Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams was fantastic throughout 2024, recording 11.0 sacks en route to a Pro Bowl appearance. The Seahawks also received quality play around Williams, with veteran Jarran Reed displaying an ageless skillset before earning another contract from John Schneider this offseason.
At EDGE, players like Boye Mafe and Derick Hall enjoyed effective seasons, but must continue proving capable of showing improvement. Schneider signed a veteran pass rusher in DeMarcus Lawrence as insurance this offseason, and sophomore first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy II must stay healthy in 2025.
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Pro Football Focus recently ranked every defensive line unit in the NFL. Though they acknowledge Seattle’s group has potential, there are also many questions present. The Seahawks d-line ranks 23rd in the league as a result.
“Despite missing some time with injury in 2024, veteran interior defender Leonard Williams earned the highest PFF overall grade of his career in his 10th NFL season,” Zoltán Buday wrote. “The USC product’s 87.1 mark ranked fourth among 118 interior defenders. While there is some potential along the defensive line around Williams, if the Seahawks are to be considered an average unit in 2025, they need 32-year-old Jarran Reed to continue to play at a high level and fourth-year edge defender Boye Mafe to take the next step and become an above-average pass rusher.”
Williams should continue being his dominant self, but Mike Macdonald’s defensive line will need more from his surrounding castmates. Reed is expected to maintain his effectiveness, but ascending talents like Mafe, Hall, and Murphy II are projections. Hopefully Seattle’s defensive line outperforms these expectations in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Pro Football Focus: Seahawks DL has something to prove in 2025