How Does ESPN Rank the Seahawks by Position Group?

We’re almost done with the NFL offseason, so any and all offseason-coded content should get pushed out now before it’s too late. Yesterday, ESPN published an article exploring every team’s roster, ultimately ranking every positional group individually. Let’s see how the Seahawks come out here, and sort each ranking into one of three categories

1) Properly Rated - Wide Receiver (6th), Interior Defensive Line (1st), EDGE Rusher (24th)

These rankings strike me as appropriate. Wide Receiver at sixth reflects a belief that Rashid Shaheed will take big steps forward this year and produce more in line with what he did in New Orleans, as well as Cooper Kupp possibly having a resurgence after an impressive training camp. EDGE ranking low, but not at the bottom, is also reasonable given the question marks.

JSN has the receiver room on his back, and he can carry it with ease. — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during training camp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The interior defensive line coming in at first is a no-brainer in my mind, and we got a writeup in the article for it as well. Mike Clay gives love to Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, and Jarran Reed, as well as their elite run defense, but didn’t mention Rylie Mills. Throw in what he figures to do this season, and Seattle is head and shoulders above anyone else here.

3) Underrated - Quarterback (18th), Linebacker (24th), Safety (8th), Tight End (18th)

I’m not sure how Sam Darnold can be considered a bottom half of the league starter after two straight successful seasons and a super bowl. And if this list is also supposed to factor in backups, it becomes even more dubious. For some reason, Ernest Jones can’t get any respect this offseason despite making All-Pro, and there’s no love for Knight as a quality backup.

What does Sam have to do to get respected? — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against the Los Angeles Rams. | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Assuming the safety ranking includes Nick Emmanwori, which I suspect it does, that should be higher as well given how good Julian Love is when healthy, which many have seemingly forgotten. And while I can understand not buying Elijah Arroyo as an impact player yet, A.J. Barner alone should fetch more than the 18th best tight ends in football.

2) Overrated - Running Back (26th), Offensive Line (8th), Cornerback (5th)

It’s not a huge difference, but between inexperience and injury I feel our running back room is bottom five. The article actually identified running back as a unit to watch, pointing out Price’s inexperience as a pass catcher and Charbonnet’s torn ACL. Given the scrambling the team has done in recent weeks at cornerback, top five seems high there as well.

Maybe Price should play in a few games first. — Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) during minicamp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The offensive line is tricky. I could see the unit as a whole being worthy of the 8th spot, but that’s mostly because of the continuity the group has together. Individually, I don’t think the talent level is quite there, although it’s not far off either. So, it’s all a matter of perspective.

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