> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Seahawks Offseason Simulation #1: How Will Seattle Aim to Improve Roster For 2025? - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seahawks-offseason-simulation-1-improve-roster-2025/ - Published: 2025-02-20T19:28:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:21:19.000Z - Author: Nick Lee - Tags: Seahawks, DK Metcalf, Ernest Jones, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Zeitler, Mike Hilton, Uchenna Nwosu, Dre'Mont Jones, Mike Green, Jack Bech, NFL Free Agency, 2025 NFL Draft \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1940"\] ![ Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf prepares for a snap during a regular season game against the Washington Football Team. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/metcalf-format-original-2.png) Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf prepares for a snap during a regular season game against the Washington Football Team. \[/caption\] The Seattle Seahawks enter a crucial offseason, one that could define their trajectory for the next few seasons. With a mix of young talent and seasoned veterans, Seattle’s front office has the opportunity to build a winner in 2025 and beyond. In this series, we will dive deep into the Seahawks' 2025 offseason strategy, focusing on key areas like cap space management, player contracts, extensions, outside free agent signings, and an in-depth look at the first three rounds of the upcoming draft. With the NFL combine and start of free agency looming, let’s make some notable hypothetical moves simulating Seattle’s offseason. ### **Cap Space Moves** Even with the NFL announcing a higher than expected salary cap for 2025, the Seahawks currently are roughly $6.5 million in the red for cap space. They will need to do some shuffling of the current roster and player contracts to get above water this spring and free up money for roster upgrades. Here are a few moves to put Seattle in a better position with the cap. *Release Tyler Lockett (+$17 million)* Franchise legend or not, there is no way the Seahawks can enter 2025 with Tyler Lockett, essentially their No. 3 receiver, at a $30 million cap hit. Something will have to give. This release doesn’t necessarily mean Lockett’s time in Seattle is done. But they cannot continue at the current rate. If the two sides can work out a deal to come back at a cheaper number, they should. Lockett is a Ring of Honor candidate and this should be handled carefully and respectfully. *Release Dre’Mont Jones (+$11 million)* Jones seemed like a square peg in a round hole in Seattle. He never could duplicate the success he found in Denver during the 2022 season. While he wasn’t horrible, he wasn’t good enough to merit being the player with the fourth-highest cap hit on the team going into 2025\. *Restructure Uchenna Nwosu (+$6 million)* If Seattle were to part with both Jones and Nwosu, they would have major needs at the defensive edges. Keeping Seattle's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee on a smaller cap hit for 2025 would be a smart move, as he has been much more productive when healthy than Jones has. **Net Cap Gain**: $27 million ### **Extensions** *Extend DK Metcalf (+$11 million)* The Eagles taught us that it’s possible to win the Super Bowl with a top-paid wide receiver. DK Metcalf is cut from the same cloth as Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown. The Seahawks offense is better with the presence of Metcalf. However, Seattle needs to figure out how to get his $31 million cap hit for 2025 down, while keeping him in a Seahawks uniform long term. The A.J. Brown deal could be a good starting point. Before the 2024 season, the Eagles and Brown agreed to a three-year, $92 million extension. That would be a large increase from Metcalf’s three-year, $72 million he got back in 2022\. The Seahawks should offer a similar three-year deal to the one Brown received in Philadelphia. That being said, the Eagles worked out the deal with Brown where his cap hit in 2025 is just $17.5 million. The Seahawks should try and get Metcalf’s cap number down to $20 million to free up $11 million in cap space. **Net Cap Gain**: $11 million ### **Free Agent Signings** *Re-Sign LB Ernest Jones (-$10 million)* It’s very clear the defense in Seattle was different when Jones came to town midseason via trade. Before acquiring Jones, Seattle averaged 23.4 points and 146 rushing yards allowed per game. After Jones joined the squad coming over from Tennessee, those numbers went down to 20.4 and 103 respectively. Mike Macdonald has an eye for linebacker talent. Seattle should do everything in their power to bring back Jones at a reasonable number. The Bengals signed their solid off-ball linebacker Logan Wilson to a four year, $36 million deal. That annual value seems fair for Jones, who seems like he is just coming into his prime and only getting better. Bringing him back on a three-year deal worth $30 million with a $10 million cap hit in 2025 seems reasonable. *Sign OG Kevin Zeitler (-$9 million)* It’s no secret what Seattle’s biggest need is. The interior offensive line is a major question mark that needs to be addressed in multiple ways this offseason. Adding Zeitler would instantly legitimize the situation, even if he isn’t a long-term answer. Macdonald and Zeitler have history together, as Zeitler played in Baltimore from 2021 to 2023, including two seasons with Macdonald on the same sideline. Zeitler earned Pro Bowl honors in his final season with the Ravens in 2023\. Then he joined the dominant line in Detroit last season and continued to play at an elite level. Zeitler paved the way for one of the most high-powered offenses in football with the Lions. Among qualified linemen, the Wisconsin alum ranked as the fourth-highest graded interior linemen per Pro Football Focus and interestingly, he ranked first among guards in zone run blocking grade, making him a great fit for new coordinator Klint Kubiak’s system. At almost 35 years old, Zeitler likely won’t break the bank with a lengthy deal. Still, as a Pro Bowler who just helped the Lions have a top three offensive line in football, he won’t be cheap. But he’s worth it on a two-year, $18 million deal with a $9 million cap hit in 2025. *Sign CB Mike Hilton (-$8 million)* One underrated need Seattle has to solidify is their second outside cornerback spot. Devon Witherspoon’s abilities are best used bouncing all over the field, often in the slot position. Riq Woolen still has time to develop into a solid boundary corner. Even so, his contract is up after 2025\. The cornerback spot outside of Witherspoon beyond this season is murky at best. Hilton could help solidify things, at least in the short term as a primary slot cornerback that allows Witherspoon to play more on the boundary. Soon to be 31 years old, the Ole Miss alum won’t merit a long-term deal. However, he is coming off a solid year with the Bengals. He was the 15th-highest graded corner per Pro Football Focus, which included the top run defense grade among all corners. The Seahawks, at worst, would enter 2026 with Witherspoon and Hilton at cornerback. That’s if they don’t re-sign Woolen. They certainly could do a lot worse, and investing a three-year, $24 million deal with front-loaded guarantees would make sense for Macdonald’s defense. ### **NFL Draft - Rounds 1-3** *Round 1, Pick 18: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall* *Round 2, Pick 50: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona* *Round 3, Pick 82: Jack Bech, WR, TCU* Given the free agent signings in this scenario, the Seahawks don’t necessarily need to reach for the top interior lineman in the draft simply because they have no one else. Zeitler solidifies things, which allows Seattle to take the best player available. In this simulation, that was EDGE rusher Mike Green. He led all FBS with 17 sacks and impressed at the Senior Bowl. He is one of the more gifted pass rushers in this draft and Seattle instantly adds juice to their front seven here. Even with signing Zeitler, he would only be a short-term answer. Let’s get him in the same room as young guards Christian Haynes and incoming rookie Jonah Savaiinaea. He played right tackle at Arizona his final season, but also showed promise at right guard before sliding outside. Seattle needs that kind of versatility with a talent-deficient offensive line. The receiving corps is in flux with Seattle moving on from Tyler Lockett in this situation. Still, they boast one of the best duos in the sport with Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Bech adds another dynamic as a versatile wideout capable of playing any spot on the field. He has excellent ball-tracking skills and should fit in any offense.