Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was displeased with the play from his off-ball linebackers when he made sweeping midseason changes. Opening week starters Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker were cast aside in October. The Seahawks acquired Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans at the trade deadline. Jones immediately revamped Macdonald’s defense. The other part of that equation was rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight.
A fourth-round selection out of UTEP, Knight performed beyond his years. Showcasing an advanced skill set, Knight defended both sideline-to-sideline, and between the tackles. The 2024 rookie pleased Macdonald.
Given his rookie season form, it’s no surprise that Pro Football Focus has named him Seattle’s breakout player for the 2025 campaign.
“Seattle did an about-face with its inside linebacker room during the middle of the season, paving the way for Knight,” Bradley Locker wrote in a recent article. “The UTEP product performed soundly when given the opportunity, with a 79.6 PFF tackling grade and a 73.3 PFF pass-rushing grade. Moreover, Knight garnered a 70.0 PFF overall mark in six of his 12 games played. With Ernest Jones’ contract situation uncertain, Mike Macdonald may very well rely on Knight in the middle of his defense in 2025.”
Is Michael Penix Jr. up next?
Early 2025 breakout candidates for all 32 teams:https://t.co/iITRc3LKFE
— PFF (@PFF) January 27, 2025
Knight recorded 88 total tackles. He also added 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups to his defensive totals. With Jones IV potentially heading for free agency, Knight is the only starting linebacker guaranteed to return to the Seahawks in 2025. That makes him an applicable breakout candidate.
