The Seattle Seahawks have transitioned to a new era.
With Geno Smith no longer on the premises, it’ll be Sam Darnold’s time to run the show.
However, this team’s biggest strength might come on the other side of the field.
At least, that’s how Derek Brown and John Middlekauff feel.
Talking on their “3&Out” podcast, Brown and Middlekauff predicted that the Seahawks will have a top-10 or maybe even top-seven defense in the league this season.
“They’re probably going to be a top 7, top 10 defense,” Brown said.
“They’re probably going to be a top 7, top 10 defense.”@JohnMiddlekauff and @DBro_FFB LOVE the potential for the @Seahawks defense 👀 pic.twitter.com/OcMEETL0JL
— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) August 27, 2025
They believe that head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive guru, which is why he doesn’t get as much credit as other offensive-minded head coaches.
For years, the Seahawks built a reputation for having a stout defense with a great nose for the ball under Pete Carroll.
That’s the type of thing they can do in Macdonald’s second year in charge of the organization.
He has a stout defense filled with talent at all three levels, headlined by Devon Witherspoon, who could end up being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
This team opted to move on from its top two pass-catchers in Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, all while also trading Geno Smith away.
There are legitimate reasons to have doubts about them, especially with an ever-struggling quarterback like Sam Darnold leading the way.
Notably, that only makes their defense all the more important.
This team will only go as far as that unit can take them, and this will be Coach Macdonald’s chance to earn the respect some analysts believe he deserves.
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