When the 2025 season began, Drake Thomas and Ty Okada were not core pieces of the Seattle Seahawks defensive plan. In fact they played only 15 and 6 snaps in Week 1, respectively.

Eight weeks later, that has changed in a big way. Okada has now played 367 defensive snaps, and 74 on special teams. Thomas has played 316 defensive snaps and 105 on special teams. The two undrafted players have been massive contributors, and have their starting jobs locked up, for at least a little while longer.

Every NFL team preaches “Next man up,” much like every coach says they want to be a physical football team. But this year, the division-leading Seahawks have embraced that mantra in a very real way.

For two different reasons, I might add! Safety Okada was thrust into his role while the trio of Nick Em

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