Hope this quick write-up helps!
QB: Russell Wilson, Alex McGough
Wilson is entering his 7th year as a starter. How time flies! He is coming off a season in which he was a borderline-MVP candidate, leading the NFL is passing TDs (34) and total TDs (37) and finishing 2nd in combined passing and rushing yards. A former Super Bowl champion and two-time NFC title winner, Wilson is ranked #2 in NFL history in career QB rating (98.8 ), between #1 Aaron Rodgers (103.8 ) and #3 Tom Brady (97.6 ). He is expected to continue to improve his play from the pocket . . . if the offensive line can give him time.
RB: Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson, C.J. Prosise, Mike Davis, J.D. McKissic
Rashaad Penny was their recent first round choice. Carson was a breakout starter at RB last season before suffering a serious leg and ankle injury that required surgery. Prosise is a dynamic runner but has been continually hurt. Davis is a lumbering bruiser who is also good a catching passes out of the backfield, McKissic is a gadget back, who may be on the outside looking in. The weakness of this group is its inexperience, lack of proven production, and injury history.
FB: Jalston Fowler, Khalid Hill, Tre Madden, or Marcus Martin (not sure who would start)
The good news is that they may actually utilize a good, blocking FB this year. Over the last few years, the position was mostly being phased out by former OC Darrell Bevell. There have been several indications of more extensive fullback usage, including the signing of bulldozing veteran Jalston Fowler and the signing of promising fullback prospects Marcus Martin and Khalid Hill.
WR: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Marcus Johnson, and Amara Darboh
Baldwin has been a Pro Bowl WR the last couple years. He is probably the most consistent pass catcher in the league, playing wide at flanker or in the slot. Lockett is a dynamic WR and kick returner who is a year removed from a leg injury. Marcus Johnson, an off-season signing, is a blazer. Darboh is expected to make a big jump in his second year; he is bigger bodied than the other three and is known as a good blocker. Strength of this group is speed. Weakness would probably be the lack of a tall receiving threat.
TE: Ed Dickson Nick Vannett, and Will Dissly
They lost Jimmy Graham and his jump ball, red zone skills to free agency. Will Dissly gives the Seahawks an all-around TE, who can both run routes and has the physicality of a great run blocker. But they signed experienced TE Ed Dickson to a three-year contract this off-season. Dickson is a good receiver and pass blocker. Former 3rd-round-pick Nick Vannett is a good receiver and sometimes capable blocker. The weakness of this group is the lack of experience and production, compared to what they had with Graham.
OL: LT Duane Brown, LG Ethan Pocic, C Justin Britt, RG D.J. Fluker, and RT Germain Ifedi (Backups: George Fant, Jordan Roos, Isaiah Battle, and Jamarco Jones).
This has been the weakest position group on the roster for a number of years. Brown is a multi-year Pro Bowler, who was acquired last year in a mid-season trade, but he's getting up there is age. Britt was a Pro Bowl alternate a couple years ago and is hoping to return to form at center. Pocic is a versatile 2nd year player, who struggled as a rookie due to being undersized, but has since put on a lot of weight. Fluker, signed this off-season, was a former first round pick as a RT but was moved to RG; he has excellent length and power but slow feet. Ifedi is the most controversial player on the roster, as a former first round pick who struggled with many holding/offsides penalties in a move from RG to RT. Fant is a converted former basketball player who was the starter at LT before getting hurt. Jamarco Jones will be competing for the backup swing-tackle role against former starters George Fant and Reece Odhiambo, as well as Isaiah Battle and Willie Beavers. Will they improve under a new OL Coach?
Overall, the offense is undergoing a major transition after the firing of former OC Bevell. New OC Brian Schottenheimer wants the offense to be more physical, diverse, and balanced between run and pass. We weren't able to run the ball well at all last year.
DL: DE Frank Clark, NT Jarran Reed, DT Nazair Jones, DE Dion Jordan (Backups: Rasheem Green, Shamar Stephen, Tom Johnson, Marcus Smith, Quinton Jefferson)
They traded away Michael Bennett this off-season. Clark had 19 sacks the last two seasons and is excellent against the run. Reed is a stout run stopper who is improving as a pass rusher. Jones had a great rookie year before getting hurt. Shamar Stephen and Tom Johnson were signed in free agency. Except for Clark, and to a lesser extent Reed, separating the starters from the backups is hard. Rasheem Green is expected to battle for time at the 5T in the base defense and inside in the nickel. Green and Frank Clark could man each side of the defensive line. But Green will have to beat out the likes of Dion Jordan, Marcus Smith, and Quinton Jefferson. Tom Johnson, a natural 3T, could also compete for time outside at the 5T. Jake Martin will be fighting to make the roster as a LEO pass rushing specialist. Newly-signed Barkevious Mingo is the likely starter at LEO/SLB. Avril, Jordan, and Smith could also see time at LEO in the nickel defense. All of these guys should play in a deep rotation. The weakness could be pass rush in the base defense.
LB: MLB Bobby Wagner, WLB K.J. Wright, and SLB Barkevious Mingo (Backups: WLB Shaquem Griffin, SLB D.J. Alexander, and MLB Paul Dawson)
This is the heart of the defense. Wagner was the best defensive player in the NFL last season, not named Aaron Donald. K.J. Wright is a former Pro Bowler with multiple 100-tackle seasons. Mingo, signed this off-season, is highly athletic and will be tasked with holding the edge, dropping in coverage, and rushing the passer at various times. You know more about Shaquem Griffin than we do.
DB: RCB Shaquill Griffin, LCB Byron Maxwell, NCB Justin Coleman, SS Bradley McDougald, and FS Earl Thomas (Backups: FS Tedric Thompson, SSs Mo Alexander & Delano Hill, CBs Dontae Johnson, Deandre Elliott, Neiko Thorpe, among others)
Shaquill Griffin had a very good rookie season, replacing Richard Sherman. Maxwell is a solid veteran opposite Shaquill. Coleman was very good in the nickel last year. McDougald filled in for Kam Chancellor at SS and was mostly solid. Earl Thomas is a future HOFer and the best safety in the game.
This defense has a chance to return to form and be really good again under HC Pete Carroll and with the return of new-DC Ken Norton, Jr. They finished #1 in the NFL in scoring defense from 2012-15 (and through most of 2016 until an injury to Thomas). The strength is the LB unit, led by Wagner. The weakness is finding a way to replace the veteran leadership of Sherman, Chancellor, and Bennett.
ST: K Sebastian Janikowski, P Michael Dickson, LS Tanner Carew, PR Tyler Lockett, KR Rashaad Penny
Legendary kicker Sebastian Janikowski was signed this off-season to compete with Jason Myers. Dickson is the "expected" starting punter, but first he'll have to beat out legendary Seahawks veteran Jon Ryan. Carew is an athletic, recent free agent signing. Lockett is a former All-Pro return man. Penny had seven kickoff return TDs in college. The weaknesses would probably be the age of Janikowski (he missed 2017 with injury) and somewhat questionable coverage teams. We hope Shaquem will help with that!
