NFL expert on why he ranks Seahawks interior defensive line in top 2

Tim Weaver

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NFL expert on why he ranks Seahawks interior defensive line in top 2 image

For a few years the Seahawks had the top defense in football, posting the best defensive DVOA rating four straight years (2012-2015) at their best. All great things come to an end, though and since the Legion of Boom broke up Seattle's defense has been average at best and often finishing the season among the league's worst units. After six straight below-average years, the front office finally pulled the plug on Pete Carroll, who was supposed to be a defensive mastermind but did not keep up with current trends around the NFL.

Former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is right on the cutting edge of that part of the game and that's why the Seahawks hired him as Carroll's replacement. Macdonald's schematic genius will be the main ingredient in whatever improvement we see from the defense this coming year. The next-biggest part of the puzzle is their new-look defensive line, which looks like one of the most-fierce in the league on paper.

The experts largely seem to agree on this, including ESPN analyst Mike Clay, who ranked Seattle's iDL second-best in the NFL in his 2024 projections. He's not the only one who has them in the top two, either. Here's Par Kirwan on why the Ravens and the Seahawks have the best interior defensive line units in the game right now.

As far as the starting lineup goes, Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II should be flanking nose tackle Jarran Reed. Although he's transitioning out to the edge, Dre'Mont Jones will also rotate inside occasionally. Long-time veteran Johnathan Hankins is the next man up behind Reed, while Myles Adams, Mike Morris and Cameron Young provide some promising young depth.

Provided Williams and Murphy stay healthy most of the season, that's more than enough pieces for Macdonald to field a strong interior pass rush and quality run defense in 2024. If he follows the same formula from Baltimore, Seattle might finally have an elite defense again as soon as 2025.

Tim Weaver

Tim Weaver Photo

Tim Weaver has been covering the NFL since the 2013 season for a number of different outlets, including Fansided and USA Today SMG. His work began with the Seahawks and has included covering the Eagles, Bears, Panthers, Steelers and Falcons. His pit/terrier mix, Pepper, is a one-cut-and-go kind of girl.