As news broke that running back James Cook had signed a new contract with the Buffalo Bills, Adam Schefter tweeted a list of extensions completed by the team this off-season:
My initial reaction was to think there’s only one player on the list I’m jealous about — the name at the top. Otherwise, the Bills have signed a group of players to second contracts who are no better than the bulk of Seattle’s core.
The Bills are third favourites to win the Super Bowl, behind the Eagles and Ravens, according to ESPN Bet. Baltimore, like Buffalo, have a decent roster. Yet they’re led by their MVP candidate under center, not a loaded talent pool.
There aren’t any true super-powered blue-chip heavy teams at the moment. There’s nobody like the 49ers at their best a few years ago, for example. The Eagles are the closest and yet they’ll have to contend with being the defending Champs. Last time they were in that position they went 9-7 twice before collapsing to 4-12.
The point I’m making is this feels like quite an open NFL. There’s every chance a great quarterback like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow will break through this year as a consequence. Or Patrick Mahomes bounces back from a disappointing Super Bowl loss.
All of those players are in the AFC though. As we saw in the most recent Eagles Championship victory, it’s possible to get to the final game of the season then dominate on defense and win handsomely.
The Seahawks have a good young roster. They have key players and some, such as Leonard Williams, feel underrated nationally. Certain players have to reach a new level in 2025 but they’re capable. The defense has a chance to do special things this year in Mike Macdonald’s second season through a combination of available talent and scheme. We’ll need to see Klint Kubiak’s offense in a real game to properly judge but there’s definitely a positive vibe at the moment.
If the Seahawks can play better up front (they can hardly play worse), run the ball and get efficient play from their quarterback — they can complement a great defense nicely — much like the Shanahan-led 49ers when they were reaching Super Bowls with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy under center.
This isn’t me making a Super Bowl prediction. A team needs to earn that kind of backing. They need to be better at home in 2025 to justify any level of post-season faith. They need to show they can be far more competent and consistent on offense. They need to stay healthy, too.
Yet I can’t shake the thought that this team is being slept on in a wide-open NFC. Unless you truly expect the Eagles to just carry on where they left off, who is the great team in the conference? The Lions have lost coaches and key players since last season and carry a ‘missed their best shot’ feel about them. Are the Commanders really that good aside from an excellent young signal caller? Are the Vikings a bit of a paper tiger, breaking in a new quarterback? How good are the Packers, actually?
The Rams and 49ers get plenty of attention but both are dealing with key injuries. Los Angeles, in particular, are riding a playoff hype train from last season that masks a matching 2024 record as the Seahawks — even when Seattle effectively played the whole season with an inept offensive structure. Matthew Stafford’s injury situation surely dents their prospects.
Much like the Lions’ emergence not that long ago, or the Commanders last year, I think the Seahawks can make some noise in 2025. I do think the O-line will be better thanks to proper guidance and scheming. I believe the running game will be more effective and complement a great defense. I sense Sam Darnold will do what he needs to do to make this team interesting.
I think the Seahawks are heading in the right direction. There’s no drama or ego either. Everyone seems to be getting on with business which is a refreshing change.
They also get to play the AFC South and NFC South this year — a bonus.
Everything feels positive and for once, maybe we can afford to wonder what is possible in 2025? It might not be a run to the Super Bowl. Playoffs? Very possible. Winning a post-season game? Ditto. Making a bit of a run? That would be an exciting shift in gears for a franchise that has had to wait a long time to get back to that kind of position.