Seahawks finish the season with a meaningless win against the Rams and their backup offense 30-25. Geno had arguably his best game of the season (20-27, 223 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, only sacked twice). The good news was the offense scored 30 points against most of the defensive starters of the Rams. The bad news was they gave up 25 points to Jimmy G and the backups on offense for the Rams. Their reward for finishing 10-7 and out of the playoffs is the #18 pick in the draft.
The day after the game, OC Ryan Grubb was fired. I could see it going either way, give him another year to try and improve his approach, or cut bait and go another direction and the Hawks chose the other direction. Hopefully the replacement will work out better.
I was impressed with
@Rudy's Curve's breakdown, so I'm going to steal the format and breakdown the current Seahawks situation, starting with the offense.
QB
Geno Smith - Geno had been the backup for Russell Wilson for a few years until Russell was traded. Then he won the starting job against Drew Lock and had a Pro Bowl season in 2022. He took a step back in 2023 and then set Seahawks season highs in yards passing, and completion percentage, among others this year. He also had 15 interceptions, which was 3rd in the league, just 1 behind Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield, and only 21 TD passes, which was tied for 13th out of the 19 QBs who played 15 or more games. He had at least another dozen or so passes that should have been interceptions and that's part of the problem with him. He makes some great plays, but also tends to fall apart under pressure, which was prevalent this season, as he was sacked the 3rd most of any QB (50). I compare him to Dave Krieg, a guy who is overmatched as a full-time starter, but is an excellent backup and is probably good for 6-8 games a year, although figuring out when you'd get those is a fool's errand. There's just too many boneheaded plays to count on him as any kind of a QB to get your team to the Super Bowl. He has 1 year left on his deal with a $44.5 million cap hit, which is untenable. He has a roster bonus of $10 million in March, so a decision needs to be made before then. I'm not sure if he has any trade value. If they cut him, they save $31 million on the cap, with a $13.5 million dead cap charge. He cashed in on $6 million on contract escalators with his last game against the Rams. The problem becomes if they get rid of him, what do they do in the interim? Sam Howell is not a likely option. Extending Geno probably means being on the same 9-8, 10-7 treadmill. But there isn't much available in FA or the draft. If they can trade him, they should do so. If they can't, I can't see extending him, so he's a cut and they start over. Realistically, they are still another year away from being any sort of serious competition, so they could probably kick the can down the street another year and see how the rest of the team does.
Sam Howell - Traded a 3rd and a 5th to Washington for Howell, a 4th (traded elsewhere) and a 6th (Sataoa Laumea). Got some reps against Green Bay when Geno hurt his knee and looked completely unprepared and awful. Maybe there's something there to develop, but it's hard to say. There's really no way they can go into next season with him as the starter, but he should be a useful backup.
RB
Kenneth Walker III - 2nd round pick in 2022, is very dynamic, but also very injury prone. Missed 6 games this year due to injury. Wasn't very effective when he was in there, some of which is the offensive line issues (but not all, given Charbonnet's and McIntosh's success with the same line), some of which is injury, but some may be a poor fit in this offense overall (which could be resolved by Grubb's firing), and Walker's decision making could use some improvement as well.
Zach Charbonnet - 2nd round pick in 2023, has been a solid back with some spectacular play. Seems to be a lot more durable than Walker and maybe they should switch it up and have Charbonnet start and Walker as a backup in something like a 60/40 split to keep Walker healthy and the duo more productive overall.
Kenny McIntosh - 7th round pick in 2023, injured and inactive most of his rookie year. Gotten a few opportunities this year with Walker's injuries and has flashed some good play, averaging 5.5 YPC in his 31 carries. Solid special teamer.
George Holani - UDFA signed out of Boise State, spent most of the year on the practice squad and can play special teams, so likely to hang around.
WR
DK Metcalf - 2nd round pick in 2019, has had over 900 yards receiving in all 6 years of his Seahawks career. Has the body of a Greek god marble statue and a head to match. He makes a lot of fantastic plays, although you'd think he be more physical and successful on contested catches. He also has a penchant for committing dumb penalties, running bad routes, and letting opposing DBs get to him mentally and take him out of the game. He has 1 year left on his deal (with 3 void years added in 2024 to save cap room) and he'll count for almost $32 million on the 2025 cap. On top of all that, he's seen how his WR peers have gotten bigger and bigger deals and is likely to ask for one like they have. So it's decision time, give him the big extension or try and trade him. I vote for trading him since I think his overall value is not worth the $30 million a year (at least) he'll require. Trade him for a pick, let the next team pay him, and draft his replacement.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - #1 pick (#20 overall, 1st receiver taken in draft) in 2023, has developed into a #1 receiver. Runs the entire route tree and is great at getting separation from the slot. Has great hands and a bulldog mentality. A star in the making.
Tyler Lockett - 10 years with the Seahawks, but is starting to show signs of slowing down at age 32. They revised his contract into a 2 year deal to save cap space this year, but counts for a $30 million cap hit in 2025. Only 49 catches for 600 yards this year, so he's in the twilight of his career. He has a burgeoning real estate business in Seattle, so I'm sure he'd like to stay, but I don't see how with his deal. They'd save $17 million on the cap by cutting him, with a $13.895 million dead cap charge. If they can work something out, he'll probably stay as a 3rd or 4th WR. One of Seattle's all time greats, he's 2nd to Steve Largent in receptions, yards and receiving TDs in Seahawks history.
Jake Bobo - SIgned as a UDFA out of UCLA (after 4 years at Duke) in 2023, standard possession receiver type with good hands and can play on ST. Doesn't get a lot of targets and doesn't get a lot of separation, but catches pretty much anything anywhere near his hands.
Dareke Young - Ace special teamer that rarely gets offensive snaps.
Coby White - UDFA signed this season, had played sparingly in 2021-22 with Pittsburgh. Spent most of the year on the practice squad, but made a couple of nice catches in the last game against the Rams and should be back.
TE
Noah Fant - One of the players acquired in the Russell Wilson trade, he sure looks good on the field until it comes down to production. He can't really block much and he just disappears on the field when going out on passing routes. Scored his first touchdown
since 2022 (!) in the last game against the Rams. He's got 1 more year on his deal, but I can't see devoting $13.5 million in cap room to him, he's not good enough to extend and they have a young guy ready to replace him next year (see below). He should be a cap casualty with $4.5 million in dead money, saving $9 million on the cap.
Pharoah Brown - FA signing this past offseason, supposedly a blocking tight end, which is supposed to be good since he can't catch, but he can't block either and is a waste of space on any roster. Signed a 1 year deal, should be gone, never to return.
AJ Barner - 4th round pick in 2024 out of Michigan, has shown a lot of potential as a pass catcher and blocker, although his pass catching skills are ahead of his blocking skills. Should be the starter next season.
Brady Russell - UDFA signed off the Eagles' practice squad in 2023, has developed into a quality ST player who could be fine as a 3rd TE, just hasn't had the opportunity yet.
OL
Charles Cross - 1st round pick in 2022, 9th overall. Has been solid if not spectacular. Has occasional footwork issues and still isn't a very good run blocker, mostly because in college all he did was pass protect in a run-and-shoot type offense at Mississippi State. 2025 will require a decision whether to pick up his 5th year option and/or extend him. I think he's good enough to keep long term, he may still develop into a top 5 or top 10 LT.
Laken Tomlinson - Absolutely worthless, even at the vet minimum he was paid after being signed as a FA from the Jets. Can't run block or pass block. And it says something about the state of the overall Seattle OL when he got to start all 17 games.
Olu Oluwatimi - 5th round pick in 2023, was the Outland and RImington Trophy winner at Michigan. Replaced Connor Williams when he retired mid-season. If nothing else, he didn't snap the ball over Geno's head once in his 8 weeks as a starter. Has some potential to be a decent player, but also not good enough that they couldn't afford to replace him either.
Sataoa Laumea - 6th round pick in 2024, was inactive the first 11 weeks of the season, but then they turned to him when starter Anthony Bradford got hurt, and backup Christian Haynes flopped as the 2nd stringer. He's been a revelation compared to Haynes and Bradford, but isn't that good. He has good moments and a bunch of bad ones. In the same realm as Oluwatimi in that there is potential there, but he could be replaced too.
Abe Lucas - 3rd round pick in 2022, had a serious knee injury last year and started the season on PUP, debuting in week 10 against SF and played 70% of the snaps, trying to ease him back into playing shape. Played 100% of snaps from weeks 11-16 and sat out the finale against the Rams. A really solid player when healthy.
Christian Haynes - A 3rd round pick in 2024, split snaps with Anthony Bradford early, but did nothing to impress anyone. He did get to finish the game where Bradford was injured, but was abysmal and was benched for the rest of the year. Needs to step up his game to avoid being cut, but a bench player at best right now.
George Fant - Signed to a 2 year deal to be the swing tackle, but got hurt in game 1, was put on IR and missed almost two months, then after being activated, was immediately hurt again in his only other appearance. Waste of money and should be a cap casualty.
Anthony Bradford - A 4th round pick in 2023, started the season at RG, splitting snaps with Christian Haynes until getting hurt week 11 and put on IR. Didn't do anything to really earn the job, will likely hang around as a backup.
Jalen Sundell - Backup center signed as a UDFA this year out of South Dakota St. Played 1 game at C when Oluwatimi was hurt mid-game, but otherwise was only used as an occasional 6th lineman in a jumbo package or on special teams.
Stone Forsythe - 6th round pick in 2021, has been a backup his entire career, only playing when forced in due to injuries. He started the year as the #3 tackle behind Cross and Fant with Lucas on PUP. When Fant got hurt in game 1, he replaced Fant and then started the next 5 games before getting injured himself and put on IR until week 15, then only played ST snaps after that. Doesn't really show any potential except as a 4th tackle on any team.
