By: Mike Rifkin
The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2021 regular season with a 7-10 record, last in the NFC West. Seahawks fans will not forget the date March 8th, 2022. They won’t forget the day because it truly is the end of an era for the Seahawks as they traded quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and released All – Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. Last offseason there was drama surrounding quarterback Russell Wilson and the chance he might want out of Seattle, that didn’t happen. Wilson in 2021 had a 64.8 completion percentage, 3,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in 14 games played, Wilson had missed three games after surgery on his finger after banging it on an opponent’s helmet. Wilson, a former third round pick out of Wisconsin has a 65.0 completion percentage 37,059 yards, 292 touchdowns and 87 interceptions in his career and led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title.
In his Seahawks career Bobby Wagner registered over 100 combined tackles every year since he was drafted in 2012. Wagner has been named First team All Pro six times, and Second team twice. Twice in Wagner’s career he led the NFL in tackles and was named to the NFL 2010’s All Decade Team.
In exchange for Wilson the Seahawks received Quarterback Drew Lock, Tight End Noah Fant, Defensive Lineman Shelby Harris, two first round picks, two second round picks and a fifth round pick. Lock, a former second round pick in 24 career games, has a 59.3 completion percentage, 4,740 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Now I don’t think Lock will be handed the starting job, but he will compete for it and at 25 years old there is still a chance Lock figures things out. Fant, a former first round pick has 170 catches for 1,905 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career including a career high four last season. Fant gives whoever the quarterback might be another solid target. Harris tied a career high with six sacks last season. Harris has had six sacks in two of the last three seasons, the Seahawks as a team had 34 sacks. I will get to how I would utilize the picks later, but I do think the Seahawks made the right call on trading Russell Wilson. I think they made the right call. It’s very similar to what the Lions did with Stafford last offseason. While Lock isn’t Goff there is a potential upside to Lock. If you look at the NFC West the other three teams made the playoffs with two of them ( Rams and 49ers) playing in the NFC Championship game. The other part is the draft picks. The Seahawks traded away two first round picks to acquire Safety Jamal Adams and needed to recoup those picks. The other part is me personally. I don’t believe the Seahawks have a Super Bowl roster whether Russ is on the team or not so you trade him and get something back for him.
Seattle’s offense averaged 23.2 points per game. The Seahawks were eleventh in the NFL averaging 122.0 yards rushing per game and averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Chris Carson was limited to four games due to Neck surgery. In those four games Carson had 232 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 58.0 yards per game. Former first round pick Rashaad Penny was a beast down the stretch he had 671 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and six touchdowns over his last five games. Penny is a free agent but Seattle had to like what they saw down the stretch, Penny does have an injury history but there is a deal to be had.
Seattle has one of the best receiving duos in the NFL with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Lockett had 73 catches for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Metcalf had 75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Unless Seattle wants to truly blow this thing up these two guys are what you are building around. Now if there is an offer they are blown away by we can have a conversation but for this I would keep them both around.
The Seahawk defense was 28th in yards allowed giving up 379.1 yards per game. They gave up 21.5 points per game. The Seahawks were 10th in turnover differential with a +5. 2020 first round pick Jordyn Brooks led the team with 184 tackles, which was second in the NFL, but was first with 109 solo tackles. Safety Quandre Diggs led the team with five interceptions. Diggs, an impending free agent, broke his fibula during the last game of the season. Former trade deadline acquisition Carlos Dunlap led the team with 8.5 sacks.
Seattle had about 35 million dollars in cap space, by Cutting Wagner they saved 16.6 million dollars.
- Re-sign Rashaad Penny – If Penny can stay healthy he showed what he can potentially be down the stretch. Pairing him with Chris Carson could make them a dynamic duo running the ball.
- Re-sign Duane Brown – Whoever the quarterback is, you have to protect them. Brown is 36 so maybe a two year deal can be made. Another name they could look at is Eric Fisher.
- Sign DJ Chark or Jamison Crowder- I mentioned earlier Lockett and Metcalf are one of the best duos in the NFL. If you watched the Super Bowl the Bengals got there on the strength of a good trio and with the Rams potentially bringing back OBJ the Seahawks have to find themselves a solid third receiver.
- Sign Charvarious Ward – DJ Reed is a free agent Ward has a lot of upside coming from Kansas City and can help the secondary.
Draft
RD 1 (9) Malik Willis – Quarterback Liberty: With the ninth overall pick the Seahawks can go in plenty of directions. Edge rusher if one falls, cornerback, Offensive line instead they get the guy who can hopefully be Wilson’s replacement. Names to watch Charles Cross Offensive Tackle Mississippi State, Derek Stingley Cornerback LSU,
RD 2 (40) Lewis Cine – Safety Georgia : If Quandre Diggs walks, Cine would be a nice replacement. Cine is a big hitter and pairing him with Jamal Adams could be a nice safety duo.
RD 2 (41) Kyler Gordon – Cornerback Washington : Big, athletic corner who can replace DJ Reed if he leaves. The Seahawks should have an advantage on the former Husky who ran a 4.52 40 yard dash at the combine.
RD 3 (72) Myjai Sanders – Edge Cincinaitti: High upside but needs to work on some things. But feels like a player Seattle would take a chance on.
In 2012 Wilson and Wagner were drafted together and 10 years later they were both let go by the Seahawks. So it truly is the end of an era for the Seahawks and let’s see what the future holds.
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