General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald looked at what they had after the 2024 season and decided a lot needed to be changed offensively, but hardly anything needed to change defensively. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was fired, and a lot of players left.
Traded were quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf, two productive players on the field but whose leadership skills were in question, and receiver Tyler Lockett, whose production had diminished but was a high-character person. One player who replaced them was Cooper Kupp.
Kupp was released by the Seahawks' NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, because his cap hit was massive and he had been injury-plagued for quite some time.