Seahawks outlook for 2018: Russell Wilson and the quarterbacks
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks season did not go as planned in 2017. Too many defensive injuries and horrible play from the running backs limited the team. But quarterback wasn’t the issue. Here is what 2018 might look like.
Russell Wilson
Clearly Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is not going anywhere. Lots of 12s complain that sometimes he tries to do too much. And he does. But wouldn’t you if you were involved in everyone of your teams’ touchdowns except one for an entire year. This had never happened before in the history of the NFL. And Wilson, nor anyone else, should have been saddled with having to do that.
Wilson is a great quarterback, but he would be even greater had he any help in the running game. Why does he get hit so much? Because teams know he is all Seattle has.
Still, the season Wilson had was phenomenal until he might have just run out of gas against the Los Angeles Rams in week 15. He led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes and he also led Seattle in rushing. Stop blaming the quarterback. Seattle would have won four games without Wilson if they had had an even slightly better than average NFL quarterback.
Backups
Seattle’s backups did not have to play again this year. Wilson simply refuses to not play. That said, there isn’t a whole lot to examine. Should Seattle bring back Austin Davis and Trevone Boykin? If the money is right for Davis, sure. Because having a good backup can be important, but if the backup never plays what’s the difference?
Boykin still resembles Wilson much more than Davis in playing style. But he is lucky to have a job. He was terrible in the final two preseason games of 2017. There is no way that the Seahawks would want him starting for a long period of time.
Contract situation
Wilson is signed through 2019 and is due $23,786,666 in 2018.
Davis and Boykin are both without contracts beyond 2017.
Related Story: Seahawks 2018 outlook: The LOB
Prediction: Wilson comes back in 2018, obviously. Davis comes back if the price is good. Boykin stays on the practice squad.