NFL Offseason Previews: Seattle Seahawks
The NFL offseason is upon us, and teams will begin working to craft their 2023 rosters in the coming months. In this series of offseason previews, we will look at what each team has to work with and their biggest needs. Today we continue with the Seattle Seahawks offseason preview.
As a reminder, here are dates to keep in mind for the 2023 NFL offseason:
- March 7: deadline for teams to use the franchise tag
- March 13: legal tampering period opens
- March 15: NFL free agency begins and the new league year starts
- April 21: deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
- April 27-29: NFL draft
- May 1: deadline for teams to exercise 5th-year options on 2020 first-round draft picks
- July 15: deadline for franchise tag players to sign an extension
You can find previous team’s offseason previews here: Bears | Bengals | Browns | Lions | Packers | Steelers | Vikings | Ravens | 49ers | Broncos | Rams | Chargers |
2022 Summary
After trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2022 season, it looked like Seattle was in line for a reset and a down season.
But Geno Smith wasn’t down for it. The journeyman quarterback took the reigns in Seattle and never looked back. En route to a Pro Bowl selection, NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors, and an eventual contract extension, Smith led the Seahawks to a Wild Card berth.
Of course, the non-contest against San Francisco in that Wild Card game showed that the Seahawks have plenty of work to do.
However, Seattle has ample cap space and five picks in the first 85 (including two first-round picks) to make it happen.
Key Positional Needs
Here’s where the Seahawks need to find help this offseason:
- EDGE
- S
- IOL
- WR
- CB
Key Free Agents
Here’s a look at the Seahawks upcoming key free agents:
- Johnathan Abram (S)
- Cody Barton (LB)
- Austin Blythe (C)
- Artie Burns (CB)
- Justin Coleman (CB)
- L.J. Collier (DE)
- Poona Ford (DE)
- Phil Haynes (G)
Salary Cap & Draft Capital
Here’s a look at the salary cap room and draft capital that the Seahawks have to work with this offseason:
- Current draft picks: 5 (1), 20 (1), 37 (2), 52 (2), 83 (3), 123 (4), 153 (5), 156 (5), 198 (6)
- Cap space: $24.4
Offseason Outlook
Seattle has work to do, but they’ve got abundant resources to work with. The Seahawks have two first-round picks (including No. 5 overall) and four picks in the top 83. They’ve also got $24.4 million in cap space as of today, per OTC.
Re-signing Geno Smith will be a top priority for the Seahawks, but he may be in line for the franchise tag if they can’t work out a deal between now and March 7.
Seattle needs to extend or replace some key players at EDGE and cornerback this offseason. They could also use to upgrade to wide receivers behind D.K. Metcalf. But otherwise, Seattle is in a solid position to contend with the 49ers in the NFC West next season.
Having two Rookie of the Year candidates in Kenneth Walker III and Tariq Woolen on both sides of the ball is a tip of the hat to the 2022 draft class in Seattle. They’ll be sitting pretty if they can hit with their early picks in 2023 and get Geno Smith locked in.
If you’re looking for more offseason reading, Sam Hoppen at 4for4 (our sister company) is previewing each division:
