Seahawks Offseason Simulation #2: How Will Seattle Aim to Improve Roster For 2025?
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Quarterback Jaxson Dart leaps for a first down during Ole Miss' TaxSlayer Gator Bowl victory over Duke. Credit: Jaxson Dart/Instagram [/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 underway and free agency looming, let’s take a second shot at making some notable hypothetical moves simulating Seattle’s offseason.
Cap Space Moves
As of now, the Seahawks are $6.8 million in the red. They will need to make several moves to get back on the plus side.
Cut Tyler Lockett (+$17 million)
Cut Dre’Mont Jones (+$11 million)
Cut Noah Fant (+$8 million)
Restructure Uchenna Nwosu (+$6 million)
These moves give the Seahawks just over $30 million in cap space they can use for extensions and free agency.
Net Cap Gain: $42 million
Extensions/Trades
Extend Geno Smith 2 years, $90 million
This deal doesn’t mean Smith has a $45 million cap hit for 2025. The Seahawks can rearrange some of his extension to make his cap hit at $35 million. That would be about $9 million less than where it stands now.
However, this extension does not mean the Seahawks can’t go get their quarterback of the future this offseason as well. In fact, it would be a smart move. That way, the rookie signal caller can learn and develop under Geno Smith.
Trade DK Metcalf to Green Bay Packers
Seahawks get: Green Bay’s #23 pick, WR Dontayvion Wicks
Packers get: DK Metcalf, Seattle’s 2025 4th round pick
This would be one of the biggest blockbusters of the entire offseason. There is certainly smoke regarding a possible deal. Nothing is imminent, or even likely at this point. But the reports are that Seattle and Green Bay have discussed the framing of a trade for Metcalf to wear yellow and green.
This saves Seattle $10.8 million against the cap for 2025 while acquiring a big-bodied receiver in Wicks, who is on a rookie deal. He has two years left and is due less than $2 million each season.
This trade would signify a new era in Seattle. It’s a reallocation of resources. The Seahawks have big needs at other more premium positions than receiver. Plus, the duo of Wicks with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, fresh off his first career Pro Bowl, is still high quality.
Seattle can use those big savings to pour into the trenches and upgrade the offensive line.
Net Cap Gain: $20 million
Free Agent Signings
Sign C Ryan Kelly (3 years, $39 million, -$13 million)
It’s time to stop messing around. The Seahawks need an alpha-dawg at center. Kelly is a four-time Pro Bowler and is a free agent after nine stellar seasons with the Colts.
Seattle has not had a true presence at center since they dealt away Max Unger. Kelly would establish himself immediately as the veteran leader along the offensive line. He has only allowed two sacks total in the last two seasons combined. He is coming off a knee injury but it looks like he should be healthy this offseason.
Seattle uses the savings from all the moves to lessen their cap number to make a big splash and remake the offensive line.
Sign OG Aaron Banks (3 years, $15 million, -$5 million)
Even if the Seahawks make a splash at center in free agency and draft interior linemen in April, they should bring in more veteran depth. Banks played nearly every snap at left guard for the 49ers in 2024, allowing just one sack in 471 pass block snaps.
If Seattle brings in a rookie to compete with Banks, they need more depth to ensure the group up front takes a big step forward.
Re-Sign DT Jarran Reed: (2 years, $12 million, -$6 million)
Reed seems like one of those players that raises his level of play when he plays for a certain franchise. Seattle will have a sizable void to fill if Reed doesn’t return. The two sides should realize they need each other.
NFL Draft Rounds 1-3
Round 1, Pick 18: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Round 1, Pick 23 (from Packers): Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Round 2, Pick 50: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Round 3, Pick 82: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
You want to completely re-shape the offense in one draft? This is how you do it.
The Seahawks essentially “replaced” Metcalf in the trade by acquiring Dontayvion Wicks.
With that trade, the Seahawks also have the luxury of an extra first round pick. This way, they can draft their possible quarterback of the future without sucking up their precious, lone first round pick in the process.
First, they get one of the best offensive linemen in the draft in Banks. He played tackle at Texas but could slide inside. Also, he serves as a fantastic insurance policy for the oft-injured Abe Lucas at right tackle.
Dart has NFL qualities. He is an imperfect product, but the tools are there. This situation is ideal, with Seattle giving Smith a short-term extension while drafting Dart. That way, Dart can develop and learn while Smith starts 2025 under center.
With the next two picks, Seattle instantly improves the defense. Darien Porter is one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks in the entire draft. He has all the capabilities of being a boundary corner opposite Riq Woolen, letting Devon Witherspoon bounce around. Plus, he’s a hedge in case Woolen does not work out in Seattle long term.
Walker is a physically tantalizing defensive tackle at 6-7, 350 pounds. He uses elite athleticism along the interior that is tough for interior offensive linemen to handle. His technique needs work but this kind of raw talent and physical tools do not come along every year and pairing him with Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, and Reed would keep NFC West quarterbacks up at night.
