Seahawks Hope to be Creating Foundation Despite QB Question
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks hope they are creating the foundation for the future despite major uncertainty about their quarterback situation. Seattle's offseason featured a significant roster overhaul highlighted by the trade of franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver and release of star linebacker Bobby Wagner. The Seahawks still have plenty of talent, such as wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. But the quarterback situation with Geno Smith and Drew Lock as the options hangs over Seattle as its biggest question entering the season.
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-10)
New faces: QB Drew Lock, LT Charles Cross, RT Abe Lucas, TE Noah Fant, WR Marquise Goodwin, DE Boye Mafe, OLB Uchenna Nwosu, C Austin Blythe, CB Coby Bryant, CB Justin Coleman, DL Shelby Harris, DL Quinton Jefferson, RB Ken Walker III.
Key losses: QB Russell Wilson, LB Bobby Wagner, TE Gerald Everett, CB D.J. Reed, DE Carlos Dunlap, LT Duane Brown, C Ethan Pocic, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.
Strengths: Seattle has an elite pair of wide receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett even with an uncertain quarterback situation. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks takes the spot of Bobby Wagner after a breakout season in 2021. Quandre Diggs is one of the more underrated defensive backs in the league and Seattle hopes it will be able to use Jamal Adams in ways that utilize his strengths and hide his weaknesses in coverage. Expect a more aggressive, disruptive defense under new coordinator Clint Hurtt.
Weaknesses: There are several uncertainties with the Seahawks, but the obvious weakness is at quarterback. Seattle knows what its ceiling is with Geno Smith. Drew Lock may have more upside, but his past shows a penchant for mistakes and poor decisions. The fact that this is the decision Seattle faces highlights the weakness of the position. Whoever ends up under center for the majority of this season is likely a stopgap until next year when there are expected to be a significant number of QB options available in the draft.
Camp Development: Don’t be surprised if rookie cornerbacks Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen find their ways onto the field regularly early in the season. Both have been impressive during the preseason and look capable of holding their own if thrown into action from the start.
Fantasy Player To Watch: If Seattle is going to be successful offensively then the run game must be successful. Rashaad Penny is in line to be the starter and the conclusion to last season couldn’t be much more impressive with four games of 135 yards or more in the final five weeks. But the Seahawks are very high on Walker and he could end up with just as much fantasy production as Penny.
FanDuel Says: Win Super Bowl: +15000. Over/under wins: 5.5.
Expectations: This feels like a redo of 2011 for Pete Carroll. The defense is in the infancy of a makeover, but with pieces that show the promise of potentially being very good. The offense has a plan and anchors in key spots — wide receiver, tackles, running back — that is just waiting on a quarterback to emerge. The schedule is a gauntlet playing in the NFC West, but Carroll has never won fewer than seven games in a season for a reason. The Seahawks likely won't be playoff contenders, but should be competitive in building the foundation for another run in the coming seasons.