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2012 NFL Offseason: Seattle Seahawks

Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents

Seattle Seahawks (Last Year: 7-9)

2012 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
QB Matt Flynn, RB Kregg Lumpkin, G Deuce Lutui, DT Jason Jones, ILB Barrett Ruud.
Early Draft Picks:
DE/OLB Bruce Irvin, LB Bobby Wagner, QB Russell Wilson, RB Robert Turbin, DT Jaye Howard.
Offseason Losses:
RB Justin Forsett, WR Mike Williams, TE John Carlson, G Robert Gallery, DE Raheem Brock, DT Tony Hargrove, ILB David Hawthorne, ILB Lofa Tatupu, SS Atari Bigby.

2012 Seattle Seahawks Offense:
The Seahawks are perhaps the greatest unknown in all of football. There are just so many questions with this team. This includes...

Is Matt Flynn any good? Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns against the Lions in a Week 17 matchup. That's more yardage than Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers or Bart Starr have ever compiled in a single contest. The stats are impressive, but are they legitimate? On one hand, many system quarterbacks playing in such a situation couldn't accomplish what Flynn was able to. On the other hand, Flynn was battling an inept Detroit secondary that had nothing to play for.

Even more telling is what happened this spring. When Joe Philbin, Flynn's former offensive coordinator, took the job in Miami, everyone assumed that Flynn would be taking his possible talents to South Beach. However, the Dolphins lowballed Flynn, offering him half the money he received from the Seahawks. Why wouldn't his former coach want him? That definitely speaks volumes, and it's a reminder of when the Chiefs passed on Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. There's a reason Charlie Weis didn't want Clausen. Did Philbin eschew obtaining Flynn for similar reasons?

Flynn hasn't been too impressive at OTAs, failing to distance himself from the pedestrian Tarvaris Jackson. Flynn will almost certainly start the opening week, but it's yet another bad sign.

Can Marshawn Lynch stay motivated? Beast Mode has become a fan favorite in Seattle. It's hard not to root for him. He runs like a mad man wanting to murder someone, and then the ridiculousness with the Skittles tops it off. However, Lynch has a history of lethargy. Many projected him to have a big 2011 campaign because he was playing for a contract. Now that he pocketed $17 million guaranteed, will he give 100-percent effort? History says no, but it's possible that Lynch has changed his tune.

Will Sidney Rice and Kellen Winslow Jr. be on the field? The Seahawks passed on Michael Floyd in the 2012 NFL Draft, so Rice remains their only viable downfield target. They did, however, trade a conditional seventh-round pick for Winslow. Both players are very injury-prone. Winslow has a dubious history with his knees, while Rice has missed a whopping 17 games the past two seasons.

Will another receiver step up if/when Rice goes down? Seattle likes Ricardo Lockette, a 6-3 receiver with what Pete Carroll called "tremendous speed." He caught passes for 44 and 61 yards in the final two games of the 2011 season. It's possible that he could step up and became a worthy No. 2 wideout. Golden Tate, meanwhile, also finished strong. He had 19 receptions for 209 yards in his final five weeks of the season.

Can the offensive line stay healthy? Right tackle James Carpenter, a third-round prospect chosen in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft (sound familiar?) tore his ACL in November. He could open the season on the PUP list, which would mean the inept Breno Giacomini will have to start across from Russell Okung, who has his own injury issues. Okung is coming off a torn pectoral and always seems to be banged up.

The news is better in the interior of the front. Max Unger is a quality center who didn't surrender a single sack last season. Left guard Paul McQuistan permitted five sacks, but did a great job of opening running lanes for Lynch. Right guard John Moffitt struggled as a rookie before tearing his MCL and PCL in November, but it sounds like he'll be ready for training camp.

2012 Seattle Seahawks Defense:
No discussion of Seattle's stop unit can go without mentioning what the team did in the 2012 NFL Draft. After moving down from No. 12 to No. 15, the Seahawks selected Bruce Irvin, a 245-pound rush linebacker from West Virginia. Irvin is a terrific athlete, but anyone who watched him play in college would note that opposing blockers threw him around effortlessly. This Web site's own Charlie Campbell noted so in a recap of the West Virginia vs. Pitt game:

"Irvin (6-3, 236) is all speed. He is very undersized, and often, offensive linemen treat him like a rag doll. Irvin gets knocked down easily and run through in the ground game. In the NFL, he is going to have to be a linebacker. Irvin could be a situational pass-rushing linebacker in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense, but does not look like he has the size and power to hold up on blocks against NFL offensive linemen. Irvin could be a good contributor if used correctly. He looks like a second- or third-round pick for a team that doesn't need a starter and can use him in spots."

Irvin was a second- or a third-round prospect before getting into trouble for defacing public property. This was not the first time he's endured legal issues (he also committed robbery a few years ago). Clearly a rescidivist, Irvin shouldn't have been chosen before the fifth round. Seattle took him 15th overall. The problem is that the Seahawks will be counting on Irvin to produce this year, and aside from perhaps a couple of sacks, he won't be able to do so because he's not a good football player. If he was knocked over by Big East linemen, how will he possibly contribute against NFL blockers?

With Raheem Brock gone, the only player who will be able to generate consistent pressure is defensive end Chris Clemons, who registered 11 sacks in 2011. Clemons will be 31 in October, but still should be able to play well. Newly signed defensive tackle Jason Jones might be able to help in terms of getting to the quarterback, but he's coming off a down year.

The rest of the defensive front is comprised of powerful ground-defenders. Alan Branch, Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane all do a fantastic job of clogging the running lanes and allowing their linebackers to make plays. Unfortunately, the linebacker position is not as strong for the Seahawks as it's been recently.

David Hawthorne is now with the Saints. His replacement could be Barrett Ruud. Calling this a massive downgrade is a major understatement. Ruud was one of the five worst starting linebackers in the NFL last year. He's been terrible for the past few seasons. Second-round rookie Bobby Wagner has to beat him out during training camp, or he'll be a lost cause. The winner of that "battle" will be surrounded by the decent Leroy Hill and up-and-coming K.J. Wright, who exceeded expectations as a rookie in 2011.

Speaking of rookies who stepped up, cornerback Richard Sherman had a terrific 2011 campaign. He replaced an injured Marcus Trufant in early November and never looked back; opposing quarterbacks had a 46.4 completion percentage when targeting him. It definitely helped that he was getting great support by a pair of dynamic safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Brandon Browner is the lone liability in Seattle's secondary. He played well at times last year, but committed a whopping 15 penalties, which was second amongst all corners (Stanford Routt) in 2011. Trufant was retained, so maybe he'll push Browner if the young corner keeps piling up yellow flags.

2012 Seattle Seahawks Schedule and Intangibles:
The Seahawks aren't kidding about this whole 12th man thing. The deafening noise at Qwest Field is why they were 25-4 as hosts from 2005 to 2007. They were 4-4 at home last year despite fielding a pretty bad team. They could have easily been 5-3, but were robbed of a victory against the 49ers.

While Seattle is great at home thanks to its great fans, the team is pitiful on the road. Since 2007, the Seahawks are 11-31 as visitors.

Ask any professional football gambler or handicapper when to bet against Seattle, and they'll say to do so in 1 p.m. East Coast games. They've had six of those since 2008, and lost five by a combined score of 129-38. They somehow beat the Super Bowl champion Giants last year, eliminating nearly everyone's Survivor Pool entry. Go figure. Fortunately, the Seahawks have only one 1 p.m. East Coast battle in 2012 - against the lowly Dolphins.

Though Jim Mora Jr. unprofessionally blamed Olindo Mare for blowing a game against the Bears because of two missed field goals, Mare drilled 73-of-83 attempts in three years with the Seahawks. Mare is gone, unfortunately, and Seattle has replaced him with Steven Hauschka, who had a dubious track record prior to 2011. He improved, however, drilling 25-of-30 attempts.

Punter Jon Ryan was very solid last season, maintaining a 46.6 average, hitting 34-of-95 boots inside the 20.

Leon Washington scored three special-teams touchdowns in 2010. Karma struck last year, however, as the Seahawks surrendered three scores themselves. Washington maintained quality averages, but could not find the end zone.

The Seahawks have a ridiculously tough schedule to kick off the year. Six of their first eight opponents are the Cowboys, Packers, Panthers (road), Patriots, 49ers and Lions. Even their two "easier" contests in that sequence are away from home. The schedule is more manageable starting in Week 9, but Seattle could be out of contention by then.

2012 Seattle Seahawks Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

Quarterbacks	Offensive Line	Secondary
Running Backs	Defensive Line	Special Teams
Receivers	Linebackers	Coaching

2012 Seattle Seahawks Analysis: The Seahawks have a high ceiling. If Matt Flynn turns out to be a good quarterback, and if Marshawn Lynch stays motivated, and if Sidney Rice doesn't get hurt, Seattle could contend for the divisional crown.

The floor is incredibly low too, unfortunately. Flynn could suck, Lynch could be lazy, Rice could once again suffer an injury, while the defense could take a step backward because of poor offseason decisions. Considering the schedule and all of the uncertainties, it's more likely that the Seahawks will finish third in the NFC West.

Projection: 5-11 (3rd in NFC West)

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings

More 2012 NFL Season Previews

*** 2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES, OFFSEASON NEEDS BELOW COMMENT BOARD ***

Seahawks Draft Grade: C 05-01-2011 02:36 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.31 (total posts: 6)

I would give the Hawks a Draft Grade: C..., They didn't have and exciting draft but a solid one,.. They drafted some good prospects that may fill some holes in the near future,.. The One pick that had me scratching my head was the James Carpenter selection in the 1st rd?, I had him graded as the 6th best OT overall, and 2nd best RT in this draft.. I would have taken Gabe Carimi in the first, if the would have taken Carimi over Carpenter I would have graded this draft a solid-B..

matt 05-01-2011 11:18 am xxx.xxx.xxx0.22 (total posts: 1)

man i have been on walterfootball every day for the past couple of years just like some of the rest of you i really think who ever is in charge of this is stupid now..... i love what we did in the draft and if you watched any of the seahawks draft coverage you would know that almost every guy that we got other teams wanted too. Carpenter would have been chosen by the bears, packers, steelers, and the bills in the early second....... we stole Durham right before KC got him so i believe that the seahawks did a really good job this year and will show that this year and next year.

8=D IN YOUR ASS 05-01-2011 10:59 am xxx.xxx.xxx9.79 (total posts: 2)

AHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHA YOU SEAHAWS R IDIOTS. LOLOLOL. JAMES CARPENTER SUCKS BIG BLACK WEINER AFTER ITS BEEN UP PETE CARROLS BUTT HOLE. YOU R IDIOTS AND WILL BE PICKING IN THE TOP 8 NEXT YEAR. BWAHAHAHA

Daniel B 05-01-2011 07:59 am xxx.xxx.xxx5.36 (total posts: 3)

@ Zane

I like your review a lot. And I agree for the most part on all of your grades. I would though, change the overall grade to a +B.

People keep saying that the Durham pick was an enormous reach, and that we could have had him in the 5th, but that's not true. John Schneider clearly stated in his press conference after the draft that the Chiefs called him and praised them about the pick, because they were about to make it right after the Seahawks picked... http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/videos/Draft-Day-3-Carroll-and-Schneider-Presser/b339fa5f-4f45-44ff-a0f6-d49428db9a7d

nick b 04-30-2011 10:02 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.182 (total posts: 1)

Kris Durham is actually pretty good, he has alot of upside. Did alot when A.J Green was suspended

@Aiden Mathis 04-30-2011 09:39 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.216 (total posts: 3)

As an avid Boise State fan, I can tell you that Mike Coughlin is terrible. Big kid, huge arm, but he is an absolute moron on the field. If he was so good, then he would have beat out a dirt-slow scrawny player with a noodle arm.

Zane 04-30-2011 09:34 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.143 (total posts: 4)

These negative comments inspired me to grade these picks by myself.

This was an excellent draft for several reasons. Schneider and Carroll had a great draft in their first year, and look to expand on their success. This year, the emphasis was on offensive line, linebacker, receiver, and defensive back, all areas where GM John Schneider has had success with prospects such as Donald Driver, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Sam Shields, and Clay Matthews.

James Carpenter- Alabama- B+

Carpenter is a great addition, but the Seahawks attempted to trade down and select him 4-5 picks later, the Packers were reportedly very interested in him.

John Moffitt- Wisconsin- A

The Seahawks traded down and selected him, they stayed true to their draft board and fortified the right side of the offensive line.

In Carpenter and Moffitt, the Seahawks picked up two large, brutish, bruising, mean, nasty, physical,tough, durable lineman to stabilize their O-Line. Between Okung, Gibson, Unger, Moffitt, and Carpenter, the Seahawks should have a great offensive line for the future with Spencer, Ray Willis, and possibly Stacy Andrews providing depth.

K.J Wright- Mississippi State- B+

Wright will be a great pass rusher, but Outside Linebacker is not a glaring need. However, drafting him also enables the Seahawks to allow Aaron Curry to play more naturally in Nickel packages.

The Seahawks also drafted K.J Wright, a speedy linebacker with great coverage and blitzing skills, and no glaring negatives to his game. The only reason he dropped was for taking poor angles and playing a little high at times. He projects to be an excellent pass rusher in the Seahawk's Nickel package and also a great linebacker in coverage. He has potential to develop into an Elvis Dumervil type Strong Side linebacker, as he has similar intangibles and weighs three more pounds than Dumervil, but also had a better shuttle and 40 time.

Kris Durham- Georgia- B

Durham, a receiver, looks to potentially start across from Mike Williams, and has huge upside potential. However, the Seahawks most likely drafted him a little too early.

Durham was overshadowed by top NFL Draft prospect A.J Green for much of the season. However, when A.J Green was suspended for the first four games, Durham had the most productive stretch of his career. At 6-5, 216 pounds with a 4.46 yard dash. His biggest weakness is his burst off the line of scrimmage, but he has high potential to develop into a possession receiver guy who can line up as a slot receiver, run slant patterns with his large, physical frame. He could be a surprisingly productive edition to the Hawk's receiving corps in 2011.

Richard Sherman- Stanford A-

Sherman is a speedy, athletic corner with a tall build that is good at tracking and covering receivers, but needs to work on tracking the ball. However, Sherman can improve on this and has immense potential as he only has one season of experience playing at corner. The Seahawks had an outstanding amount of success with their bandit packages until their secondary was hit by a plethora of injuries, and Sherman also looks to provide depth. At 6-2, he has great height and looks to be a nickel back, with potential to supplant Marcus Trufant as starter.

Mark Legree- Appalachian State- A+

Legree led the country in interceptions with 22, and is a ball hawk with great instincts and (obviously) ball location. He had an excellent short shuttle of 4.09, a great 3 cone time of 6.09 and 22 bench press reps, which is great for a safety. He is excellent against the run, and if he can be half as good against the pass in the NFL, he will be an excellent safety. However, the Seahawks already have an excellent free safety in Earl Thomas, and if Legree fulfills his potential, he may be able to supplant Thomas, with Thomas moving to Cornerback. In 2011, Legree looks to start at strong safety and be a Bob Sanders type player. Legree went under the radar a bit, and wasn't even invited to the combine, with numbers coming from his pro day. He has been praised by Mike Mayock among other "experts." The Seahawks might have found themselves a steal in the Appalachian State alumni. Best pick the Seahawks had all day.

Byron Maxwell- Clemson- B+

Maxwell is another tall Cornerback with a good build. He plays physically, and is a great tackler. He is a great zone defender, with 33.5 inch arms. He reads and reacts well, but is only an average man-to man Corner. He had 26 bench press reps, a great number for a Corner Back. However, his college production was not excellent, but the intangibles are great. However, if he improves his man coverage, he is also a potential starter. The Seahawks had an outstanding amount of success with their bandit packages until their secondary was hit by a plethora of injuries, and Maxwell also looks to provide solid depth. In 2011, he looks to play in dime and bandit packages.

Lazarius Levington- LSU- B

A large defensive lineman who can play end or tackle, but looks to play end in the NFL, Lazarius Levington is a large, wide-bodied lineman who carries his weight well. He has a great first step and changes direction well. He holds a point well, and is a solid run defender, but needs to become more instinctive to transition this to the pros. Levington doesn't offer much in terms of a pass rush. He looks to offer the Seahawks depth for Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, and Red Bryant. If he can improve his instincts, he can eventually develop into a starter. In 2011, he looks to be a solid backup and rotational end on rushing downs.

Malcolm Smith- USC- B

In Smith, the Seahawks got an athletic freak of an Outside Linebacker. With a 39" vertical, 4.4 40 time, 7.08 3-Cone time, and 28 bench reps, Smith has all the tools for the next level. Smith has good instincts, but lacks physicality and isn't great at pursuing. However, he is speedy and good at dropping into coverage. He does a great job of covering tight ends and receivers. In 2011, he looks to contribute on special teams and occasionally rotate in at Weakside Linebacker.

Overall Seahawks draft grade- A

The Seahawks have completely rebuilt their Offensive Line and Secondary the past two years. John Schneider and Pete Carroll look to continue their success with another seemingly great draft.

Meh 04-30-2011 09:20 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.207 (total posts: 1)

Wasn't Lawyer Milloys fault in the playoff game...

weak sauce 04-30-2011 09:12 pm xxx.xxx.xxx0.98 (total posts: 1)

Overall grade C

OL was a disaster last year and while I think Carimi is better then Carpenter, grabbing moffitt and an OT was exactly what I wanted and what seattle needed.

At 99 we should have gone Ballard out of Iowa. And we definitely reached for the WR durham could of gotten him in round 5. The run on DBs leaves mr blank. I know it was a need but don't really think we got anything that will make the team.

Rusty Shackelford 04-30-2011 09:12 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.206 (total posts: 1)

Man, Trent Dilfer ripped on the seahawks pretty good today.

Bradford is god! 04-30-2011 07:13 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.76 (total posts: 2)

I obviously don't like Seattle but these ratings are sooo harsh. The Seahawks have made huge sense in not taking a QB and any free agent like smith or palmer behind a their new promising young O line will do a good job. Ditto to everyone else really. Get your facts right walt before giving such scathing judgements!

Kyle 04-30-2011 07:13 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.229 (total posts: 2)

@ Daniel.
I am a fan and while I appreciate your opinion that the GA WR reminds you of Brandon Marshall this draft has some serious headscratchers. Probably could have waited at least another round. The Carpenter pick wasn't as bad as this site made it out to be, however I think he would be a better G than T. As for the late picks you can either get guys who are going to be good on special teams and provide depth or draft development projects. I hope though this guy doesn't remind you of Marshall from a character standpoint

Aidan Mathis 04-30-2011 07:10 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.73 (total posts: 1)

The Seahawks might be interested in Mike Coughlin, Kellen Moore's backup at Boise State, to be their developmental qb. He had an amazing pro day, flashing his powerful arm and decent accuracy with his 6'5 frame, and the Seahawks scheduled a private workout with him shortly after. He could easily be the next Matt Cassel.

Go Packers! 04-30-2011 07:01 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.39 (total posts: 1)

Ted Thompson flat out said in an interview they would have selected James Carpenter if he had been there. Not really sure how that was a reach. I think people are shocked because of the grades Kiper and Mayock had on him going into the draft, which don't really mean much. You should really update that Walter, as it's unfair to Hawks fans. Also, your comment about Lawyer Milloy is also incorrect. After the Chicago game, Pete Carrol openly admitted that it was rookie Earl Thomas's fault that allowed Greg Olson to get the TD. Might want to update that too, or, you know, do some more research before you go posting stuff.

who cares 04-30-2011 07:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.107 (total posts: 1)

I would take Whitehurst starting week 1 over dalton ANY DAY.....jus sayin

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2012 NFL Draft Grade: D

Goals Entering the 2012 NFL Draft: Seattle filled its need at quarterback by signing Matt Flynn, so the front office can now concentrate on upgrading the front seven. The pass rush is lacking, while the linebacking corps is in shambles. The Seahawks can fix both areas in the first two rounds because there will be prospects at those positions available at both selections.

2012 NFL Draft Accomplishments: Bruce Irvin is a one-trick pony who has speed to rush to the passer off the edge. Except he doesn't do this trick very well because Big East tackles constantly tossed him aside like a rag doll. I figured that Irvin would be a second- or a third-round selection because of his upside; if he could put on weight and maintain his quickness, he could perhaps turn into a poor-man's Elvis Dumervil.

But then Irvin was arrested for defacing public property. And then it was revealed that he dropped out of high school and committed robbery a few years ago. Irvin is clearly a recidivist, and that's why I mocked him in the fifth or sixth rounds a couple of weeks ago. I figured some team that didn't care about character issues would take a chance on him.

Irvin is one of the worst draft picks of all time, but Seattle's stupidity didn't end there. They moved down in the second round and lost out on Mychal Kendricks as a result. There were also numerous reaches on Day 3. The receiver position was not addressed, so Flynn won't have anyone to throw to once Sidney Rice suffers his annual injury.

I can't make fun of the Raiders anymore because Al Davis passed away, but I'm glad to see that the Seahawks have quickly stepped in. Per very reliable sources in the underworld, Bazuzu, a dark spirit obsessed with 40 times, has moved on from Davis to possess Pete Carroll. That is why Carroll believes Irvin is a "great playa."

2012 NFL Draft Individual Grades:

15. Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, West Virginia: MATT MILLEN LSD-LACED KIELBASA ORGY WITH 200 USDA MEN Grade
Wow!!! What the hell are the Seahawks doing? You pick one-trick ponies in the third or fourth round. And you pick one-trick ponies who get arrested for robbery and defacing public property in the sixth or seventh round. Did Seattle write the wrong name down on the card? If they did mean to pick him, did they even watch him on tape? He's an athlete playing football. This is one of the worst draft picks of all time.

47. Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah State: B- Grade
What's funny is that the Seahawks could have chosen Bobby Wagner at No. 15 and Bruce Irvin at No. 47, and it would have made more sense. Wagner is an OK selection. He's a bit of a reach, but my major issue that Seattle missed out on Mychal Kendricks by trading down for just two late picks.

74. Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin: B Grade
I can almost hear Bazuzu eminating from Pete Carroll: "Russell... Wilson... is a... great... playa..." I like Wilson because he's a winner and a great leader. He's almost like Doug Flutie in that he can play quarterback well despite being severely undersized. I'm kind of shocked the Seahawks chose him because I thought they really liked Josh Portis as a developmental signal-caller, but Wilson can be groomed into a potential starter if Matt Flynn flops.

106. Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State: A Grade
The Seahawks needed running back depth behind Marshawn Lynch, so they were expected to take a player at this position here. Robert Turbin provides some nice value; he was projected by some to go in the third round.

114. Jaye Howard, DT, Florida: B Grade
Seattle had to find depth at defensive tackle; the front office made a nice signing in Jason Jones this offseason, but it was only able to lock him for one year. If Jones walks, the Seahawks will need alternative options. Howard fits the range in the middle of Round 4.

154. Korey Toomer, ILB, Idaho: C Grade
It's hardly a surprise that the Seahawks spent a second draft pick on a linebacker, but Korey Toomer is a reach in the middle of Round 5. But I don't think Bazuzu/Pete Carroll cares about reaches at this point.

172. Jeremy Lane, CB, Northwestern State: C Grade
Seattle had to find some cornerback depth, so this pick makes sense. Jeremy Lane might be a slight reach at this juncture, but no one in Seattle has ever heard of the R-word.

181. Winston Guy, S, Kentucky: C Grade
We've established that Bazuzu's Seahawks have a radically different board than everyone else, so I'm not going to use the R-word. Winston Guy does fill a need for safety depth though.

225. J.R. Sweezy, DT, N.C. State: C+ Grade
Another defensive tackle? There were better players at the position available if the Seahawks wanted one.

232. Greg Scruggs, DT, Louisville: C Grade
Another defensive tackle? Wait, didn't I just type that? Greg Scruggs was not a priority UDFA projection, so this is a r- never mind.

Season Summary:
The most entertaining aspect of the Seahawks' forgettable season were all the posts from Migelini about Tarvis Jackson, Marcel Runny Guy, Sid, Taptua and Coach Carrull. Oh, and the Skittles. You've gotta love the Skittles.

Offseason Moves:

Seahawks acquire TE Kellen Winslow Jr. from Buccaneers for conditional 7th-round pick

Seahawks re-sign K Steven Hauschka

Seahawks re-sign OLB Leroy Hill

Seahawks re-sign ILB Matt McCoy

Seahawks re-sign CB Marcus Trufant

Seahawks sign ILB Barrett Ruud

Seahawks re-sign CB Roy Lewis

Seahawks sign G Deuce Lutui

Saints sign ILB David Hawthorne

Packers sign DT Tony Hargrove

Seahawks sign RB Kregg Lumpkin

Seahawks sign OT Frank Omiyale

Patriots sign G Robert Gallery

Seahawks sign QB Matt Flynn

Seahawks sign DT Jason Jones

Chargers sign SS Atari Bigby

Chargers sign QB Charlie Whitehurst

Seahawks re-sign FB Michael Robinson

Seahawks cut G Robert Gallery

Vikings sign TE John Carlson

Seahawks re-sign DE/DT Red Bryant

Seahawks re-sign RB Marshawn Lynch

Seahawks re-sign OT Breno Giacomini

Offseason Needs:

Quarterback: Tarvaris Jackson wasn't terrible last season, but he'll never lead a team deep into the playoffs because he makes too many mistakes. If the Seahawks can't trade up for Robert Griffin, I don't know how they'll fix this problem. Signed Matt Flynn; drafted Russell Wilson
Right Defensive End: The Seahawks had only one player (Chris Clemons) who could pressure the quarterback last year. Raheem Brock's production really fell off. Making matters worse, Clemons will be a 31-year-old free agent next March. Drafted Bruce Irvin
Guard: Robert Gallery was brought to Seattle because of offensive line coach Tom Cable, but the former Raider struggled in his new home. Signed Frank Omiyale and Deuce Lutui
Defensive Tackle: More pass-rushing help needs to come from the interior of the defensive line. Signed Jason Jones; drafted Jaye Howard
Two Linebackers: Leroy Hill and David Hawthrone are skilled linebackers who will be hitting the market in March. They must be retained. Drafted Bobby Wagner; signed Barrett Ruud; re-signed Matt McCoy and Leroy Hill
Left Defensive End: Red Bryant is so instrumental in Seattle's ability to stop the run. He's a free agent who must be brought back. Re-signed Red Bryant
Cornerback: Marcus Trufant is gone. The Seahawks will need a new starting cornerback across from Richard Sherman, who had an exceptional rookie campaign. Brandon Browner played well at times, but committed way too many penalties. Re-signed Marcus Trufant
Running Back: Marshawn Lynch is a free agent. The Seahawks are expected to franchise him. Even if they do, they'll need to find some depth. Re-signed Marshawn Lynch; drafted Robert Turbin; signed Kregg Lumpkin

2012 NFL Free Agent Signings:

Matt Flynn, QB, Packers. Age: 27.
Signed with Seahawks (3 years, $26 million; $10 million guaranteed)

When Matt Flynn threw for 480 yards in a Week 17 win over the Lions, he passed for more yardage than any Packer quarterback in a single game. There's a limited sample size, but the potential is clearly there. Flynn will be a starter somewhere next season. It's also worth noting that Charley Casserly, the man who spent early picks on David Carr and Dave Ragone, doesn't think too highly of Flynn. This could very well mean that Flynn has Pro Bowl potential.
Jason Jones, DT, Titans. Age: 26.
Signed with Seahawks (1 year)

Jason Jones thrived as a defensive tackle in a wide-nine scheme prior to this season. He was moved to defensive end in 2011 and consequently struggled. Jones needs to go to Detroit, Philadelphia or St. Louis this spring.
Kregg Lumpkin, RB, Buccaneers. Age: 28. -- Signed with Seahawks
Barrett Ruud, ILB, Titans. Age: 29. -- Signed with Seahawks (1 year)
Deuce Lutui, G, Cardinals. Age: 29. -- Signed with Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks Free Agents:

Salary Cap: TBA.

David Hawthorne, ILB, Seahawks. Age: 27.
Signed with Saints (5 years)

David Hawthorne is one of the better inside linebackers in the NFL. He had a nagging knee injury that plagued him throughout 2011, but he still performed on a really high level.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Seahawks (4 years, $32 million; $18 million guaranteed)

Marshawn Lynch is a tough one to rank. Based on what he did this year, he deserves 4.5 stars, but his lacking effort for most of 2010 and prior is alarming. Will he slack off after receiving a new contract like Chris Johnson, or will he continue to terrorize defenses with his punishing running ability? Caveat emptor, Seahawks.
Red Bryant, DE/DT, Seahawks. Age: 28.
Re-signed with Seahawks (5 years, $35 million; $14.5 million guaranteed)

Red Bryant is a powerful run-stuffer who can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4.
Leroy Hill, OLB, Seahawks. Age: 29.
Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year)

Leroy Hill, bastard of Lannisport, is a three-down weakside linebacker with no liabilities, save for health. He was always injury-prone, but made it through unscathed in 2011. He'll be 30 on Sept. 14.
Steven Hauschka (RFA), K, Seahawks. Age: 27.
Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year, $1.26 million)

Steven Hauschka was a surprising 25-of-30 in 2011. Let's see if he can have another solid year.
Marcus Trufant, CB, Seahawks. Age: 31.
Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year)

Marcus Trufant, who just turned 31 on Christmas, has some back issues that really affected his play last year. He really struggled and may never be the same again.
John Carlson, TE, Seahawks. Age: 28.
Signed with Vikings (5 years, $25 million; $11 million guaranteed)

How is John Carlson 28 already? The former Notre Dame tight end missed all of 2011 with a shoulder injury, and it's safe to wonder if he'll ever reach his potential.
Lofa Tatupu, ILB, Seahawks. Age: 29.
Signed with Falcons (2 years, $5.75 million)

Lofa Tatupu (or Taptua) oddly received no interest in 2011. Maybe a year off was what he needed to recover from all of his injuries.
Robert Gallery, G, Seahawks. Age: 32.
Signed with Patriots

Robert Gallery used to be a very good guard, but various injuries have derailed his career. He could get healthy again, but then again, I could win the lottery tomorrow.
Tony Hargrove, DT, Seahawks. Age: 29. -- Signed with Packers
Breno Giacomini, OT, Seahawks. Age: 26. -- Re-signed with Seahawks (2 years, $6 million; $1.5 million signing bonus)
Justin Forsett, RB, Seahawks. Age: 26. -- Signed with Texans
Michael Robinson, FB, Seahawks. Age: 29. -- Re-signed with Seahawks
Raheem Brock, DE, Seahawks. Age: 34.
Atari Bigby, SS, Seahawks. Age: 30. -- Signed with Chargers (2 years)
Roy Lewis, CB, Seahawks. Age: 27. -- Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year)
Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks. Age: 28.
David Vobora, OLB, Seahawks. Age: 26.
Matt McCoy, ILB, Seahawks. Age: 29. -- Re-signed with Seahawks (1 year)
Jimmy Wilkerson, DE, Seahawks. Age: 31.
Charlie "Whithart" Whitehurst, QB, Seahawks. Age: 30. -- Signed with Chargers

2012 NFL Free Agent Rankings Coming Soon

Divisional Rival History:
Arizona Cardinals: Arizona won six of seven prior to the 2010 season. Kurt Warner's absence hurt, as the Seahawks have won three of the past four this series.
San Francisco 49ers: The Seahawks and 49ers split the season series the three years prior to 2011. San Francisco swept last year.
St. Louis Rams: The Seahawks have won all but one of the 14 matchups after the Rams knocked them out of the playoffs in 2004.

Features to be Posted This Offseason:

2012 NFL Draft Grades (Pick-by-Pick NFL Draft Grades as well - Live on Draft Day!)
Detailed season preview
Fantasy football projections
Positional rankings
Daily updates on free-agent signings

2012 NFL Offseason Pages

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

2012 NFL Offseason: Seattle Seahawks Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents