and helped the Buccaneers get back to the postseason. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin atop the depth chart and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka joining the mix, he has as good of a receiving trio as any quarterback in the NFL, but it will be interesting to see how Coen’s departure impacts him with a new offensive coordinator now calling plays.

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Now 37 years old, Stafford has entered the twilight years of his career, but he remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league despite his advancing age. Leading the Rams to a 10-7 record and an NFC West title, he tossed 20 touchdown passes while posting a 1.5 percent interception rate, the lowest of his career aside from 2010 when he only played in three games due to an injury. While Cooper Kupp now finds himself in Seattle, Los Angeles more than compensated for his release by signing Davante Adams, pairing the perennial All-Pro with star Puka Nacua to reinforce Stafford’s arsenal. Pass protection will be key, as the veteran signal caller has an extensive injury history and will need his line to hold up to maintain his stellar level of play.

1. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Pulling off seemingly the impossible, Daniels took over as Washington’s Day 1 starter and led the franchise back to relevance by advancing the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, throwing 25 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions while adding 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Looking to take the next step with the young sensation on his rookie contract, Washington traded for Deebo Samuel to team up with Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin and also acquired former All-Pro tackle Laremy Tunsil from Houston to shore up pass protection. Time will tell how those new pieces fit in, but all signs point to the Commanders being a major problem in the NFC for years to come with a franchise quarterback finally arriving in town.