An Emerald Earthquake Has the Vikings Shaking with the Aftershocks
Seattle, known as The Emerald City, sometimes sees minor earthquakes generated from the raucous fans at Lumen Field. Most recently, the Seahawks’ aftershocks have been felt around the NFL due to winning the Super Bowl, a reality that has impacted the Vikings more than any team other than the Patriots.
Most obvious, of course, is that Sam Darnold has proven to be not just a viable QB1 but, rather, a QB1 who can lead a team to the Super Bowl. Working through injury, Darnold went 3-0 in the playoffs, completing roughly 61% of his passes for 672 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Standing alongside those QB numbers is a loaded roster with high-end homegrown talent alongside ample cap flexibility.
The Vikings, The Seahawks, & A Massive Competitive Chasm
If they’re lucky, the Vikings will pickup a Seahawks castaway.
In particular, there’s long-and-strong corner Tariq Woolen. Signing the 6’4″ corner would be a nice development in the Twin Cities. He could slide into that boundary corner job that was supposed to be held down by Jeff Okudah. Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers can then get the burden of beefy receivers taken off their shoulders.
Woolen leaving Seattle behind appears likely not because there isn’t money. Unlike the Vikings, the Seahawks have a ton of open cap space. Rather, it’s that Seattle boasts a ton of talent in the secondary even without the services of Mr. Woolen.
Indeed, Seattle has demonstrated the benefits of drafting well. Having a well-stocked cupboard of young, cost-controlled talent allows for spending elsewhere. No need to (potentially) overpay for Woolen when there’s already CB Devon Witherspoon (No. 5 in 2023) and S Nick Emmanwori (No. 35 in 2025) under contract.
Moreover, the front of the defense is being uplifted by Byron Murphy II (No. 16 in 2024) along the defensive line and Derick Hall (No. 38 in 2023) along the edge. Partner the young lads with excellent veteran adds in Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, and Ernest Jones. Combined, that’s a fearsome defensive front.
No wonder defensive wizard Mike Macdonald put together the NFL’s best defense in 2025 by allowing 17.2 points against per game.
On the other side the ball, the Seahawks got tremendous play out of WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20 in 2023), RB Kenneth Walker III (No. 41 in 2022), RB Zach Charbonnet (No. 53 in 2023), TE AJ Barner (No. 121 in 2024), OT Charles Cross (No. 9 in 2022), and OT Abraham Lucas (No. 72 in 2022).
Goodness, Michael Dickson — perhaps the NFL’s best punter — got drafted by Seattle. He went to the Seahawks at No. 149 in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Seahawks, unlike the Vikings, are a team built out of the draft.
The success over in Seattle has created the conditions where Darnold can get plugged into the team, thriving early. A perfect storm awaited Mr. Darnold, someone who got all of the help he could possibly want in the form of an elite defense, a great running back, a high-end WR1, more pass catching talent beyond JSN, and an overall great franchise.
Things get even more wild upon considering that Seattle currently boasts more than $63 million in open cap space. The Vikings, in contrast, are worse than $40 million in debt, per the Over the Cap estimate. As of mid-February, Seattle is more than $100 million healthier while having the quarterback position settled and while coming off a Super Bowl.
Wild, right?
Standing back to assess where the Vikings are in relation to the Seahawks leaves one with a bleak assessment. Seattle has all of this:
- A proven, 28-year-old QB1 to build around
- North of $60M in open cap space
- Talent in the trenches
- An elite CB1
- An elite WR1
- A talented run game
- A coaching staff that has proven itself capable of winning it all
The Vikings can match Seattle since Justin Jefferson is an elite WR1. The Vikings can surpass the Seahawks in draft ammunition leading into the 2026 NFL Draft. There isn’t too much else, though, for the Vikings to hang their hat (horned helmet?) on.
Indeed, the Vikings are in a world of hurt unless the drafting turns around in a hurry. Very little of the roster’s deficiencies can’t be at least partly attributed to what has been a horrendous stretch of drafting.
Again, the key takeaway: plucking fantastic, young, cost-controlled talent out of the draft is the single best thing a team can do to build a juggernaut.
The Seahawks are moving ahead with their QB position settled and cap in a very healthy spot due to being so excellent in the draft. Even better for Seattle is that they’re moving through 2026 as the reigning champions.
Meanwhile, the Vikings will be looking to capture some of that Seattle brilliance. Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the recent add to the front office was for Matt Thomas, the long-time Seattle executive.
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