Seattle, WA
Salk: Why Seattle Seahawks may get better without rebuilding
The Seattle Seahawks are not rebuilding. That has become crystal clear in the days following their roster shakeup, which began with the trades of Geno Smith and DK Metcalf.
Seattle Seahawks Offseason Tracker: Free agency, trades and more
This could have gone either way. With their starting quarterback gone and an offense that as of Monday contained legit starters at maybe four or five positions, a rebuild wouldn’t have been out of the question. They had added salary cap space and draft picks. They had a coach that had spent a year building credibility that could have helped get them through a lean year or two. There was no obvious elite franchise quarterback available.
It’s probably what I would have done.
In this alternate, hypothetical reality (in which I was in charge of the Seahawks!), I would have signed Daniel Jones to be the quarterback at something like the $14 million, one-year deal he took in Indy. He might have even taken less given a better opportunity to start and play here. I would have tried to structure it so that the team had a second-year option if he played well.
Jones would have been a likely downgrade from Geno Smith, but I’d be banking on one of two things happening. Either he becomes the next Sam Darnold, thrives in this system, and the team uses the savings to build up the rest of the roster. Or he struggles, the team loses, and then picks a quarterback in the top 10 of the NFL Draft next year.
The idea behind my plan would be to give the team multiple bites at solving the quarterback problem. It would be risky, but the goal would be to wind up with either quality quarterback play for small money or a chance at an elite franchise quarterback in the draft.
The Seahawks had a different plan. It might not have quite the same upside as mine, but it’s safer and probably smarter and easier to achieve in reality.
In trying to understand what the Seahawks have done in the past week, it has helped me to think of the two trades (and the Darnold signing) in a slightly different way.
The first trade could be viewed as Geno Smith straight up for Sam Darnold. This is, quite simply, a smart trade. The Seahawks get a similar-tiered quarterback who is seven years younger and will cost a smaller percentage of their cap than what Geno wanted to be paid.
The Seahawks may lose some accuracy and there is obvious risk in bringing in a quarterback who has only shown one year of success after lots of struggles. But that is balanced by the age, money, and locker room advantages that Darnold brings with him. I think most NFL executives and coaches would make that swap in a heartbeat.
The second trade would then work out to be DK Metcalf for a second and third-round pick (counting the pick from the Geno trade here). That would be a lot closer to the value we had hoped to see for the mercurial wide receiver and gives the team the chance to backfill the position while using at least one pick and the cash/cap savings to reallocate resources on your roster into more important positions.
Sign me up for that one too.
The Seahawks end up with the No. 6 free agent (Darnold, according to NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal) and save enough money to re-sign Nos. 27 (linebacker Ernest Jones) and 53 (defensive lineman Jarran Reed), sign No. 48 (pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence), plus add receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Oh, and they still have resources left to be in the running for Cooper Kupp and are better situated to extend Charles Cross and other young players soon to outgrow their rookie contracts.
Is WA native Cooper Kupp now a fit as Seahawks WR?
Here’s what I like:
• They have a quarterback that seems to be liked by his teammates, doesn’t create much drama, and could continue to progress in his mid-career resurgence.
• They continued to invest in making the defense elite. Yes, you have a flaw to fix on the offensive line, but the quickest path to being great is to be elite somewhere and the defensive line is where they are already closest. Signing Lawrence gives them so much flexibility in the draft.
• By adding MVS (and hopefully someone like Kupp), they get wide receivers that fit their new scheme, won’t need a high volume of passes, and keep them from immediately needing to fill the position with a top draft pick. This is a weak draft if you need a top wideout – there is no reason to take a second receiver in the top 20 in three years.
• They create a roster that is more indicative of what coach Mike Macdonald wants and is relatively free of drama.
It is very possible the Seahawks could end up being a significantly better team in 2025 than they were last season. But for that to happen, we all know what is left to do:
The Seahawks need to address the interior of their offensive line. This isn’t a debate. I don’t think there is another side to this where you point at the existing players and hope that new coaches and technique fixes the problem. This needs both that and better talent.
Seattle has already watched the best free agents go elsewhere (Will Fries, Drew Dolman, Joe Thuney). The Seahawks need to upgrade either the center and/or guard position before the draft to avoid having to rely on rookies to step in and succeed immediately.
If they can do this – and I believe they still can – this will be the best free agent signing period the team has had since the Cliff Avril/Michael Bennett steal of 2013.
All that with five picks in the top 92? That is how you get better without rebuilding.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Schlereth: New Seahawks QB Darnold’s resurgence didn’t start last year
• Instant reaction: What WR Valdes-Scantling brings to Seahawks
• Rost: Seattle Seahawks’ free agent strategy hasn’t been a strong suit
• Which version of Sam Darnold are the Seahawks getting?
• Bump & Stacy: Why Seattle Seahawks are in a ‘retool,’ not a rebuild
Seattle, WA
Outreach groups respond to the reported relocation cycle of Ballard’s homeless population
SEATTLE — As people voice concerns about an encampment in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, outreach groups are detailing their efforts and fighting back against encampment removals.
The outreach group We Heart Seattle said it checks on the people in an encampment of at least 20 people weekly to offer water, snacks, personal hygiene items, and access to treatment.
RELATED | Ballard encampment grows after city removes nearby site along Burke-Gilman Trail
The group told KOMO it believes more can be done at the city level, from policy to housing, to get the homeless connected with shelter and services.
A woman working at the Fred Meyer off NW 45th Street and 9th Avenue captured video of a fire near tents at an encampment across the street. A day later, off camera, she told KOMO News she worries about the safety of the people living in the tents and Ballard neighbors, in addition to concerns about alleged open-air drug use at the encampment.
“We became homeless because of certain situations, and we turned to drugs, and unfortunately, addiction comes next, you know?” Crystal Rawlings told KOMO News. She has set up her tent on multiple streets in Ballard, and said she’s approaching one year of being opioid-free.
She believes there’s been more city outreach since the start of the new mayoral administration to connect people living on the streets with services, but knows there’s not enough transitional housing for everyone who needs or wants it.
She and the Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger urge the city to stop encampment removals that push this group to another block.
RELATED | City removes Ballard encampment as neighboring businesses raise housing concerns
“We’re not abominations. We’re not obstructions, and we’re not trash, so stop sweeping us,” Rawlings stated.
The city is still aiming to reach Mayor Katie Wilson’s goal of adding 1,000 new units of shelter in 2026 and recently opened a tiny home village in nearby Interbay, but fell short of the goal of 500 new units by June.
Andrea Suarez with We Heart Seattle estimates at least 20 people living on the street keep getting moved around Ballard, from behind the Albert Lee store to Leary Avenue to NW 45th Street behind the Fred Meyer.
“This encampment has people that’ve been homeless for more than five years. We know their names and faces. They’re still here. They’re still stuck in late-phase addiction, frankly because it’s permitted,” Suarez explained.
RELATED | Viral makeshift homeless shelter with chimney dismantled by Seattle city crews
She believes a camping ban on city sidewalks would help encourage more people to accept shelter, and help stop the cycle of moving people without
“It is an underserved community. I think it is unfair,” Suarez added. “We’ve tried to balance between enablement and really giving people a hand up, but without the teeth and backup for the work of outreach workers, it starts to feel futile, and that’s why we get burned out.”
The mayor’s office was working to send data about its homeless response in Ballard as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger estimates there have been nine Ballard-area encampment removals so far this year.
SEATTLE – Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington. Eastern and central Washington will reach near 100F with high fire danger. The coast and north interior will be cooler, only in the 60s to 70s.
Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington.
Fire Weather Watch
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds. Lightning strikes could create new fire starts and, with very dry conditions in place, any new fire could spread quickly.
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds.
What’s next:
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms. The heaviest showers will be in the morning hours and will turn more scattered into the evening hours.
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and chance of thunderstorms.
Looking Ahead:
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine. We will start to see highs reach the upper 80s to low 90s by early next week.
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine.
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After so many disappointing seasons with the interior offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks made a commitment last offseason to improve the unit. They started one big step at a time by drafting North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round, 18th overall pick, of the 2025 NFL Draft. This one was one of the last steps for the Seahawks to create one of the most productive offenses in the NFL.
Zabel wasn’t perfect in his rookie season, but he was good enough to validate the decision to draft him in the first round, and he showed improvement. Zabel is already a favorite among some Seahawks fans and some media outlets as they love his determination and spirit. It was a big jump from the FCS collegiate level to the NFL and this season, he has a chance to show why he might be a top-half-of-the-league guard.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Higher?
The Seahawks wanted a determined workhorse when looking for a guard. That’s exactly what they got in Zabel. Last season, he appeared in 1,051 snaps, which is only 10 fewer snaps than right tackle Abraham Lucas, who had the most offensive snaps. Zabel got better as the season progressed. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 81.5 and a run-block grade of 81.2 in Week 14 through the NFC Championship Game.
There were times last season when he looked like a monster against several defenders. He was pushing some defenders completely out of the way on pulling plays and even ran to defenders after the pass-catcher caught the ball. This is the mentality the Seahawks expect him to have going into his second season in the league. He has more experience and the complete trust of the team to be a franchise player on par with Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross. If he continues to improve, he will be another steal for the Seahawks.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Lower?
There were times last season when he didn’t quite catch up to the learning curve of the NFL. Zabel allowed two sacks, four hits and 24 pressures in 2025. The Seahawks expect those numbers to decrease significantly as he is experienced and capable of playing at an efficient level. While Zabel is impressive, he might not be the best player the Seahawks have selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. That honor belongs to slot cornerback Nick Emmanwori, who is stepping up to be the steal of the draft.
Zabel is easily one of the best second-year players and is one of the top offensive linemen, but there are players behind him because they haven’t proven to be consistently explosive for the Seahawks. There is going to be even more pressure on him this upcoming season. The Seahawks hired a more run-friendly coach in Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator. His ranking at the end of the season might be much better if he improves, or worse if he fails to reach expectations.
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