While not quite ‘historic,’ why this draft feels like one of the Seahawks’ best in a while
Mike Macdonald was wearing a blue, gas-station attendant-style shirt with the Seahawks logo on the chest. “Mike” was stitched in white script below the logo.
He’d just gone to serious, grimy work.
“Mike” emerged Saturday laughing and smiling more in his first minutes discussing what his Seahawks had just done this weekend in the draft than he did his entire first season as their coach.
John Schneider was wearing a dark-blue T-shirt with the word “SO...” big across his chest. He also was wearing a matching “Seattle Seahawks Food Service” cap.
And more than one big grin.
The result of their work: 11 draft choices, nine for offense, three for their needy offensive line, a new starting left guard, a tantalizing-yet-raw quarterback project, a huge safety, a needed tight end and more.
No wonder they were as satisfied as a coach and general manager can be after an NFL draft.
Schneider stopped short of proclaiming this Seahawks draft “historic” — as someone in Seattle did Friday night after the team made three trades, got big South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in rounds two and three. That was one night after the Seahawks got their new starting left guard, first-round pick Grey Zabel.
“That was a little aggressive. Slow down, sheriff,” the GM said at that “historic” draft talk.
Yet there is no disputing he, his scouts and Macdonald plus his coaching staff are beyond satisfied with who they got and how they got them to help this team get back to the playoffs.
“I don’t know, it’s just this really cool...these guys and the work that everybody did, it was just a cohesive process,” Schneider said. “Everyone worked their tails off.
“And it may have something to do with this being year two (with Macdonald and most assistant coaches). The defensive staff, Mike and his group, and a (new) offensive staff that has been through different processes, whether it be Denver, Minnesota or New Orleans.”
Instead of steadfastly taking whatever best player at whatever position, they drafted for need. And right away, at the very top of the draft. They attacked their biggest spot of concern, guard, with three picks. In Milroe they finally drafted a quarterback for the future, one who brings a dashing, bulldozing running style they’ve maybe never had in Seattle.
These Seahawks became more dynamic and just plain more interesting this weekend.
We, and they, will see if that’s enough to win the NFC West after two straight seasons missing the playoffs.
As usual, the bottom-line Macdonald cut to the chase.
The chase for a Super Bowl.
“We’re on our way. We’re going,” he said after the seven-round draft ended. “It’s our job to expedite that process so we’re competing for championship — this year.
“That’s the goal. That’s what we want to do.”
Sam Darnold’s first Seattle days
It all coming together so well actually began before the draft began. Macdonald is even pumped over the first days of the Seahawks’ voluntary offseason conditioning. That began early this week for players at team headquarters.
In particular, the coach is excited for how well new franchise quarterback Sam Darnold, signed to replace traded Geno Smith last month, is assimilating. Not just with the new offensive terminology of new Seahawks play caller and coordinator Klint Kubiak. Perhaps more important, with his new teammates.
“Oh, I mean, Sam’s kicking butt,” Macdonald said.
“I mean, I’m hearing the offensive plays, and I’m like, I’m trying to envision in my head (how long the play is), and it’s a lot. And this guy, he’s on it. Like, he’s really sharp.
“And I think just like the respect that he has from his teammates, that he can command, by doing his style is really cool.”
Macdonald said he and Kubiak “want to empower” Darnold, the 27-year-old Seattle signed to a three-year, $100.5 million contract coming off his career year in Minnesota.
“We want to gas him up,” Macdonald said. “And we want Sam to play the best football his career.”
Macdonald made a leadership point during the draft Saturday to call Darnold in the minutes before the Seahawks called Milroe to tell the rookie they were drafting him in the third round. Milroe is just the third quarterback Schneider has selected in 16 drafts as Seattle’s GM.
The coach said Darnold is all on board.
“Yeah, when it became clear we were going to pick Jalen I gave Sam a call,” Macdonald said.
“And he was great.
“He’s awesome.”
The same applies to this Seahawks draft of need, choices popular with fans, and pumping new life into Macdonald’s new program in Seattle.
“I’m just taking it in right now,” Schneider said, leaning back in his chair.
“Just, very grateful. And just very proud of how we worked. ...
“We are very excited with what we’ve added to this team, the depth and the toughness and the competitors and the reliability.
“Just excited for this growth-minded (coaching) staff to get their hands on these guys, and get rippin’.”
This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM.
