Look for any early prediction for this year’s NFC West race, and you’re not likely to find many with the Seattle Seahawks atop the standings.
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It’s really not too much of an insult. Let’s be honest, they haven’t made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. There’s also considering the massive impact that the playcalling of the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan and the Rams’ Sean McVay has had on the league.
The Seahawks weren’t given the nod last year, nor before that in 2023, nor ahead of an especially pessimistic 2022 — their first season without Russell Wilson.
But something feels a little funny here — we’ll get to it in a minute.
Now, two things have been true during the last several seasons. First, the Seahawks have typically outperformed expectations. Secondly, they’ve continued to be ranked behind the Rams and 49ers because, in addition to not having the same track record since 2018 or so, they simply haven’t had the edge roster-wise. Gone was the Legion of Boom, and later Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson. There were no top five picks (until Devon Witherspoon in 2023), no perennial first-team All-Pros outside of Wagner, no defensive or offensive players of the year.
The roster they had for the last couple years was just fine, but it didn’t draw massive amounts of praise.
Film buffs loved Geno Smith, but rarely was he considered a franchise-defining player.
DK Metcalf became a star in Seattle, but was he really considered one of the league’s best receivers? Maybe here in Seattle, but that wasn’t a national consensus. For example, Jeremy Fowler’s top 10 list last year — surveying executives, coaches and scouts — had him out of the top 10 and honorable mentions entirely. Now readying for his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s coming off a down year by his standards with his lowest yardage since 2021.
Tyler Lockett, now 32, finished with his lowest yardage and touchdown total since 2017, and landed with the Titans late in free agency.
The Seahawks didn’t get the edge in terms of perception when they had Smith, Metcalf and Lockett, but now they’re being knocked for their departures. Last year’s offense was middling in just about every category. But surely the loss of Tyler Lockett will sting. Surely DK Metcalf will take Pittsburgh’s offense over the top. Surely Geno Smith will be the face of the Raiders…
I mean… why not? Again, I’ve personally believed all three have been underrated.
But it sure seems like there’s more love for Seattle’s stars now that they’re out of Seattle.
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I accept as a perfectly fine retort that the Seahawks didn’t have the edge before and now they’ve downgraded. Perhaps going from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold has muddied the perception of the overall offense.
Let’s take a closer look: Is it a downgrade?
Sure, in theory. Darnold threw for more yards and touchdowns for the Vikings in 2024 than Smith did with Seattle, but he did it with more weapons. It was his only season with more than 3,100 yards and his final two games were his ugliest, by far.
Smith had more experience in Seattle. Smith had experience playing under a ton of pressure. But Smith requested a trade (as did Metcalf, for that matter).
The Seahawks went after the top free agent quarterback available in Darnold. They have the same running back group, added to the tight end room, brought in their highest drafted guard since 2001, and added depth to the wide receiver room with Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Oh, and they moved on from a rookie offensive coordinator who clearly wasn’t a fit.
The concern about quarterback is perfectly valid. Questions about a very new group are more than fair. But why the massive critique over an offense that, frankly, didn’t feel like a sure thing at all last season? For a team that, more often than not, has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to picking a quarterback? Or for that matter, for a team that has earned the benefit of the when it comes to doubt itself.
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