Seahawks entering second phase of championship window

The Seahawks appear to have reloaded with young talent this offseason, adding some dynamic depth and versatility to their highly-paid core of young stars already in place.

We’ve heard the term championship window many times over the last three years. There’s a widely held perception that the NFL’s parity-based salary cap and draft rules work against dynasty’s, or even sustained championship opportunities. For the most part that’s accurate, but the best organizations (New England being the prime example) find ways to stay on top.

The question since it became obvious in 2012 that Pete Carroll and John Schneider were building a title-worthy young roster has been; can they keep it there? 

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That question didn’t get the clear answer fans were hoping for over the last two offseasons. While the team nearly won a second Super Bowl and won a playoff game in 2015 as well, the 2013-15 drafts didn’t come close to producing the kind of talent acquired in 2011-12. This begged new questions:

• What happened?
• Was the 2012 draft a fluke?
• Was the league catching up to the “Seahawk Way” and poaching the best draftees before it was our turn to pick?
• Was it simply a result of drafting lower?
• Bad luck, perhaps? 

What’s happened over the last two weeks should effectively obliterate that list of questions. Their 10-player draft haul is widely considered by analysts as an overall home run, as was Seattle’s group of undrafted free agents. Then, at the conclusion of rookie mini camp last weekend the Seahawks signed five more players who were on a tryout basis.

The result is a serious infusion of young talent, most of it at key positions, that appears to be chock full of potential starters, and even stars:

It almost like a rebirth kind of thing

• The running back group added C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks in the draft, and Tre Madden as an UDFA. Add in Thomas Rawls and you have the makings of a dynamic (and cheap) stable of RB’s to move forward with for years.
• Likewise, as we detailed yesterday, the offensive line group was overhauled. It also is now set up for a long run of continuity and affordability.
• Not seen as a need by most before the draft, the addition of TE Nick Vannett gives the team versatility on offense they haven’t had since the departure of Zach Miller, and a potential long-term starter.
• The defensive line got big-time young additions in 2nd round pick Jarran Reed and 5th rounder Quinton Jefferson, as well as some intriguing undrafted candidates.
• Young DB’s were added after the draft. Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell in particular looks to have a shot at making the team.
• The Hawks may have unearthed a play-making, Russell Wilson-like backup QB to develop in TCU’s Trevone Boykin.

And here’s how the age distribution of the current 90 man roster breaks down:

• Rookies – 25
• 1 year experience – 6
• 2 years – 15
• 3 years – 9
• 4 years – 11
• 5 to 9 years – 21
• Over 9 years – 2

Looking at those numbers, there are two points to make:

1. That 5-9 year group includes the bulk of the Seahawks current stars, so you can see how imperative it was for the team to reload the bottom end of the roster with new young talent this year.
2. The 20 players with 3 or 4 years experience encompasses the less-than-stellar draft classes from 2014 and 2014. Many of those players (such as Cassius Marsh, Brock Coyle, Patrick Lewis, Jordan Hill and others) are in jeopardy of losing their roster spots to younger players this year in training camp.

Pete Carroll acknowledged as much in a radio appearance this morning, noting that the infusion of youth, and the competition it brings with it, has energized the locker room and brought a new energy to the Seahawks practice field:

"“It almost like a rebirth kind of thing. We’ve been through a lot of stuff, we’ve been challenged by a lot of stuff, we’ve learned so much. Winning, losing, trying to come back again, and still maintaining this huge standard and expectation. We know it’s right there for us, everybody feels it. That’s what’ really fueling the energy around the building and why we’re so enthused. Then we hit it with this draft, so it’s feeling pretty good. Millions of things have to happen, but we’re in the right place right now.”  Pete Carroll"

Next: LA Rams Offseason Review

The end result of this offseason’s talent grab is the the Hawks may have set themselves up for a second wave of championship contention. Their young franchise QB is in place, and now they’ve surrounded him with a bevy of diverse young weapons. Meanwhile, the already dominant defense welcomes in a couple new cornerstone pieces.