Seahawks Off-Season Changes

While we get ready to see the Philadelphia Eagles play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in less than two weeks the Seahawks are making changes for the season coming up to find their way back to the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

We have already heard and seen changes to the coaching staff with the firing of offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and defensive coordinator. On Monday it was announced that the Seahawks defensive line coach won’t be returning either. We might see some other changes far as coaches go as well in the next few weeks.

The next step will be who stays and who leaves when it comes to players. There is thought that free agent tight end Jimmy Graham will likely not return either because the Seahawks don’t want him or he can’t fit under the salary or he wants to go elsewhere. The question though is who will replace him in the lineup. Will the Seahawks go after another tight end in free agency or in the draft? The chances though whoever does replace him will be someone who can block better than Graham. Also backup tight end Luke Willson who is a free agent once again after the Seahawks signed him to a one year contract; at this point the only sure return tight end is second year pro Nick Vannett who had a good second season. He can actually block and catch the ball. So he may go into the season as the starter at tight end or be the second guy instead of the third. This of course will depend on who the Seahawks bring in or draft. Most likely the Seahawks will draft a tight end and bring in a veteran as well. Most likely we will see three tight ends more often in short downs. One of the tight ends could move into the fullback position as well depending whether the Seahawks bring one onto the roster.

Paul Richardson who ended up being the number two receiver is a free agent as well. Whether he returns or not will depend on how much he might be offered by other clubs and the Seahawks are willing to match and again that will have to do with the salary cap as well. I hope he does return and that Tyler Lockett can be back at where he was before being injured near the end of the 2016 season. Another one at the wide receiver position who had a good rookie season was Amara Darboh as the fourth receiver. He could move into either the number or three receiver if Richardson doesn’t return. The Seahawks have Tanner McEvoy who is a big receiver who could play some at tight end as well and then there is David Moore who spent most of the season on the practice squad however the Seahawks see a lot of promise in him.

On the offensive side we still have the running back position where Eddie Lacy likely won’t return and Thomas Rawls is still a question mark. Also CJ Prosise has a lot of talent however he is a question mark as well since he has spent most of his two years on the sideline with injuries to. At this point Chris Carson and Mike Davis look like the two top running backs. Carson will depend on how he returns from injury. The Seahawks have J.D. McKissic who did fine as the third down running back in place of Prosise. Besides the running back position he could find himself at wide receiver at times as well. I am sure the Seahawks will look at bringing someone in to compete for the position as well and depending on who is available in any spot in the draft.

Speaking of the draft the Seahawks have the 18^th spot and they could go for a defensive end to help out since Cliff Avril may not return and sounds like Michael Bennet may not be back either. Knowing general manager John Schneider he may move down a few spots in the first round if he feels that he can still get the right player and add more draft picks. Right now the Seahawks don’t have a second or third round pick so I am sure he will be looking to get one by trading down. If Michael Bennett is no longer with the team the Seahawks could get a second or third or both for him as well. The likely of that is not great he might only go for a fifth rounder plus a seventh rounder.

The Seahawks might be seeing departure of other players as well on both sides of the ball. Who comes in will have a lot to do with the new coaches on hand. I will have more analysis or opinion when the changes occur. Go Hawks!