Stacy Rost: Are these Seahawks takes overreactions?

After ESPN’s Dan Graziano said the Seattle Seahawks could certainly be the team to beat in the NFC West as part of his latest league-wide “Overreactions” column, we decided to borrow some of that inspiration for a Seahawks-centered version on Tuesday’s Bump and Stacy show.

Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold off to ‘phenomenal’ start

With some help from ESPN Seahawks reporter Brady Henderson, we decide whether the following takes are overreactions or perfectly fair as this team rounds into October.

The take: Sam Darnold will have a better season than Geno Smith.

Fair take. With the obvious context of this season being just four weeks old, Darnold had adapted well to a new offense in Seattle while Smith has struggled for Las Vegas, throwing seven interceptions so far, including two games of three interceptions.

Pete Carroll stands by Geno Smith despite costly interceptions

Despite both quarterbacks being seen as reclamation projects at one point, Smith at least was seen as the more proven commodity of the two. Darnold had a stellar 2024 campaign but a lingering narrative — bolstered by his final two games with Minnesota — that he struggles under pressure.

So far with the Seahawks, Darnold has been decisive and efficient. The offense is still ironing out kinks under new coordinator Klint Kubiak, but Darnold’s 12.9 yards per completion ranks first in the NFL. He’s one of seven quarterbacks with a completion percentage of 70% or higher and is fifth in EPA per play and leads all passers in Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE).

Called it like he knew the ending.

Steve Raible on our final drive of TNF. pic.twitter.com/9C0pgar1yq

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 30, 2025

“It’s so important for Darnold to really play on time,” Henderson said. “When I looked after that Arizona game, I think he had the 10th fastest average time before the throw, around 2.7 seconds. Last year in Minnesota he was 34th in that metric. He was able to get away with that in the first part of the season but then the offensive line fell apart and you couldn’t do that.”

Stacy: An interesting question is emerging with Seahawks QB Darnold

The take: Jaxon Smith-Njigba will finish the year as a top-5 receiver.

Rams wideout Puka Nacua is leading the league with 100 more receiving yards than the next closest player. But at least the next closest player is JSN. They’re the only two in the NFL averaging over 100 receiving yards per game.

Does it sound too optimistic to say this is another perfectly fair take?

There are three big factors at play here. First, to get the most obvious out of the way, JSN is a talented player who saw a career high in yards last season and already seemed poised to take another step.

Secondly, despite Seattle’s efforts to establish the run, he benefits from getting the biggest share of his QB’s targets (40.3%, more than any other player in the league) and a quarter of all red zone targets.

JSN with a HUGE catch!@NFL | #TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/nHToOeWdc8

— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) September 26, 2025

Thirdly, Henderson points out that the landscape for top pass catchers looks a bit different this season.

“At first blush I would’ve said probably not, just playing in a run heavy offense,” Henderson said. “But he’s second in the NFL right now. And if you look at some of the usual guys who you’d expect to be at the top of that list, well, Tyreek Hill just suffered, unfortunately, a gruesome leg injury and is out for the season. Malik Nabers is another guy, he suffered a torn ACL. Ja’Marr Chase is healthy but his quarterback is hurt.

“With how well (JSN) is playing to start the season, and with some of the other guys around him who aren’t going to be in that top group, I’d say yes, I think he finishes top five.”

Brock Huard: JSN shares traits with best WRs in Seahawks history

The take: DeMarcus Lawrence’s injury is a problem for the D-line.

Pump the brakes on this one, according to Henderson.

Lawrence, one of the few new additions to Seattle’s defense this offseason, left Thursday’s game with a thigh injury.

There's no practice report today, and Mike Macdonald declined to give an update on OLB DeMarcus Lawrence, who left the Arizona game after hurting his thigh and didn't return. My understanding is that as of Friday, Lawrence appeared to have avoided a serious injury.

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) September 29, 2025

“I don’t think that’s something that’ll land him on IR,” Henderson said. “In terms of what that means for this week (against Tampa Bay) I don’t know, but it doesn’t seem like something that’ll keep him out long term. Lawrence really brings a physicality to their front that they didn’t have last year with Dre Jones, so it wouldn’t be insignificant. But it’s not something that, if he had to miss time, they would be unable to overcome.”

More Seattle Seahawks coverage

• What could the Seahawks get back in a Riq Woolen trade?
• Rost: Three noteworthy numbers from Seahawks’ first month
• Sack-happy Seahawks using balanced pass rush to torment QBs
• Macdonald: Leonard Williams ‘deserves more love’ nationally
• Seattle Seahawks’ Nwosu makes a statement in third game back

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