The 2024 season has just ended, and on March 12, the 2025 campaign will open its doors. Touchdown news therefore takes the opportunity to offer you an overview of different franchises during the offseason. Which players keep and cut? Which free agents extend? What recruits observe? Here are some ideas, franchise by franchise. In the spotlight, today, the Seattle Seahawks.
So close and yet so far. At 10-7, the Seahawks should probably have been in the playoffs, but for what to do? Apart from Denver in week 1 and Rams whose holders were at rest in week 18, the Washington state franchise failed to beat a qualified opponent in playoffs.
The team still lacks talent to compete. Its weaknesses inside the offensive line are incurable at this level. The satisfaction is that Mike Macdonald took his marks as a principal coach, largely making the defense and the team progress during the season. But to become a team to fear, you have to take a course, and that's what is most difficult in NFL.
To do this, Seattle has few means…. Or maybe if. The team has 15 million and some deficit displayed in terms of cap. But each deductible has different strategies. A quick glance allows you to see that Seahawks can quickly release tens of millions of dollars. So there is a little margin, but especially of the choices to make: before thinking about recruiting, Seattle will have to negotiate with its players, especially on the offensive side.
Tauliers
- Leonard Williams (DT)
- Geno Smith (QB)
- DK Metcalf (WR)
No need to explain why Leonard Williams is in this list, as “Big Cat” splashed last season with his talent with a total of 11 sacks – from inside the line! – and an action that remained in the memories. There are two years of contract to the former Giant, who is the strong man of the Defense of Seattle, in the same way as Devon Witherspoon (DB) or Julian Love (FS).
More questionable and discussed is the presence in these lines of Geno Smith. 21 TouchDowns, 15 interceptions for 4,320 yards: although prolific in terms of distance, the launcher statistics are not mirobal. Many call into question Smith, who has become a real subject of discord in the spans of Lumen Field. Without racing game, behind an offensive line with the appearance of a hinged door, not always helped by a monomaniac attacking coordinator, Smith nevertheless allowed his team to move forward. A feat that it would be dangerous to wait from any quarterback on the market, its replacement Sam Howell in mind.
If there was debate, Mike McDonald decided it in several interviews where his desire to keep his quarterback appeared obvious. But how? Smith has more than 44 million against the course currently, and 31 of them would be saved with a cup. To keep it, it will probably be necessary to extend it. Which is not easy at 35, but the Seahawks have no real alternative.
Sometimes annoying, DK Metcalf (WR) remains the team’s main offensive weapon, even if its 992 yards this season have been overshadowed by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Often covered by several opponents, forcing to keep the long tracks religiously, Metcalf presents a combination of speed and power almost unique in the league. Enough to give it real market value for potential exchange … In the last year of contract, it is more likely to see it renewed, thus lightening its heavy weight (almost 32 million) on the course of the team.
The undesirable
- Dre'Mont Jones
- Noah Fant Roy
- Robertson-Harris
Having regard to his career and everything he represents for the Seahawks, it is impossible to put the “undesirable” label in Tyler Lockett (WR). The chances of seeing him in the Balbuzards jersey next year remain weak. Whoever fell in third place among receivers with the emergence of “JSN”, has more than 30 million against the course this season. 17 could be saved with a cup. In any case, the player should not retire.
As for unwanted “real”, Dre'Mont Jones has never legitimized his contract of more than 17 million per year. The extension granted to Noah Fant has remained as incomprehensible on the ground as they were already. Especially with the promising emergence of AJ Barner. The two of them, the Seahawks would lose 18.5 m against the course, but would save 20.4. Roy Robertson-Harris has been satisfied since his arrival during the season since the Jaguars. What to allow it to keep its 6.5 m annual, none of which is guaranteed? This is not certain at all. Convincing but expensive (9m of CAP to save) and often injured, Uchenna Nwosu is not safe either.
The man of summer: Klint Kubiak (OC)
The Ryan Grubb experience did not work. The offensive coordinator was landed after a year, guilty of several capital sins in NFL: an almost systematic use of Shotguns putting its dying offensive line, and an incomprehensible under-utilization of the race and Play Action incompatible with the vision of the game of his boss Mike Macdonald.
Grubb returning to the university level in Alabama, it is Klint Kubiak who takes the reins in Seattle. With Kubiak, the Seahawks have chosen someone with more experience in the league. Gary Kubiak's son knows the importance of Play Actions. Whoever worked with many coaches from the Shanahan school will not neglect the races.
It remains to be seen what the results will be for a team that struggles to find its reference in attack. Kubiak started with the saints last season before the injuries ruin his game plan. His main task in Seattle will be to find the means to make one of the worst lines of the league work.
The main free agents
- Ernest Jones IV (LB)
- Jarran Reed (DT)
The others: Pharaoh Brown (Te), Tre Brown (CB), Artie Burns (CB), Stone Forstyhe (OT), Johnathan Hankins (DT), Kvon Wallace (S), Josh Jobe (CB)
Ernest Jones, and that's it? Arrived during the year from the Titans instead of an ousted Tyrel Dodson overnight, the linebacker transfigured the defense against the race, spent from 31st in 2023 to 18th this season. His tandem with the rookie Tyrice Knight was more than correct, knowing that none of the two should be holder. He is one of Mike Macdonald's relays on the ground. It is surprising that he has not yet re-situated as the two parties insisted on their desire to continue together: as always, it may depends at what price. After the ovens that Jérome Baker and Tyrel Dodson was last year, Seattle has every interest in keeping what works.
Jarran Reed could also stay. The 32 -year -old veteran should not cost too much and he remains useful in rotation (4.5 sacks). For the rest, no name is necessary with certainty. Stone Forsythe has for him to be able to play several positions reliably, against him to be bad everywhere. Note that Josh Jobe (DB), who has become the opposite of Riq Woolen, is him in a limited free agent.
Finally, the rich class of Rookies 2022 (Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Riq Woolen, Kenneth Walker) arrives at the end of the contract next season. It is likely that negotiations are starting this season, especially for Cross and Woolen.
The top 5 needs
- Offensive line
- Defensive line
- Quarterback
- Corner
To tell the truth, we reached ourselves here to write 5 times offensive line. Hard to do something when the line allows its quarterback to be in a hurry 39.4 % of the time without creating lines for talented runners that are Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet either.
“Interior offensive line players are selected too high, and in my opinion, too paid”.
This sentence pronounced last year could have been the epitaph of John Schneider as general manager as this season has demonstrated all their importance. Difficult to believe before these Seahawks 2024 that bad guards could so much handicap a team where the holder exterior tackles (Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas) are correct when they are healthy.
Laken Tomlinson, Christian Haynes and Anthony Bradford were sacred thorns in the foot. To see if Haynes or Bradford can progress. In the center, Connor Williams was to be a long-term solution … He finally retired after a few snaps sent several meters above his quarterback. His replacement Oli Oluwatimi always seems to lack physical qualities to win, especially in the diagram of Klint Kubiak.
Otherwise, Seattle would do well to build on its strengths, namely a defensive line which seems to be one of the best in the league. Outside, Boye Mafe and Derick Hall are good, but none is the monster that changes the whole plan of a defense. Inside, it is undoubtedly more solutions to the Nose Tackle post to allow Byron Murphy to express themselves freely on one side.
Finally, whether or not we believe in Geno Smith, Seattle needs a long -term quarterback, while the corner position must be reinforced while Riq Wooolen arrives at the end of the contract and Witherspoon plays mainly in the slot . In a team that generally lacks reference players to cross a level, additions to the post of LineBacker, Tight End, or even recipients according to the decision taken for DK Metcalf, are to be considered.
The target: Trey Smith (OL, Chiefs)
Do we really imagine John Schneider, who has been building low -end offensive lines for over ten years, blowing up the bank for the Guard des Chiefs Trey Smith? No, but it should. Super bowl aside, the 25 -year -old was solid all season. He advances as the best player available at this position at this offseason.
Seattle can no longer afford to make betting inside. Bradford and Haynes are still third -round choices, but that's it, the draft is an uncertain science. The Seahawks have one of the youngest's offensive lines in the league. They need experience, and a player who gives an identity to the squad, perhaps allowing others to raise their level of play. Trey Smith showed that he was this player.
If it is not Smith, it will nevertheless need a reinforcement in this position. At least, we will expect John Schneider a less catastrophic class than last year. No acquisition made before the start of the season convinced.
New blood: Tyler Warren (Te, Penn State)
So, obviously, if the Seahawks selected with their 18th choice an offensive line player like Tyler Booker (OG, Alabama), an Armand Membou (Ol, Missouri) or even a Will Campbell (OL, LSU) if he came to fall Due to a positioning inside, it would not be a bad choice. But, as explained, the draft will not be enough for the Seahawks line. And interior players can be found later (in other franchises in any case).
A player like Warren is not later. It would already be a small miracle if it was available in 18. AJ Barner is good, of course, but the Seahawks would acquire a new first choice weapon. With Warren, Geno Smith would finally be free to exploit the intermediate areas in which he excels. And Warren remains very good to block, important for this team. The choice has a lot of meaning for a franchise that has not had a star in this position from Jimmy Graham.
Mike Macdonald obliges, it is not impossible that the Seahawks will still strengthen their defensive line. The idea of selecting a Deone Walker to place it in Nose Tackle and allow Byron Murphy to slide on the outside of the line at 3, with Leonard Williams on the other side, is enthusiastic – except for the opposing lines. Seahawks lack stars in general. It is likely that they will take the best player on their boardwhatever the position.
