When the 2025 season started, Drake Thomas and Ty Okada weren’t core items of the Seattle Seahawks defensive plan. The truth is they performed solely 15 and 6 snaps in Week 1, respectively.
Eight weeks later, that has modified in a giant method. Okada has now performed 367 defensive snaps, and 74 on particular groups. Thomas has performed 316 defensive snaps and 105 on particular groups. The 2 undrafted gamers have been large contributors, and have their beginning jobs locked up, for a minimum of a short time longer.
Each NFL crew preaches “Subsequent man up,” very like each coach says they wish to be a bodily soccer crew. However this yr, the division-leading Seahawks have embraced that mantra in a really possible way.
For 2 totally different causes, I would add! Security Okada was thrust into his position whereas the trio of Nick Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon, and Julian Love had been injured. Up one degree, it took linebacker Thomas simply round a month to win the beginning job from final yr’s starter, Tyrice Knight.
Since then, the job’s been Thomas’s. And he’s excelling.
To not be outdone, so has Okada. Individuals are having a good time with the interception he simply made Sunday Evening, however I’m considering of the preseason decide of Malik Willis, which was one of many single coolest performs I’ve ever seen.
At 5’11” – each of them, Ty Okada comes out of Montana State, whereas Drake Thomas is from North Carolina State. Neither participant was drafted within the 2023 draft, however Seattle signed Okada whereas the Las Vegas Raiders had Thomas till they minimize him sooner or later and John Schneider snatched him off waivers.
Now, the NFL’s greatest protection has each third-year gamers in beginning roles, with over 100 extra snaps than Witherspoon, about the identical quantity as Byron Murphy.
The good boon for the Seahawks is way over these two not being weaknesses. As already proven, each these guys appear to have a knack for playmaking. Thomas has three sacks and 6 TFLs already, whereas Okada has that stupendous interception, a sack of his personal, and a handful of nifty move breakups.
I requested an unfair query, however you, the individuals have spoken! A thousand of you a minimum of.
I might say if you happen to change the query to “most stunning” it’s gotta be Okada for certain. Thomas got here at this extra slowly, and had the larger hype. I believe Okada’s had the higher consistency and play-to-play influence on the protection, however Okada has changed Professional Bowler Julian freakin Love and been great.
It takes these sorts of contributions to be a particular crew within the lengthy haul of an NFL season. Proper now, these Seahawks are full of influence gamers up and down the roster.
Now, Julian Love’s setback means Okada is right here to remain awhile longer. Thomas already had his job, however the damage to Ernest Jones means he’s extra of the momentum-carrier at LB into the second half than Tyrice Knight.
I’m not nervous about them within the slightest. Are you?
