The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off later this month in Green Bay, giving the Seahawks and 31 other NFL teams a chance to add talent to their roster. And with five picks in the first three rounds of this year's draft, the Seahawks find themselves in a particularly strong position to improve their roster.

"Every year is totally different," Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider said. "Having those five picks in the first 92, it allows you to maneuver a little bit depending on how other people see it. That's one of the things that I'm trying to do down here."

If the Seahawks use those five picks in the first three rounds—they have five more on Day 3 of the draft—they obviously hope to add five impact players, but another benefit of that kind of draft capital is it gives Schneider and company a lot of flexibility to make trades should the right opportunity arise.

"Initially, you're like, 'Yeah, we're going to take five really good players,'" Schneider said. "But then you get in a situation where it's like, 'All right, that guy's a starter, we should probably move to go get him,' if you can. It depends on how other people see these guys. But yeah, it allows us the ability to just be more free throughout our draft process."

So with the draft coming up soon, Seahawks.com is taking a position-by-position look at where things currently stand for the Seahawks, as well as draft analyst Rob Rang's top draft prospects at each position. We'll also look at Seattle's draft history at each position over the past 15 drafts under Schneider.

On Monday, we kicked things off with the offensive line, and today we focus on the defensive line and outside linebacker. Check back tomorrow when we turn our attention to tight end.

Seattle's 2025 Draft Picks: Round 1, No. 18 overall; Round 2, No. 50 overall; Round 2, No. 52 overall (from Pittsburgh); Round 3, No. 82 overall; Round 3, No. 92 overall (from Las Vegas); Round 4, No. 137 overall (compensatory pick); Round 5, No. 172 overall (compensatory pick); Round 5, No. 175 overall (compensatory pick); Round 7, No. 223 overall (from Pittsburgh); Round 7, No. 234 overall.

Defensive line and outside linebacker draft history under John Schneider: DE E.J. Wilson (No. 127 overall, 2010); DE Dexter Davis (No. 236, 2010); DE Pep Levingston (No. 205, 2011); DE/OLB Bruce Irvin (No. 15, 2012); DE Jaye Howard (No. 114, 2012); DE Greg Scruggs (No. 232, 2012); DT Jordan Hill (No. 87, 2013); DT Jesse Williams (No. 137, 2013); OLB Ty Powell (No. 231; 2013); DE Cassius Marsh (No. 108, 2014); DT Jimmy Staten (No. 172, 2014); DE Frank Clark (No. 63, 2015); DE Obum Gwacham (No. 209, 2015); DT Jarran Reed (No. 49, 2016); DT Quinton Jefferson (No. 147, 2016); DT Malik McDowell (No. 35, 2017); DT Nazair Jones (No. 102, 2017); DE Rasheem Green (No. 79, 2018); DE/OLB Jacob Martin (No. 186, 2018); DE L.J. Collier (No. 29, 2019); DT DeMarcus Christmas (No. 209, 2019); DE/OLB Darrell Taylor (No. 48, 2020); DE Alton Robinson (No. 148, 2020); OLB Boye Mafe (No. 40, 2022); OLB Tyreke Smith (No. 158, 2022); OLB Derick Hall (No. 37, 2023), DT Cameron Young (No. 123, 2023); DE Mike Morris (No. 151, 2023); DT Byron Murphy II (No. 16, 2024).

Where The Seahawks Stand

The Seahawks finished last season getting outstanding play from their defensive line, including standout performances from veterans Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed, and with Reed re-signing this offseason, the Seahawks have almost their entire defensive front returning after that unit was a strength last season.

One noteworthy change is the addition of four-time Pro-Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrance, who signed with Seattle in free agency after spending his first 11 seasons in Dallas. Lawrence will add a veteran presence to an edge rush group that includes Boye Mafe, Derick Hall and Uchenna Nwosu, with Nwosu looking to bounce back from a tough two-year stretch that saw him miss 22 games due to injury. The biggest departure up front is defensive end/outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones, who was released in a salary-cap related move, but with the aforementioned players coming back, as well as 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II, the Seahawks have a really strong foundation in place when it comes to their defensive front.

Does that mean the Seahawks won't look to add to that group going forward? Hardly. As so many championship-caliber defenses have shown, from the 2013 Seahawks to last year's Eagles, a deep rotation up front can do great things for a defense.

"I do (feel good about it)," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of his team's edge rush group at the NFL Scouting Combine. "But it's like, you know, when do you stop adding guys that affect the quarterback? You never turn that down, that opportunity. I'm sure the Eagles right now, probably the best pass-rushing crew in the league, and they're thinking the same thing… We love our guys, but if there's somebody that's sitting there staring you in the face, why would you not add to that crew?"

When it comes to Murphy, the Seahawks loved what they saw from the rookie last season, though it didn't always show up on the stat sheet, and they're expecting even more out of him this season. Murphy, combined with Reed and Williams, gives the Seahawks a great frontline group of interior linemen bolstered by the likes of Cameron Young and Mike Morris, but with Johnathan Hankins still a free agent, there is room to add depth there, especially at nose tackle.

"I think we can play right now and we're rolling," Macdonald said when asked about nose tackle. "A guy that is a primary A-gap player is important to this defense. So however that manifests itself, it could be someone we acquire or draft, could be kind of a role type of deal where we divvy it up to the guys we have on the team—Murph can play in there, J-Reed can play in there, Leo can do that in spots—but we'd love someone to emerge as a primary A-Gap guy for us."

With the talent the Seahawks have both in the interior line and on the edge, they certainly won't head into the draft feeling like they have big needs up front, but given the number of players who can have significant roles on a defensive line, there is definitely room to add if the right player is available, be it early in the draft or in the later rounds.

Rob Rang's Top 5 Defensive Linemen

Overview: Along with running back, defensive line is the richest positional group of the 2025 NFL draft. Whether you're in search of run-stuffing nose guards, agile 3-techniques or big-bodied defensive ends that can set a firm edge, this class is full of them. As is often the case, teams will gamble first round selections on defensive linemen with the most unique traits, "swinging for the fences" on potential future All-Pros. Some of the freakiest athletes of this class are included in this positional group – and that is a rare statement considering that many of the players are over 300 pounds. Given the investments made recently in Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed, it might seem unlikely that the Seahawks would be drafting another defensive lineman, but John Schneider and Mike Macdonald are not likely to let a class this rich pass them by without taking at least one – and perhaps early. All five of the players listed below are almost universally regarded as first round talents and there could be several more who crack the Top 32. Among my favorite Day Two fits for the Seahawks are Alfred Collins (Texas), Joshua Farmer (Florida State), Ty Robinson (Nebraska) and Tyleik Williams (Ohio State). Day Three candidates like Yahya Black (Iowa), JJ Pegues (Mississippi), Jay Toia (UCLA) and Sebastian Valdez (Washington) would make sense too.

1. Mason Graham, Michigan, 6-4, 296, First Round

Forgive the clumsy food analogy but Graham is as safe as the cracker, perhaps lacking the "sweet" athletic traits of some of his peers but earning the top spot due to consistency and reliability. Graham is quick off the snap and pairs his hands and feet beautifully, chopping through contact on his way to the ballcarrier. He is considerably more disruptive than his misleading statistics (108 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks) would suggest, penetrating the line only to flush ballcarriers into the arms of his opponents. He has a knack for making big plays at big moments, showing the technique and high-revving motor to project as a Day One starter and franchise pillar.

2. Walter Nolen, Mississippi, 6-4, 296, First Round

Nolen is a twitchier, more explosive athlete than the aforementioned Graham and may have an even higher upside. He signed with Texas A&M out of high school as the top prospect in the country but didn't emerge as a star until this past season at Mississippi, where he posted 48 tackles, including an eye-popping 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He's got the footwork of a much smaller man and can slither through cracks in the defense, creating all sorts of splashy big plays.

3. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M, 6-5, 267, First Round

Stewart is the wildcard of this year's class. His Combine workout was like something out of a comic book, earning a comparison to the virtually incomparable Myles Garrett, another former Aggie who just signed the most lucrative deal for any non-QB in NFL history. Stewart was clocked at a ridiculous 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 40" vertical and 10'11 broad jump. Unfortunately, the traits have not led to production on the field with Stewart leaving College Station with just 4.5 career sacks. If put into the hands of a defensive-minded head coach like Mike Macdonald, there is no telling what kind of playmaking monster Stewart could become.

4. Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6-5, 313, First Round

Teams willing to gamble on a prospect like Stewart above, Harmon should also get plenty of attention. The one-time Michigan State standout might be the most impressive combination of girth, power and speed in this phenomenal defensive tackle class and that is quite the statement. Harmon clocking a 4.95-second 40-yard dash time at his size is really impressive, especially given that his greatest attributes on the field is his power. He can simply engulf would-be blockers at the point of attack, tossing them aside and rag-dolling ballcarriers. Harmon is one of the most physically dominant defensive tackles I've seen play on the west coast in the past 20 years. When playing with leverage, he can hold the point like Vita Vea (Washington) and Haloti Ngata (Oregon), with the length and agility to play up and down the line of scrimmage.

5. Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6-4, 331, First Round

Grant offers a similar skillset as Harmon but has been even less consistent over his career. He's broad and powerful, projecting best as a nose guard in the NFL. He remains a little too reliant on his natural power, needing a little refining of his hand play to fully unleash his talent. He can shock opponents with his leg drive, however, and is much more than just a run-stuffer, showing excellent awareness and timing to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage, batting away 11 passes over the past two seasons alone.

Rob Rang's Top 5 Edge Rushers

Overview: This is a feast or famine edge rusher class highlighted by several prospects coming off of breakout seasons likely to be off the board before the Seahawks pick. Along with the prospects listed below, I'm higher on Ohio State's duo of JT Tuimoloau (who played his high school football at Eastside Catholic) and Jack Sawyer than many draft analysts seem to be. While perhaps not quite as explosive, they have the strength and tenacity against the run to become quality NFL starters. I also see Ashton Gillotte (Louisville), Kyle Kennard (South Carolina), Olufemi Oladejo (UCLA), and Bradyn Swinson (LSU) as likely Day Two picks who might ultimately outperform some of their peers selected earlier.

1. Abdul Carter, Penn State, 6-3, 250, First Round

A stress fracture in his right foot discovered at the Combine is perhaps the only thing that could keep Carter from being the first Front 7 defender drafted this year. He initially signed with Penn State as an off-ball linebacker and generated 17 tackles for loss while playing this role over his first two seasons in Happy Valley. He exploded for 24 TFL and 12 sacks in 2024, however, attacking off the edge with this year's best combination of burst and bend. Carter may not be able to run for scouts prior to the draft but his tape suggests a 40-yard time in the 4.4s – or faster. Carter project as a 12+ sack-a-season superstar in the NFL.

2. Mykel Williams, Georgia, 6-5, 260, First Round

Williams "only" recorded 14 sacks over his three seasons at Georgia, but the potential is there for much more. The fact that he only started 18 games for the Bulldogs during that time is more of a reflection of the incredible talent in Athens than a knock on Williams, whose 2024 campaign was marred by an ankle injury suffered in the season-opener. Williams combines burst, length and power to offer this year's most intriguing combination of traits. He is a ball of clay that projects as a longtime NFL game-wrecker off the edge.

3. Mike Green, Marshall, 6-3, 251, First Round

John Schneider might see shades of Bruce Irvin in Green, who led the entire country with 17 sacks last season and measured in at the exact same height and weight as the Seahawks first round selection back in 2012. He'd be an exciting fit in Seattle because of his experience playing as a rush linebacker, utilizing an explosive first step and body control to slither, spin and speed by would-be rushers. Green has a relatively slim-shouldered frame, which leaves him ill-suited to setting the edge in the running game. But for a team in search of a pass-rush specialist, Green could be gold.

4. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, 6-3, 248, First Round

It isn't often that the third player ranked on a list of edge defenders is actually the best pass rusher, but that is the case with Ezeirauaku, who, as noted earlier, was named the best defensive end in the country this past season. Ironically, he projects best as a stand-up outside linebacker in the NFL. Ezeiruaku has a compact, well-muscled frame and disproportionately long arms (34") with excellent lateral agility, making him a threat to rush through or around pass blockers.

5. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M, 6-3, 257, First-Second Round

Scourton lacks the eye-popping statistics of some of his peers but he's a well-polished all-purpose defender with the girth, tenacity and technique to be just as effective against the run as the pass. While playing at Purdue in 2023, Scourton led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in just 11 games and he transferred to Texas A&M amid great fanfare. Scourton led the Aggies with five sacks this past season, but those numbers were far short of expectations. I see a player who is more disruptive than his numbers suggest, and I believe he'll prove a quality, pro-ready rookie for some lucky franchise.