After a wild offseason, we take a look at the six biggest questions facing Seattle.
Football is here! With training camp starting on Wednesday for the Seattle Seahawks, a new NFL season is upon us. After one of the most eventful off-seasons in Seahawks history, we break down the six biggest storylines ahead of the start of training camp.
In a wild offseason, you can sometimes forget how important or impactful a draft class can be, but not in Seattle this year. One of, if not the most exciting element of this year’s team is its draft class. Unanimously applauded as a successful draft, John Schneider and the Seahawks found balance between need and best player available.
Grey Zabel has the potential to be that cornerstone interior offensive piece that this franchise has missed for over a decade. Nick Emmanwori has a chance to be a mix of Kyle Hamilton and Kam Chancellor for Mike Macdonald, and was compensated as such receiving the third ever fully guaranteed deal for a 2nd round pick.
On offense Elijah Arroyo must be viewed as ready to immediately contribute, since the Seahawks cut Noah Fant on Sunday. Then there’s arguably the most interesting draft pick in Jalen Milroe. The talent is undeniable, but can he harness it and help this team with special set packages?
If the Seahawks hit on two or three of these guys, then the ceiling of this team improves immediately.
With the decision to move on from so many recognizable players, the Seahawks were going to be more aggressive than usual in free agency. This started with the signing of Sam Darnold to be the next quarterback in Seattle.
Darnold had a magical season in Minnesota last year, and finished 10th in MVP voting. If you look at his first 16 games, you’d consider the contract he signed as a steal. But, it was his final two disastrous games, including a playoff beat down to the Rams, that cooled off his market. If Seattle gets the first 16 games level of Darnold, the Geno Smith vs Darnold debate likely won’t last long.
After Darnold, the Seahawks attacked their rushing defense issues by signing former Cowboys star DeMarcus Lawrence to set the edge. On offense, the prodigal son has returned as Seattle swooped in to sign Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp after he was a cap casualty for the Rams. Chiefs playoff hero Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who had a fascinating short stint with now Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak in New Orleans, will try to now take the top off in Seattle.
Last year, inconsistent play by the rush defense, DK Metcalf, and Geno Smith, really cost the Seahawks the NFC West. Can these new additions bring the type of consistency needed to get the job done this year?
Ok, this one may be a more personal one, but...