The Seahawks defender Bump says is poised for big season

A number of defensive players had standout seasons on defense for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.

The list includes well-known players like defensive lineman Leonard Williams, edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. It also includes lesser-known names who broke out for the first time like linebacker Drake Thomas and safety Ty Okada.

The 2026 season figures to provide opportunities for some more Seahawks defenders to deliver standout performances. Former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus believes edge rusher Derick Hall will be one them.

“This is what the Seahawks do, they develop these guys. And Derick Hall, though he only had two sacks last year, he was everywhere,” Bumpus said during his Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy on Wednesday. “He is a force to be reckoned with, and I think he’s becoming a leader on this team as well. He’s an emotional leader. When you watch this guy play, there’s a lot of emotion behind him. But I think that for this defense to take another step, you’re gonna need guys like Derick Hall to put together a good season. I think he’s primed and ready for it.”

One reason Bumpus likes Hall’s chances for a big 2026 are the of veteran players he can learn from at his position. Seattle’s edge group also includes the 34-year-old Lawrence, recently signed 31-year-old Dante Fowler and 29-year-old Uchenna Nwosu. That trio has a combined 160.5 sacks and 423 games of NFL experience.

Another is that Hall’s raw stats from 2025 don’t fully encapsulate the impact he made.

Despite having just two sacks and three tackles for loss during the regular season, Hall led Seahawks edge rushers with a 21.8% pass-rush win rate last season. He also ranked 37th in the NFL among edge rushers with a 73.3 Pro Football Focus grade, which trailed only Lawrence on the Seahawks.

Hall also isn’t far removed from an eight-sack season in 2024.

“I really think that I saw him take steps forward in the right direction last year, even though the stats might tell you a different story,” Bumpus said. “I think he’s ready to go. So if Derick Hall can have himself a season like he had a year or two ago, or even better than that, this defense will get that much better. That’s a name that isn’t talked about a lot, but I think people should be paying attention to.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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