The Seattle Seahawks are coming into Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season with a chance to clinch the NFC West, secure the top seed in the conference, a first-round bye, and homefield advantage through the Super Bowl.
Getting to this point has happened thanks to an incredible defense, a strong offense, and great individual efforts from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold, and many others on both sides of the ball.
The success this season has been thanks in large part to the moves made by John Schneider this past offseason. ESPN writer Brady Henderson calls Schneider one of the best GMs in the NFL, and it's hard to argue after how great the team looks in 2025.
John Schneider called one of the best GMs in NFL by ESPN writer
"What we learned this season: General manager John Schneider is one of the best in the business," Henderson writes, "A series of home run moves by their longtime GM put the Seahawks in position to potentially win the NFC West and claim the conference's top seed."
There's a slew of moves that Schneider made this offseason that are of significant note, but none have been more impactful than the trade of Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and the signing of Sam Darnold to replace him.
That move has been incredible, as not only has Darnold played great for Seattle, and Smith struggled for the Raiders, but the Seahawks paid less for Darnold, and got a third-rounder back from the Raiders.
More: Where Seahawks sit in NFC West, playoff picture after Week 17 win vs. Panthers
Schneider also traded away DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that deal has aged well for Seattle, too. DeMarcus Lawrence, Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones IV, and Jarran Reed join Darnold as incredible free agent pickups this past offseason.
His 2025 NFL Draft class was also elite. He took Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori early, and both have been great players for Seattle in their rookie seasons.
At this season's NFL trade deadline, they traded a pair of mid-round picks to the New Orleans Saints for speedy receiver and returner Rashid Shaheed. He's been great for Seattle and is a Pro Bowler this season as a kick returner.
Schneider is one of the best general managers in the NFL, and this past offseason is proof that he deserves to be mentioned among the league's best general managers going forward.
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