The Seattle Seahawks‘ pass rush is one of the concerns that some might have about the team as they look to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Last season, the pass rush leaned on Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Uchenna Nwosu.
Nonetheless, changes have come to the Seahawks’ pass-rushing group. Mafe moved on in free agency, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, while the long-term outlook for the others remains up in the air.
Hall is heading into the final year of his rookie deal. Lawrence will be 34 when the 2026 season begins and reportedly considered retirement after the Super Bowl run. Nwosu has battled injuries during his career and is set to turn 30 before the end of 2026.
While the Seahawks could look at a veteran, might the team be open to trading for a player whose stock is low? Seahawks on SI’s Jeremy Brener believes that the New York Giants‘ Kayvon Thibodeaux would make sense for the reigning champions.
“While many focus on Thibodeaux’s pass-rush stats, his 2025 campaign revealed a significant evolution in his game that aligns perfectly with Seattle’s defensive needs,” Brener wrote in his May 1 article. “According to PFF, Thibodeaux posted an 80.7 run-defense grade, ranking 7th among all edge rushers in the NFL.
“The Seahawks’ defense has struggled with consistency against the run, and adding a 25-year-old former No. 5 overall pick who can set a hard edge allows Macdonald to be more creative with his blitz packages.
“Thibodeaux’s dip in pass-rush efficiency (a 58.0 PFF grade) can be viewed as a buy-low opportunity rather than a red flag, especially considering he is only two years removed from an 11.5-sack season.”
Seattle Named Potential Landing Spot for Joey Bosa
Moreover, the Seahawks didn’t draft a pass rusher during the 2026 NFL Draft. As a result, Seattle could be looking at the veteran free agent market, and PFF’s Bradley Locker names the Seahawks as a potential landing spot for Joey Bosa.
“The Seahawks witnessed underrated edge defender Boye Mafe head to Cincinnati in free agency but have yet to directly replace his role,” Locker wrote in his April 30 article. “Bosa would be a slam-dunk find.
“The former Pro Bowler bounced back wonderfully in his lone season with the Bills, amassing an 85.5 PFF pass-rush grade that sat eighth among qualified edge defenders. Likewise, Bosa’s 20.1 percent pass-rush win rate on true pass sets placed 17th in that same group.”
Joey Bosa Makes Sense for the Seahawks Pass Rush
Moreover, Locker notes that in pass-rushing situations, Bosa would be an ideal player for the Seahawks to roll out and cause havoc on opposing teams.
“Even though Bosa is less effective against the run, his terrific pass-rush acumen would allow the league’s deepest edge-rushing group to remain dangerous in 2026,” Locker added. “At age 30, Bosa seems inclined to play for a contender — and Seattle’s rotation is a perfect situation.”
Last season with the Buffalo Bills, Bosa finished with an overall PFF grade of 79.3, ranking 17th among 115 qualified edge defenders.
Bosa was especially effective rushing the passer, earning an 88.7 grade in that area, though his run defense was less consistent at 54.6. Over the course of the season, he recorded 47 total pressures, including five sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and 30 hurries. He also added 22 solo tackles and forced five fumbles.
Seahawks Receive Blunt Message Involving Kayvon Thibodeaux