Seahawks Receive Offseason Ranking; Has Seattle Done 'Enough?'
By most accounts, the reviews on the Seattle Seahawks' offseason have been positive. Many have pointed to another strong NFL Draft class as a big reason for the strong outlook for the future in Seattle, like ESPN's Louis Riddick, which doesn't even mention the veterans they added in free agency, including linebacker Bobby Wagner.
But Riddick's opinion on the Seahawks isn't a consensus at ESPN. Fellow analyst Bill Barnwell holds a different view of Seattle. In his recent article ranking the offseasons of all NFL teams, Barnwell has Seattle at No. 18 overall.
Barnwell gives the Seahawks plaudits for re-signing quarterback Geno Smith after a breakout 2022 season where he led them to a playoff appearance. But it wasn't just about bringing back Smith. Rather, Barnwell says it is more about the value they got for him.
"Smith will make $27.5 million in 2023 and has no further guaranteed money remaining on his deal afterward," Barnwell writes. "It's a nice payday for him and a flexible deal for the Seahawks, who even brought back Drew Lock on a one-year deal to be the backup."
Barnwell considers Smith's extension the "best" move of Seattle's offseason, so what was the worst move?
In Barnwell's opinion, the defensive retooling, or the lack thereof, is the biggest critique. He asked if the Seahawks did enough to improve their defense that ranked No. 21 in DVOA this past season, pointing out the numerous injuries that Seattle has to deal with this offseason.
"Woolen is out until training camp after undergoing knee surgery," Barnwell writes. "Jamal Adams, who missed most of the 2022 season with a torn quadriceps, might not be ready for the start of training camp. Jordyn Brooks just had his fifth-year option declined and is coming off a torn ACL, ... this defense is already banged up before it has even put on pads."
Along with the health concerns, Barnwell questions both lines of scrimmage for Seattle, as he wonders if they added enough off the edge to improve from a year ago. While also noting that Austin Blythe and Gabe Jackson left without "significant replacements."
All of these seem like valid concerns from Barnwell, as the Seahawks are trying to make a push to challenge for the NFC West division title in 2023. But to be fair to Seattle, the Seahawks were not expected to be anywhere near the playoffs a season ago. So maybe this will be another case of an underestimation. After all, Barnwell had the Seahawks with the worst offseason ago.
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