Seahawks' Offensive Overhaul with Darnold and Smith-Njigba is Delivering Big Wins

Seattle Seahawks' Offense is on Fire

The Seattle Seahawks made a bold plan this offseason, one that involved significant changes to their offensive roster. Quarterback Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he reunited with former head coach Pete Carroll. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff were let go after just one season in their roles. Wide receiver DK Metcalf was also sent to Pittsburgh, leaving the receiver room with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the main option.

The Seahawks knew exactly who they wanted to fill these roles. Sam Darnold was signed to a three-year contract following a strong year in Minnesota, though his performance suffered due to a weak offensive line. Klint Kubiak was hired as the new offensive coordinator, tasked with implementing a traditional Kubiak-Shanahan offense aimed at improving the league's worst offensive line and run game. Cooper Kupp was added at wide receiver, which didn’t seem like a major move given his injury history and questions about how he would fit with Smith-Njigba and the rest of the offense. Grey Zabel was drafted in the first round from North Dakota State to start along the league’s weakest offensive lines, which had multiple open spots in training camp.

Well, we’re a third of the way through the 2025 season, and the bets the Seahawks made are paying off in a big way. An online sportsbook would be offering them a lucrative cashout option if they could.

Seahawks' Offense is Cooking in Unexpected Ways

The Seahawks’ offense currently leads the NFL in yards per play (6.3) and is fourth in FTN’s DVOA statistic, as well as third in explosive play rate. The easy assumption is that a Kubiak-helmed offense would rely heavily on the run, but instead, the Seahawks are being led by one of the most explosive aerial assaults in the league. Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career, forming a strong connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba that could rival even the most iconic quarterback-receiver duos.

The Seahawks rank 27th in yards per rush (3.7) and 24th in rushing success rate (37.7%). While the run game has been inconsistent, it’s used more as a jab to set up the real driving force of the offense: a downfield attack that rips off chunk plays with ease.

The Seahawks lead the league in net yards per pass attempt (9.2 yards), second in explosive pass rate (19.9%), and fourth in dropback success rate. They attack all areas of the field, using their run game to keep defenders focused forward while the passing game creates big plays.

Sam Darnold is Being Optimized by a Coach Who Helped Kickstart His Career

This season, 41.6% of Darnold’s throws travel 10 or more air yards, the highest rate in the NFL. Meanwhile, 58.8% of his completions go for 10 or more yards, tied for the third-highest rate since 2013. Simply put: Darnold is chucking it downfield and staying efficient when doing so.

This approach has streamlined Darnold’s skills. He has always been a talented thrower, but he often struggled with decision-making. The Seahawks have removed most of the quick-hitting passes from the offense, instead using the run game to attack underneath and the passing game to create air in the offense. Kubiak was Darnold’s quarterbacks coach in 2023 in San Francisco, a year that helped Darnold reset his career and was a big reason why Kubiak and the Seahawks signed him this offseason.

Other underlying stats show how comfortable Darnold is in this offense. He scrambles at the lowest rate of his career, takes sacks at the lowest rate, and gets rid of the ball quicker than ever. Even with an offensive line that’s still a work in progress, Darnold is making quick decisions and avoiding mistakes that have plagued him in the past.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Has Been a Revelation

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a revelation this season. He leads the NFL in yards (696), yards per route run (4.49), and explosive receptions per route (10.3%). He has become a three-level monster, capable of handling quick-hitters, in-breakers, out-breakers, and deep balls. Smith-Njigba has also moved outside, aligning there just 17% of the time in 2025, with 80% of his snaps coming on the outside.

Other Pieces Are Fitting Together Nicely

The Seahawks’ other pass catchers are also excelling in their roles. Kupp is now acting as a de facto tight end, providing a boost on run plays and as an underneath option on pass plays. Second-year player A.J. Barner is having a mini-breakout, while fifth-round pick Tory Horton has started to expand his role. Rookie Elijah Arroyo is also showing promise as a tight end.

The use of tight ends has been a weapon for the Seahawks, allowing them to get into preferred formation looks and protections. Their versatility helps shore up any deficiencies in the offensive line.

The Run Game Still Needs Work, But It’s Getting Better

While the run game still ranks 21st in DVOA, there have been stretches where it has worked. If the passing game can maintain its explosiveness, the run game only needs to be average for the offense to function well.

Despite the offensive line's mediocrity, there are positive takeaways. Grey Zabel has looked like a star at left guard, and Charles Cross is finally healthy again. However, Jalen Sundell and Anthony Bradford remain weak links.

Defense is Also Strong

The defense ranks in the top five in every metric, with a formidable line that rushes the passer and is stout against the run. Head coach Mike Macdonald is one of the best game-planners in the sport.

In a wide-open NFC and NFL, I feel as good about the Seahawks' chances to contend as any other team after six weeks. Their offense has consistently generated explosives, and with Darnold making quick and smart decisions, the auxiliary pieces fitting in nicely, and Smith-Njigba emerging as a star, the Seahawks are a dangerous team.