The Seattle Seahawks have definitely had an eventful offseason, beginning with the monumental resolution to maneuver on from Pete Carroll as head coach (and govt vice chairman of soccer operations). Different high-profile choices embody releasing beginning safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, letting linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks stroll in free company, retaining free brokers Leonard Williams and Noah Fant, buying and selling for quarterback Sam Howell, and restructuring Geno Smith’s contract to all however guarantee that he’s Seattle’s QB1 this season. The highest transfer within the NFL Draft was to pick out defensive sort out Byron Murphy II, however extra on that a little bit later.
ESPN’s Seth Walder graded the general offseason strikes of each NFL staff, and the Seahawks price pretty extremely. Walder gave the Seahawks a ‘B’, citing Mike Macdonald as the largest transfer. He preferred the choice to maintain Geno, however the transfer he wasn’t eager on? Re-signing Leonard Williams.
The Seahawks are sticking with Smith at quarterback, which was the right selection. Although he’s not a long-term answer, Smith is healthier than any practical veteran various for the Seahawks, and there have been no worthy QBs out there by the point Seattle picked in first spherical of the draft. Smith additionally has a discount contract, costing simply $22.5 million in money in 2024. He was 14th in QBR final season.
Seattle is true up towards the wage cap in 2024 and is projected to be $13 million over the cap in 2025, which was good cause to not signal Williams to the deal it did. Williams is an effective participant (his win charges have been close to positional averages final season) being paid like an amazing one. This transfer is even much less mandatory looking back after the staff used its first-round choose on defensive sort out Byron Murphy II.
The unprecedented run on quarterbacks—six have been drafted within the high 12—meant that the Seahawks, who picked at No. 16, by no means had a shot at drafting one until they traded up. They didn’t take a quarterback with their remaining picks, even with a number of alternatives to pick out South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
There should still be some doubt over the Leonard Williams re-signing, which might play into some sunk-cost fallacy debate. Seattle traded a second-rounder for Williams ultimately 12 months’s commerce deadline, understanding Williams’ contract was expiring. The Seahawks may’ve let him stroll, however selected to increase him on a three-year deal price as much as $64.5 million.
If you happen to’re curious, 9 groups graded higher than the Seahawks: The Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Jets.
The Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, and New Orleans Saints (who drafted Rattler) all obtained D+ or D, aka failing grades.
Give us your Seahawks offseason grade within the ballot under!
