The Seattle Seahawks have trimmed their roster to 53 gamers, preseason is within the books, and the 2025 common season is lastly right here. On this episode of The Hawks Eye Podcast, I used to be joined by Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Weblog to interrupt down the place the workforce stands heading into Week 1 towards the San Francisco 49ers.
The present kicks off with an in-depth dialogue of the Seahawks’ last roster choices. We examined which gamers earned their spots, which shock cuts stood out, and the place the roster nonetheless feels skinny. From younger rookies cracking the lineup to established veterans proving their worth, the roster dialog units the inspiration for Seattle’s season outlook. Whereas the Seahawks moved on from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which Rob didn’t count on, he has a constructive view of Seattle’s receiver group, which is led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
All eyes this week are on the Week 1 showdown with the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle opens the season towards its hardest divisional rival, and Rob breaks down key matchups — together with the battle between Seattle’s offensive line and San Francisco’s vaunted move rush. With the 49ers getting into the opener with a banged-up huge receiver corps, the Seahawks’ protection has an actual alternative to take benefit and tilt the matchup of their favor. An early win could be a press release, however on the very least, this recreation can be a real measuring stick for Macdonald’s workforce.
“I feel it’s a vital recreation,” Staton stated. “I feel should you lose, like, you’ve you’ve had a giant reset, you had a foul house report final yr. I feel should you lose your opening recreation at house to an NFC West opponent, it’s a setback. Now, it’s one recreation. It’s doesn’t imply the season’s going to be over, but when they lose, I do know as I’m leaving Lumen Subject, I’m going to be questioning, ‘Are they ever going to get the house subject benefit again? Are they ever going to get thus far the place they will make groups concern coming right here once more?
“And I additionally assume they’re getting the Niners at an honest time as a result of they’re they’re fairly banged up at receiver. They’ve acquired a younger protection that could be a bit extra settled in in a number of weeks time. I do know however that, you would argue, nicely, Christian McCaffrey might be damage in a number of weeks and also you’re getting him recent and able to go and all of that, however I simply assume it’s important that they begin off with a win. And it doesn’t should be a spectacular efficiency as a result of it very not often is. Like even within the form of the height Russ years there have been usually—keep in mind that Miami [Dolphins] recreation the place he was hobbled they usually nearly received, and there was a recreation I feel towards the [Cincinnati] Bengals the place they simply about received on the opening day.
“There was all kinds of video games like that the place they simply scrape via towards groups they had been anticipated to beat. So that they don’t should to smash the Niners or something. I simply assume you want to win and that can ship a message itself you realize that the Seahawks imply enterprise.“
Lastly, we widen the lens to the NFC West image. The Rams boast thrilling younger expertise, however the lingering concern round Matthew Stafford’s again damage may derail their season. In the meantime, the Cardinals stay a thriller — can they lastly turn out to be a real contender for the division, or are they destined to stay inconsistent and up-and-down? Towards that backdrop, Seattle has an actual probability to determine itself as the largest challenger to the 49ers. Rob closes by providing his win-loss projection, and he’s simply as bullish as I’m about Seattle’s probabilities of profitable the division and hitting double-digit victories in 2025.
“I feel now’s the time to take a step [to win the NFC West],” Staton stated. “And it’s about taking a step. I don’t assume it’s about taking a leap. You understand, I don’t assume you’re going to go from ‘nicely, we’ve not made the playoffs for the final two years to, oh, look, we’re within the NFC Championship recreation.’ I don’t assume it’s unattainable by the best way, as a result of I feel the NFC is huge open. However I don’t assume it’s one thing that we should always count on.
“I feel profitable the NFC West, getting a house playoff recreation, that may provide you with an opportunity. I do know—contact wooden— the house type is best. That will provide you with an opportunity to win a house playoff recreation, progress to the divisional spherical and really feel like, okay, we are able to have a bit of pleasure in January once more. That that may be a step ahead. And I feel that’s there for us to see.”
Rob additionally sees this yr’s 49ers as doubtlessly just like the 2017 Seahawks, after which main adjustments had been made within the offseason on the teaching workers and on the roster.
So far as the Cardinals, a classy playoff decide?
“I really feel like that the Cardinals have turn out to be that workforce that yearly everybody’s going that they’re those which can be going to make a step this yr. And I’m wanting on the protection. I simply don’t see sufficient distinction makers on that protection.”
And lastly, the defending division champion Rams.
“Folks maintain forgetting the Rams had the identical report as Seattle final yr. The identical report, they usually performed Minnesota who collapsed, and Darnold collapsed, after which they performed the Eagles laborious however nonetheless misplaced, and everybody’s like appearing like ‘Effectively now they’re a contender now.’ McVay’s a genius, Stafford if he’s wholesome can play—they didn’t play nicely within the common season. I’m simply unsure they’re nearly as good as some folks assume.”
“I feel now’s the time; you’ve constructed a decently younger roster. It’s not so good as a few of the [best] within the NFC, nevertheless it’s possibly an offseason away from being there.“
For Seahawks followers looking forward to readability heading into the yr, this episode supplies sharp evaluation, daring predictions, and an sincere have a look at what lies forward.
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