Seattle Seahawks: Offseason Wants, Needs & Preview

[Finished 12-4 Overall]

The start of the 2020 season featured a taste of what Russell Wilson can cook when he has the right recipe. Mid-season, the menus were swapped out and Mayor Pete Carroll made sure to order his next meal from a more run-established menu.

In 2021, Seattle’s offense will look different as long-time offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was shown the door. Over the last 3 seasons, the Seahawks' offense has been unbalanced, to say politely. Seattle couldn’t put up more than 20 points in 3 of the last 4 games of the season. The real issues were unmasked in the postseason when this team really underperformed expectations. With QB Russell Wilson, RB Chris Carson, WR D.K Metcalf, and WR Tyler Lockett, there's no excuse for the blasphemy that unfolded late in the season. This franchise does still have the potential of repeating the success they had in the first half of the season. Let's reminisce. At the front end of the 2020 season, the Seahawks were averaging 31 points and 518 yards per game. Going into playoffs, the Seahawks were sitting in the driver seat of the division, set to host the Wild Card game against the Rams. Let's not forget, just two weeks prior, the Seahawks gave the Rams a big L. Coming into the game, the Rams were superior defensively, but the Seahawks' offense left much to be desired.

WR Tyler Lockett never publicly admitted to any injuries, but there was plenty of speculation. He looked hobbled, especially late in the season. Teams began to play high safety zones to eliminate big plays from WR D.K. Metcalf and Seattle couldn’t do much else. The state of Seattle’s offensive line last season had QB Russell Wilson running for his life. Even RB Chris Carson had a difficult time establishing anything on the ground. It was a complete reversal from the MVP-type numbers Russ was producing earlier in 2020.

Offensive Needs

The recipe for a five-star meal typically includes using high-end ingredients. The recipe for success for this team starts up front with Seattle's offensive line. The Seahawks' inability to put a wall in front of Wilson for yet another consecutive season forced us to watch the quarterback take hit after hit after hit after hit after hit. How many hits exactly? 189. That's enough to land him in the number 1 spot as the most sacked quarterback since 2017. Until Seattle finally fixes the issues on the offensive line, Wilson will be regularly tasked with being a superhero to a degree that is unsustainable.

At running back, the Seahawks will be replacing free agents Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde. RBs Rashaad Penny, DeeJay Dallas, and Travis Homer are under contract but project to be backups. We know HC Pete Carroll wants to run the ball whether we like it or not. Rashaad Penny has only played 374 snaps over the span of three seasons. Given his injury history, Penny shouldn’t be counted on as a starter.

WR D.K. Metcalf is only 22 years old and finished as the WR9 (17.9 PPR points per game). On tape, Metcalf looked like a rare vertical threat. Metcalf is clearly a star who has shown he cannot be covered in one-on-one man-to-man situations. When plays breakdown, it's bombs away. Of course, there are risks if Wilson leaves, particularly with volume decreasing. Still, heading into year three, Metcalf is already in the top-15 best receivers in the game. Between the inconsistent passing volume and injuries, WR Tyler Lockett has turned into a boom-bust fantasy asset in recent seasons. He only averaged 10.8 PPR points from Weeks 10-16 when the offense became more unbalanced. This was when Metcalf undoubtedly took over as the No. 1 receiver. There’s always upside but Lockett, unfortunately, comes without a floor. He was the WR17 per game largely because of his two historic performances in 2020.

Where Seattle can definitely upgrade is at tight end. Greg Olsen’s retirement opens things up for Seattle to attack in free agency or in the NFL draft. A viable tight end can really draw attention away from Metcalf and give Wilson a safety blanket over the middle of the field. The key components are available now and it’s time to address these positions to make Seattle less predictable and more threatening.

Defensive Needs

Seattle's defensive unit was an embarrassment this past season. They consistently allowed more yards to wide receivers than any other team throughout the entirety of the 2020 season. A lot of the issues with Seattle's pass coverage had to do with their pass rush or lack thereof. When S Jamal Adams leads the team in sacks, you have a problem. Seattle tried to address this by acquiring LB Jadeveon Clowney, but he walked in 2020, spelling doom and gloom for Seattle. With free agency and the upcoming draft now on the menu, it's paramount the Seahawks find themselves a lethal edge rusher who can disrupt the quarterback. It’s safe to say we can wave goodbye to the days of the legion of boom. While Adams was dominant, he was plagued with injuries. The ex Jet left his former team with hopes of winning big in Seattle. Unfortunately, winning wasn't on the menu this season, and a long-term deal has yet to be discussed. As the highest-paid safety in the NFL enters the final year of his rookie contract, the clock is ticking for Seattle to figure out what they want to do. Beyond CBs Quandre Diggs and Shaquill Griffin, the rest of the defense leaves plenty to be desired.

Too Long Didn't Read Version

The rumor mill is at it again! Are Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll filing for divorce? As bizarre as it sounds, a trade is more realistic than most think. The issue with trading Wilson right now is the dead money Seattle would obtain. If two broken records for the largest dead money cap hit weren't enough this offseason, a Russell Wilson trade would make it three. The Seahawks would be responsible for a record-breaking $39M in dead money and $7M more. The earliest a trade could realistically happen is June 1. Even then, it would still be complicated. The most likely scenario is the Seahawks giving into Wilson’s demands of adding more offensive line talent in 2021 and playing for at least one more season together. Wilson’s 2022 contract is far more tradable if tensions don’t cool down.