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The Seattle Seahawks are tipped to draft the “heir apparent” for DeMarcus Lawrence.
Mike Macdonald doesn’t want to think about replacing DeMarcus Lawrence so soon, but the Seattle Seahawks head coach knows the time is fast approaching when he’ll need a succession plan for the versatile soon-to-be 34-year-old who is a key figure along the toughest defensive front in the NFL.
Fortunately, Macdonald and Seahawks general manager John Schneider can turn to the first round of the 2026 NFL draft to find “an heir apparent” for Lawrence. Provided the Seahawks follow the recommendation of ESPN’s Matt Miller, who sends Auburn edge defender Keldric Faulk to the reigning Super Bowl champions with the 32nd-overall pick in his latest mock draft.
Miller pointed out how Lawrence “was instrumental last season but is 34 years old and needs an heir apparent. Faulk is a high-potential prospect at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds with pro-level power and agility. At just 20 years old, there’s room for him to grow and develop beyond what he did at Auburn, where he had only two sacks last season.”
Faulk’s lack of production in 2025 won’t necessarily worry the Seahawks. Not when Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde build their scheme around versatile disruptors up front.
A bigger concern will be what Lawrence intends to do about his future. Macdonald offered a positive update on any retirement plans the 12-year veteran might have, but the clock is ticking to find a credible long-term replacement, and not just for Lawrence.
Keldric Faulk Could Replace 2 Seahawks
Lawrence wasn’t the only the roving game-wrecker who powered Seattle’s pass rush last season. Flexible edge Boye Mafe was also a key member of the rotation, but he cashed in being part of a title run to earn a lucrative contract in free agency.
Mafe’s absence will increase the burden on veterans like Lawrence to lead the charge. The pressure would be eased by taking Faulk off the board to close out the opening round on Thursday, April 23.
Schneider has a mere four picks to work with, so he’d be gambling on Faulk justifying this selection more than his numbers. The potential is clear, based on Faulk being a multi-purpose lineman with “Experience playing several different defensive line alignments, from a shade-nose tackle to standup outside linebacker. He’s best in odd fronts as a 4i-technique and can be a base end in even fronts if needed in the NFL,” according to Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder.
That experience belongs in a system as diverse as the one Macdonald used to make the Seahawks a dominant defense. Macdonald won’t put much weight in concerns about Faulk’s statistics, not when the Seahawks rely more on manufacturing pressure on quarterbacks, rather than needing elite athleticism to collect sacks in bunches.
Macdonald’s X’s and O’s require D-linemen able to take on a wide variety of roles, making Lawrence a decisive recruit last offseason. The kind of savvy addition other teams want to emulate.
DeMarcus Lawrence Made a Big Difference
Lawrence arrived already tailor-made for what the Seahawks do defensively. The rugged veteran had played both end and defensive tackle during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.
Putting Lawrence on a line with similarly flexible D-tackle Leonard Williams, along with rush ends Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall, created the ideal wave of wandering pressure specialists able to collapse the pocket from a myriad of spots.
Keeping this rotation strong is a must for the Seahawks as they embark on defending their title. Lawrence will hopefully still have a role to play in 2026, but getting a head-start on securing a worthy successor would be smart future planning from Schneider.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
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