The Seattle Seahawks have established themselves as one of the best teams in the league, led by the NFL’s leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the resurgent Sam Darnold, and a ferocious defense.
One player who’s been an under-the-radar contributor to that defense filled with first-round picks and former Pro Bowlers is linebacker Drake Thomas.Â
Thomas entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of NC State in 2023, first signing with the Las Vegas Raiders before later in the preseason signing with the Seahawks, where he has been since. Until this year, Thomas has mostly been a staple on special teams, but after some injuries, he is finally getting his opportunity to show what he can do on defense.
Getting His Shot
Drake Thomas didn’t come into the season expecting to play the majority of snaps on defense, but Thomas has found himself in that role seven weeks into the season.Â
Thomas got to work with the first-team defense after health issues with Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight prevented them from practicing. For the past four games, Thomas has found himself in the starting lineup.
John Boyle of Seahawks.com wrote about in his October 17 article how Thomas is grateful for the opportunity to start.Â
“It’s been amazing, I’ve been super thankful for every high and every low,” Thomas said of his NFL journey so far. “It’s all been a part of the process, and it has all eventually led to this point right here. So I’m grateful for every single step. I’ve definitely learned and grown throughout the process, so that’s all you can ask for.”
Thomas has made the most of his opportunity so far as well. In the four games he has started, Thomas has had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, five passes defended, and two sacks, including a team-high nine tackles against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Â
Thomas has also shown his coverage ability, leading the Seahawks with a team-high three passes defended against the Houston Texans. Thomasâs high level has caught the eye of both teammates and coaches.
Macdonald Believes in Thomas
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has shown throughout his tenure that, regardless of your draft or contract status, if he thinks a player has what it takes to start on his defense, he’s playing them.
Drake Thomas is the latest player who personifies this. Previously, Macdonald has also transformed Coby Bryant from a special teams player to a starting safety and Josh Jobe from the practice squad to a starting cornerback.
Macdonald loves players who can grind it out and really earn their place as starters on his team.
Speaking on âThe Mike Macdonald Showâ with Seattle Sportsâ Brock and Salk, Macdonald discussed Thomas and his impact.
“Just a determined really good football player,” Macdonald said. “He does things like that a big linebacker does. He has power, he has strike, he tackles, he can cover in space and like press into people â where sometimes guys that are a little shorter, sometimes you worry about that, but he does those things. He does those things through his ability and his anticipation. So yeah, itâs pretty cool. Itâs pretty awesome.”
Macdonald then spoke about how general manager John Schneider and Seahawks team scouts were adamant that Thomas stay on the team when Macdonald took over as head coach in 2024, despite Thomas having injured his knee the year before.Â
“Analytically through like the scoutsâ eyes, so to speak, it was all like, ‘This guyâs a good football player, man,’” Macdonald said. “He hadnât had a chance to get all the reps early with the new coaching staff to kind of prove himself, and they were steadfast in their belief in that he was going to be â that he was a good player.”
That belief in Thomas has paid off as the Seahawks head into their bye week with a 5-2 record.
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