2024 NFL Season Preview: Seattle Seahawks

2024 NFL Season Previews - Choose Team Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Las Vegas Raiders Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Redskins

Seattle Seahawks (Last Year: 9-8)



Season Summary:
The Seahawks barely missed out on the playoffs, yet they still felt the need to fire Pete Carroll. They’ll have to begin the rebuilding process, as they are nowhere near good enough to compete with the 49ers in the near future.



2024 NFL Season Preview:

Veteran Additions:
QB Sam Howell, OT George Fant, G Tremayne Anchrum, C Nick Harris, DT Johnathan Hankins, LB Jerome Baker, LB Tyrel Dodson, S Rayshawn Jenkins, S K’Von Wallace.
Early Draft Picks:
DT Byron Murphy, G Christian Haynes, LB Tyrice Knight, TE A.J. Barner, CB Nehemiah Pritchett. Seahawks Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Drew Lock, TE Colby Parkinson, TE Will Dissly, G Damien Lewis, G Phil Haynes, C Evan Brown, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Devin Bush, S Quandre Diggs, S Jamal Adams.

2024 Seattle Seahawks Offense:
It seems as though everyone is waiting for the carriage to turn into a pumpkin. Geno Smith revived his career beginning in 2022 when he transformed from a journeyman backup to a capable starter in Seattle. Smith was coached up by Dave Canales that year, and then was able to benefit from Greg Olson getting the most out of him in 2023. Smith, however, no longer has an elite quarterbacks coach aiding him, so there’s a chance he could finally regress.

Smith, however, has a terrific trio of receivers at his disposal. D.K. Metcalf is one of the most physically imposing wideouts in the NFL, and he’s entering his prime, so he could potentially have his best season yet. Tyler Lockett has been an exceptional No. 2 option for several years, though his role will be reduced with Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerging. The second-year wideout enjoyed a quality rookie campaign and will be looking to take the next step.

Smith also happens to be surrounded with a couple of talented running backs. Kenneth Walker has rushed for a total of nearly 2,000 yards in his first two seasons despite never receiving more than 228 carries in a single season. He’s also scored 17 touchdowns in that span. Meanwhile, 2023 second-rounder Zach Charbonnet is a gifted receiver out of the backfield.

While the Seahawks have some great talents at the skill positions, there are some glaring concerns with the offensive line. This does not apply to left tackle Charles Cross, who happens to be a terrific blind-side protector. Right tackle Abraham Lucas is also talented, but he has endured a high number of injuries in his young career. The Seahawks were frustrated enough about this that they signed George Fant this spring as an insurance policy.

The interior is much more of an issue because all three starters from last year are gone. The two new guards are former Jet Laken Tomlinson and third-round rookie Christian Haynes. Tomlinson was dreadful in New York last year, so if there’s any good guard play, it will likely have to come from Haynes. Tomlinson and Haynes will sandwich new center Olu Oluwatimi, a fifth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft. Oluwatimi started just one game last year, so it remains to be seen how he’ll perform.



2024 Seattle Seahawks Defense:
It’s no surprise that the Seahawks used their initial pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a defensive player. Their stop unit, after all, ranked 31st in EPA last year and was dead last against the run. That selection was spent on Byron Murphy, an extremely talented defensive tackle. He should have no issues breaking into the starting lineup, as Jarren Reed and Dre’Mont Jones provided mediocre production last year. Reed was able to collect seven sacks, but was a major liability in run support. Leonard Williams, acquired via the Jets at the trade deadline last year, was the only difference-maker on the front.

Murphy will need to help with the pass rush because the Seahawks had just one edge rusher who recorded more than 5.5 sacks. That was Boye Mafe, who produced nine sacks. Uchenna Nwsou, obtained last offseason, was a major disappointment with only two sacks this past season. Perhaps he’ll be able to rebound. There’s also 2023 second-rounder Derick Hall. He made no impact last year, but is young and has potential.

The lackluster pass rush will put more stress on the secondary, which is rather uneven. This is because the Seahawks have a couple of very talented cornerbacks and some major holes at safety. Beginning with the former, Devon Witherspoon enjoyed an exceptional rookie campaign and could be even better in 2024. Michael Jackson and Tariq Woolen, the other two corners, have played extremely well at times over the past couple of seasons. Woolen also had an incredible rookie year, but took a step back in 2023. Jackson more than made up for it.

As for the safeties, both starters from last year are gone. Julian Love has proven to be a capable replacement, but he’s not a great player by any means. The other safety is Rayshawn Jenkins, who struggled in Jacksonville last season.

Speaking of positions in which there were multiple departures, the Seahawks lost their top three linebackers from last year, which includes Bobby Wagner. Granted, Wagner isn’t what he once was, but he was still an effective player for Seattle. The two new projected starters at the position are Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker, though fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight could push for a starting job. Dodson performed well in Buffalo last year, but doesn’t have much of a track record of success. Baker is a quality player, but has an extensive injury history.



2024 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 have been better on the road (13-12) than at home (12-14) in the past three seasons.

Jason Myers has been a great kicker, but is coming off a bit of a down year. He was 35-of-42 in 2023, including 4-of-8 from 50-plus.

Michael Dickson finished second in net punting in 2022 and fourth in 2023.

Seattle has a mixed schedule. It begins with three of its first five opponents being the Broncos, Patriots, and Giants. Things get much tougher after that, however.



2024 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.

2024 Seattle Seahawks Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):

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