Seattle Seahawks (Last Year: 12-4)
2020 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
RB Carlos Hyde, WR Phillip Dorsett, TE Greg Olsen, OT Brandon Shell, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, G Chance Warmack, C B.J. Finney, DE Benson Mayowa, DE/OLB Bruce Irvin, CB Quinton Dunbar, S Jamal Adams.
Early Draft Picks:
LB Jordyn Brooks, DE/OLB Darrell Taylor, G Damien Lewis, TE Colby Parkinson, RB DeeJay Dallas, DE Alton Robinson. Seahawks Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
RB Marshawn Lynch, WR Josh Gordon, OT George Fant, G Mike Iupati, G D.J. Fluker, C Justin Britt, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Ezekiel Ansah, DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Al Woods, OLB Mychal Kendricks, S Bradley McDougald, S Tedric Thompson.
2020 Seattle Seahawks Offense:
It’s been a long time since Russell Wilson received proper protection from his offensive line. The 2019 campaign wasn’t any different. Deshaun Watson was the only quarterback who was sacked more frequently than Wilson was last year.
The Seahawks had an opportunity to fix their blocking this offseason, but that did not happen. They brought in some new linemen like Brandon Shell, Cedric Ogbuehi, Chance Warmack and third-round rookie Damien Lewis, but unless Lewis can play well right away, none of them will be upgrades. There’s a chance ex-Steeler center B.J. Finney could help, though he’ll be better by default over Justin Britt, who couldn’t stay healthy.
Unless Finney is a huge upgrade, or if Lewis is a star immediately, the Seahawks’ only potent blocker is left tackle Duane Brown, and there’s no guarantee that he won’t regress. Brown turns 35 in August, so there might be potential for a decline. Regardless, it’s a shame that the Seahawks once again didn’t improve Wilson’s protection. Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he won’t be able to lead the Seahawks to another Super Bowl appearance until his blocking is improved.
Wilson, at the very least, has an excellent receiving arsenal at his disposal. Tyler Lockett will continue to be a reliable weapon, but D.K. Metcalf is expected to take a big leap in his second year. There was some questions about Metcalf’s route-running ability entering the NFL, but he answered those concerns with flying colors. Metcalf had an excellent rookie campaign with some dominant performances down the stretch. Given his potential, Metcalf could become one of the top receivers in the NFL before long.
The Seahawks don’t have much else at receiver, but they have loads of talent at tight end. They already possessed threats like Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister, and yet they signed Greg Olsen away from the Panthers. Olsen is obviously past his prime, but he can still be a reliable target in the end zone for Wilson.
Meanwhile, the backfield wasn’t touched outside of a fourth-round choice used on DeeJay Dallas. It’ll be interesting to see if Dallas can leap the fumble-prone Chris Carson and the injured Rashaad Penny.
2020 Seattle Seahawks Defense:
As with the offense, the Seahawks are very weak in the trenches on this side of the ball. They were expected to address their defensive line in the 2020 NFL Draft, but didn’t do so very much.
Seattle’s one selection used to help this area was used on second-round pick Darrell Taylor, a prospect with explosive talent. Taylor, however, is raw, so the Seahawks will have to count on 32-year-old Bruce Irvin to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks on his own unless Jadeveon Clowney is re-signed. Clowney’s status is still up in the air as of this writing, but he has expressed some desire to return to Seattle.
Retaining Clowney would be a nice boon for the Seahawks, as they figure to struggle in the interior of their defensive front. Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods were big losses, and they weren’t replaced at all. Poona Ford is decent against the run, and Jarran Reed can get to the quarterback on occasion, but the Seahawks seem to have the weakest pair of defensive tackles in the entire NFL.
Rather than spend the first-round choice on a defensive lineman – or a blocker, for that matter – the Seahawks selected linebacker Jordyn Brooks. The pick was confusing, but only from a needs perspective. There were some teams stationed in the early second frame that were interested in him. Brooks should be a good player for the Seahawks in the future, but he won’t see too many snaps in 2020 unless either Bobby Wagner or K.J. Wright suffers an injury. They’ll take the majority of snaps in 2020, though Wright is slowing down now that he’s in his 30s. Wagner, conversely, is still one of the best linebackers in the league.
The Seahawks also had issues in the secondary recently, but they’ve addressed those, or at least tried to do so. They acquired safety Quandre Diggs from the Lions in a mid-season trade last year, which really strengthened their pass defense. Diggs was stellar for his new team, and yet he won’t even be the top player at his position on the roster now in the wake of the Jamal Adams trade. Seattle obtained Adams for two first-round picks in late July. Adams is perhaps the best safety in the NFL, and he’ll be a huge difference-maker for his new team.
Seattle also found an upgrade at cornerback this offseason, at least temporarily. The team lucked into the Redskins failing to recognize the talent of Quinton Dunbar, as they traded him to the Seahawks for a mere fifth-round choice. Dunbar was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL last year, so he and Shaq Griffin should’ve been able to combine to form an excellent duo. Dunbar, however, was arrested for stealing $7,000 and overpriced trinkets, so it’ll be a while until he sees the field.
2020 Seattle Seahawks Schedule and Intangibles:
The Seahawks had a tremendous home-field advantage when they were great. The deafening noise at Qwest Field is why they were a ridiculous 49-12 as hosts over the past seven seasons prior to 2019. Oddly enough, the Seahawks were better on the road (8-2) than at home (4-4) last year for some reason.
Jason Myers had a great 2018 campaign with the Jets, but he predictably regressed to the mean. He was 23-of-28 in 2019, including just 4-of-7 from 40-49. He also missed four extra points.
A fifth-round pick was spent on punter Michael Dickson two years ago. Dickson finished sixth in net average as a rookie. He dropped to 19th in 2019, but he was one of the league leaders in pinning opposing teams inside the 20.
The Seahawks struggled elsewhere on special teams, as they were outgained on both punts and kickoff returns.
Seattle has a tough schedule, given how competitive the NFC West is. The team also has to deal with the Patriots, Cowboys, Eagles, upstart Giants and Bills.
2020 Seattle Seahawks Rookies:
Go here for the Seahawks Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.
2020 Seattle Seahawks Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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2020 Seattle Seahawks Analysis: Lamar Jackson had an incredible 2019 campaign, but Russell Wilson should have won MVP. He was the player most responsible for his team’s success throughout the entire league last year. As long as Wilson is healthy, the Seahawks will have a good chance of making a deep trip into the playoffs, especially in the wake of the Jamal Adams trade. However, Seattle must make one more move to either improve its protection or pass rush.
Projection: 12-4 (1st in NFC West)
2019 Projection: 9-7. 2019 Actual Result: 11-5.
2018 Projection: 6-10. 2018 Actual Result: 10-6.
2017 Projection: 11-5. 2017 Actual Result: 9-7.
2016 Projection: 12-4. 2016 Actual Result: 10-5-1.
NFL Draft Team Grade: C Grade
Goals Entering the 2020 NFL Draft: Will this finally be the year that the Seahaws address Russell Wilson’s poor pass protection? It’s frustrating to see Wilson constantly running for his life, so perhaps Seattle will be able to bolster the offensive line. The Seahawks also need some defensive help, namely on the defensive line and at safety.
2020 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Seahawks surprisingly didn’t address the trenches with their initial pick. Jordyn Brooks was not someone many were expecting at No. 27, mainly because Seattle snapped its 8-year streak of trading down. Many considered Brooks a reach, but I didn’t hold that opinion. Some teams were hoping to land him in the early portion of the second round. Brooks, however, doesn’t fill an immediate need, which is a problem for a team looking to contend this year.
Seattle addressed its pass rush and offensive line with the next two picks. However, Darrell Taylor was acquired via a trade, which seemed unnecessary. The Seahawks squandered a resource with that move, but they at least made up for it with the Damien Lewis pick in the third frame. Lewis should definitely help Russell Wilson’s pass protection.
The Lewis choice was the only pick of Seattle’s graded above a “B.” In fact, Lewis and DeeJay Dallas were the only two selections that earned the Seahawks another better than a C+. It wasn’t a horrible draft, but it was underwhelming to say the least.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
27. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech – C Grade
What an upset! The Seahawks didn’t trade down from their first-round pick for the first time in nine years! Jordyn Brooks is someone the Seahawks could’ve obtained by trading down a bit, but not too far, as we know that a team was considering him early in the second round. However, the Seahawks really needed to bolster both sides of the trenches. Linebacker is not an immediate need, so I’m not in love with this pick. I definitely don’t hate it, however.
48. Darrell Taylor, DE/OLB, Tennessee – O’BRIEN Grade
The Seahawks moved up 11 spots and gave up a compensatory third for Darrell Taylor!? This is a head-scratcher. Had the Seahawks remained at No. 59 and took Taylor, I would’ve been OK with it. Taylor is an explosive edge rusher, but is a raw player and needs development. He’s more of a third-round prospect, so this is a reach. This has to get an “F” because Seattle surrendered a valuable resource unnecessarily.
69. Damien Lewis, G, LSU – A Grade
I almost didn’t grade this as an “A,” but I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t do so. I’ve pleaded for the Seahawks to get offensive line help for Russell Wilson for ages. They finally spent a pick that wasn’t a reach on a blocker, so I have to be in favor of this choice. Wilson must be thrilled.
133. Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford – C- Grade
I like Colby Parkinson as a pass-catching tight end prospect, so that saves this grade. But how many tight ends do the Seahawks need!? Sorry, I’m just mad about this dumb musical performance on ESPN. ESPN is trash.
144. DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami – B Grade
Some expected the Seahawks to add a running back in the first round, and they definitely could have. I think this makes more sense, so they don’t have to give up on Rashaad Penny. DeeJay Dallas is a very shifty runner with decent upside. This is a solid pick.
148. Alton Robinson, DE, Syracuse – C Grade
This is a bit of a reach, as I had Alton Robinson in the seventh round. He’s just a middling talent who has a lot of work to do to make an NFL roster. Seattle could’ve done better, but at least this might fill a need.
214. Freddie Swain, WR, Florida – C+ Grade
Freddie Swain has some decent athleticism and size, but he’s a horrid route runner. I get that the Seahawks needed some receiving depth, but they could’ve done better than this.
251. Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU – C- Grade
Another tight end!? Did the Seahawks learn from the Drafting for Dummies book written by Ryan Pace? I don’t understand why these need so many tight ends, and how Stephen Sullivan will fit into the roster. I don’t dislike Sullivan, but just stop it with the tight ends, Seattle.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Season Summary:
Surprise, surprise, the Seahawks made the playoffs. Russell Wilson led his team to the postseason and won a game there. However, his offensive line, defense and coaching staff let him down in the divisional round at Green Bay.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Two Guards: Will the Seahawks finally upgrade their offensive line? They’ve needed to find better protection for Russell Wilson for a very long time. Signed B.J. Finney
- Right Tackle: Add in right tackle as a big need up front, as the Germain Ifedi experiment needs to come to an end soon. Signed Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi
- Cornerback: I’m sure Seahawk fans miss the good old days of the Legion of Boom. Shaq Griffin is the only talented cornerback on the roster. Traded for Quinton Dunbar
- Two Defensive Tackles: Seattle also needs to upgrade the trenches on the other side of the ball. The team has just one viable player at defensive tackle, Quinton Jefferson, and he happens to be an impending free agent. Re-signed Jarran Reed
- Two Defensive Ends: The Seahawks need to find a better bookend across from Jadeveon Clowney, given that Ezekiel Ansah looked like a shell of his former self this year. Clowney must also be re-signed. Signed Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa
- Backup Quarterback: Russell Wilson never misses games, but the team can do better than Geno Smith.
- Kicker: The Seahawks should look into finding a better kicker than Jason Myers.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2020 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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Bruce Irvin, DE/OLB, Panthers. Age: 32. 
Signed with Seahawks
Bruce Irvin played exclusively as a pass rusher for the first time in his pro career, and he managed to accumulate a career-best 8.5 sacks. Unfortunately, he turns 33 in November, so he’ll decline soon.
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B.J. Finney, C, Steelers. Age: 28.
Signed with Seahawks (2 years, $8 million)
The Steelers didn’t suffer a dropoff at all when Maurkice Pouncey was suspended because B.J. Finney did a solid job as a replacement. Finney could start elsewhere.
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Carlos Hyde, RB, Texans. Age: 30.
Signed with Seahawks
Carlos Hyde was especially mediocre as Houston’s starter last year. He ran for 1,070 yards, but that just proved that stats can sometimes be misleading.
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Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers. Age: 35.
Signed with Seahawks (1 year, $7 million)
Greg Olsen is a shell of his former self at 35 (as of March), but he can still serve as a reliable receiving tight end for one more year.
- Brandon Shell, OT, Jets. Age: 28. — Signed with Seahawks (2 years, $11 million)
- Phillip Dorsett, WR, Patriots. Age: 27. — Signed with Seahawks
- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Jaguars. Age: 28. — Signed with Seahawks (1 year)
- Benson Mayowa, DE, Raiders. Age: 29. — Signed with Seahawks (1 year, $3 million)
Seattle Seahawks Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Seahawks. Age: 27.
Jadeveon Clowney enjoyed a great first season in Seattle. He logged just three sacks, but that’s not indicative of how dominant he was when healthy.
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Quinton Jefferson, DT, Seahawks. Age: 27.
Signed with Bills (2 years)
Quinton Jefferson was one of the biggest surprises for the Seahawks this past season. He emerged as a potent force in the interior of the trenches, stuffing the run well and generating some pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
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Jacob Hollister (RFA), TE, Seahawks. Age: 26.
Tendered by Seahawks (2nd round)
Jacob Hollister got a great opportunity with several players in front of him getting injured, and he made the most of it. He caught 41 passes and three touchdowns in just 11 games.
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Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Seahawks. Age: 31.
Ziggy Ansah is a shell of his former self, but he can sometimes enjoy some nice performances, including his 1.5-sack outing against Philadelphia in Week 12.
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Justin Britt, C, Seahawks. Age: 29.
Justin Britt was once a skilled center, but injuries have derailed his career.
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Mike Iupati, G, Seahawks. Age: 33.
Mike Iupati has been a sub-par starter for the Seahawks. He turns 33 in May, so he might regress in the near future.
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Mychal Kendricks, OLB, Seahawks. Age: 30.
Mychal Kendricks tore his ACL in Week 17, so he may not be ready for the start of the 2020 campaign.
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Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. Age: 34.
Marshawn Lynch is 34 (as of April), but he can still move piles and plunge into the end zone, though he shouldn’t be counted on to handle substantial workloads.
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Josh Gordon, WR, Seahawks. Age: 29.
Roger Goodell continues to rule the NFL like a Saudi Arabaian dictator, opting to suspend Josh Gordon indefinitely for no good reason.
- Tedric Thompson, S, Seahawks. Age: 25.
- David Moore (RFA), WR, Seahawks. Age: 25.
- Al Woods, DT, Seahawks. Age: 33. — Signed with Jaguars
- Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Seahawks (2 years, $23 million)
- Neiko Thorpe, CB/ST, Seahawks. Age: 30. — Re-signed with Seahawks
- George Fant, OT, Seahawks. Age: 28. — Signed with Jets (3 years, $30 million)
- Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks. Age: 30. — Re-signed with Seahawks
- Jaron Brown, WR, Seahawks. Age: 30.
- Germain Ifedi, OT/G, Seahawks. Age: 26. — Signed with Bears
- C.J. Prosise, RB, Seahawks. Age: 26.
- Akeem King, CB, Seahawks. Age: 28.
- Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks. Age: 29.
- Robert Turbin, RB, Seahawks. Age: 30.
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