Defensively, I got what I wanted
For years I’ve pined for the Seahawks to shift resources from safety and linebacker to the trenches and that’s clearly how the current team has been built.
On top of the high first round pick used on Byron Murphy, the massive investment in Leonard Williams was a statement of intent. At a time when the 49ers (Arik Armstead) and Rams (Aaron Donald) said goodbye to dynamic, long-term fixtures on their D-line, the Seahawks have doubled down on the position.
Add in the Uchenna Nwosu signing, the second round picks used on Boye Mafe, Derick Hall and Darrell Taylor, plus the re-signing of Jarran Reed and addition of Johnathan Hankins, not to mention some lower level draft investment for depth, and this looks like a D-line rich in talent and numbers.
It was encouraging to read Curtis Allen’s day-one report from training camp.
At the same time, the Seahawks didn’t splurge at linebacker — adding two players at a good age with potential to develop into productive starters. They did give Julian Love a contract extension this week but it didn’t reset the safety market. They added cost-effective players at that position and role-players.
Finally at cornerback, the Seahawks have ample talent and depth including a chess-piece top-five pick who could end up being Seattle’s answer to Kyle Hamilton. Devon Witherspoon is a different player stylistically and in terms of size — but he’s multiple in the way he can be used. They’ve drafted young talent to develop and for the most part it’s a plan that has worked for them.
With major changes to the coaching staff and a brand new scheme, this promises to be the most interesting Seahawks season in years defensively. Things are nicely set-up for Mike Macdonald’s unit to take a big jump. Admittedly, that won’t be difficult given just how bad the defense has been in recent seasons. There is cause for optimism, though, about the state of this unit.
Now let’s see the same care taken on the offensive line
You can’t fix every problem in one off-season. At least not in a year where, for the first time since 2021, the Seahawks didn’t have a treasure trove of draft picks. Their cap situation also meant they had to be selective — and they went with bringing back Williams over a big-spend on the O-line. I think that was understandable.
However, there’s no denying Seattle’s offensive front is littered with question marks. Charles Cross is facing a big year, where he has to take the next step after two so-so seasons as a previous top-10 pick. They’ll hope experience helps with Laken Tomlinson but he’s 32 now and hasn’t been anything more than average for a while. This is yet another year with another new starter at center. The right guard position is in flux with Anthony Bradford competing with rookie Christian Haynes. Then there’s right tackle — where presumably George Fant has the inside track given Abe Lucas appears some way off returning to a football field.
There’s no successful draft pick here who has developed into a top-end starter, with a guaranteed second contract on the horizon. There’s no investment on a proven veteran. It’s just a bunch of question marks. That doesn’t mean the questions won’t be answered this year — especially with new offensive leadership — but the point is, currently, we can’t feel that confident about any individual.
Neither is there any consistency. The Seahawks have got into a habit of changing their starters annually. Any O-line group requires understanding and chemistry.
Given he reportedly passed his physical, I’m in favour of taking a chance on Connor Williams. He’s stacked multiple seasons of consistent play. He’s only just turned 27. Yes, he’s coming off an injury that some feared could be career threatening. However, this feels like a bit of a shot to nothing if you’re taking a short-term, low-risk gamble to see if he can regain his best form. The upside could be a relationship is built, he thrives and you make him a long-term staple of the line. That’d be a big bonus.
Hopefully Cross takes a step forward under Scott Huff. Hopefully Haynes justifies the third rounder spent on him. Then, at least, you’d start to see a line coming together.
It still feels like a unit that requires more. Next off-season, either a big investment on a proven veteran or another high-ish draft pick is necessary. Perhaps both? They’ve pumped resource into the D-line and the O-line needs to be next on the agenda in 2025.
My fear for the Seahawks fandom this year
I can already see it happening. Those who are passionately defensive of Geno Smith are getting quite agitated and uppity about how people describe their man. Yes, there are probably those who are over the top in their negativity of Smith. I don’t think they are a serious bunch though — a handful of people on social media worth ignoring.
However, this group is often portrayed as some kind of rampaging horde. Only this week a commenter said there is an ‘anti-Geno cult’ among the fanbase during our live stream. Let’s be honest, that’s bollocks.
Without wanting to speak for the majority of the fan base, I think most people have a similar thought as I do. Smith is clearly the man for this year, given his only competition is Sam Howell. When the Seahawks traded for Howell, John Schneider announced he was coming in to be the backup. There’s never been any hint of a competition here and the reports from training camp so far highlight this even further.
At the same time, it’s fair to be unconvinced that Smith is a long-term solution. I think most fans probably believe that the Seahawks are going to need to find a ‘main man’ at some point, probably through the draft. Until that happens, expectations for a Super Bowl run will be tempered somewhat.
Statistical arguments can be made in support of Smith receiving a far more upbeat review. Yet there are also counter stats. I think that speaks to who Smith is. I wrote an article in June about Smith’s up-and-down play in his three most significant seasons. I think we’ll see more of the same this year. There will be games and possibly even runs of form where Smith plays at a high level. I also expect there will be games and runs where he struggles. That is what his career has shown us.
I also appreciate it’s going to be very difficult finding a younger replacement. In my 3000 word preview of the 2025 quarterback class published three weeks ago, I conclude that it’s hard to identify a solution in the next draft prior to the start of the new college season.
I think it’s undeniable that the Seahawks are going year-to-year at the position and have been since the Russell Wilson trade. Perhaps Smith will suitably impress to warrant a longer-term consideration via an extension? Even in his last contract signed a year ago, though, there were clear out’s for the Seahawks in 2024 and 2025.
Without wanting to go over old ground too much, it also felt obvious that they weren’t completely sold on Smith prior to the combine. The Adam Schefter ‘trade value’ report was indicative, as was the non-committal language used by Schneider, Macdonald and Grubb until Drew Lock moved on, the rookie class began to shoot up boards and it became clear Smith was the best option for Seattle this season.
Things can change, of course. Maybe Smith has impressed the new staff so much that the dynamic is different now? However, until any games have been played or any performances registered, I’m going to assume that the Seahawks are mindful of the need to find a long-term answer sooner rather than later. In the meantime, they’ll look for the best ‘in the moment’ solution — whether that’s Smith, Lock, Sam Howell or some other veteran.
Let me be clear though — there’s no doubt that Smith is that man for 2024. I’ve always said he’s an ideal bridge quarterback. He can be Seattle’s answer to Alex Smith, while they seek their answer to Patrick Mahomes. That doesn’t have to be just a 2024 solution either. It could be 2025 or even 2026. The worst thing the Seahawks can do is force a draft pick, force a change at quarterback and get things badly wrong.
They do need to be looking for the next guy though — and certainly will be. I don’t think this is an unfair or negative or unreasonable assessment. Geno, like Alex, is the Smith for the here and now. I think anything more than that — such as suggesting he’s a proven franchise quarterback in his own right and an obvious starter for years to come — is fanciful. He’s not a bad player. I don’t think he’s a great player either. In the modern NFL, you typically require great at quarterback to be a serious Super Bowl threat — or you require an unrealistically loaded roster like the 49ers, managed by an offensive genius at Head Coach.
My fear is this will be the topic that divides fans. This is a fan base that absolutely loves to split off in different directions, pick teams and then go to battle on the internet. Accusations of agenda’s, ‘confirming priors’, passive aggressive insults and more are par for the course. Nothing makes me want to cook my head in the microwave more than an argument as to whether Geno Smith is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. Mainly because it’s all subjective and frankly if someone thinks he’s the 17th best instead, I think that argument could be just as easily debated. The hand-wringing and arguing will go on regardless.
It’s not uniquely a Seahawks problem though. Welcome to the world of a team without a clear star, young, franchise quarterback. Until they find that guy, or until someone like Smith proves with results that he can lead a team to glory in the post-season, this will go on.
Schneider’s regret?
The Seahawks have re-signed Marquise Blair, their former second round pick from 2019. I really liked Blair as a prospect — he was violent, quick and my kind of player. I know people in the league who really liked him, projected him as a second round talent and it wasn’t a surprise to see the Seahawks go after him.
His time in Seattle didn’t work out, partly (mainly?) due to injury. His return was a bit of a surprise after he missed last year and was seemingly at the end of his time in the NFL. However, his return perhaps speaks to John Schneider’s mindset.
They were open to bringing back Jamal Adams, albeit to play a different position. Blair, another bust, is back. They kept Darrell Taylor at a cost of $3.13m when many wondered if he was set to move on. They’ve restructured Dre’Mont Jones’ deal, rather than part ways in camp to save money.
This is just a hunch — but I wonder if Schneider thinks, with regret, that a lot of Seattle’s big moves in recent years failed because the former staff couldn’t get the best out of them? Or that they didn’t use the players properly?
They seem keen to see what some of these guys, including the maligned Adams, can do with a different coaching staff. Frankly, I can understand it if Schneider feels this way. The Seahawks were awful on defense, didn’t make the most of an expensively assembled group and the coaching change earlier this year was warranted after years of waste.
Blair, as with Taylor and Jones, now has an opportunity to see if he can have a better season under Macdonald and co.
