Ranking the Seahawks greatest need by position for the 2020 NFL draft
By Lee Vowell
3. Running back
The issue with the Seahawks running backs is health, of course. Starter Chris Carson is very good but then his season ended too early as he hurt his hip in week 16 and was not available for the playoffs. Seattle was forced to re-sign Marshawn Lynch. Lynch was good in short-yardage situations but did not have Carson’s burst.
Worse, Carson’s backup, Rashaad Penny, injured his ACL and is likely to miss the beginning of 2020. This leaves Seattle without a true second back, or third back, etc. Even Carson is an unknown as far as how healthy he will be at the beginning of next season. Seattle must find a running back in the draft.
2. Offensive line
The Seahawks have remade their offensive line this offseason. Gone are George Fant and Germain Ifedi and Mike Iupati. Seattle brought in Brandon Shell, B.J. Finney and Cedric Ogbuehi. This is not a real improvement over a line that still gave up too many sacks and did not open holes late in the season.
Seattle needs to find Justin Britt’s replacement in the draft too. Britt is getting paid too much money and could be cut even before this coming season begins. The problem is Britt might be the second-best offensive lineman on Seattle’s roster after Duane Brown.
1. Defensive line
I started to break this group up into defensive tackle and defensive end. But the truth is that Seattle needs help along the entire line. Currently, Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa are probably Seattle’s best ends, and both are offseason acquisitions, but they can really only rush the passer. If someone wants to run against the Seahawks they could do so pretty easily.
Next. Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks?. dark
The Seahawks at least re-signed Jarran Reed at tackle but Reed has had just one really good year in four seasons in the NFL. Seattle needs to find a lot of help in the draft with players who can get to the opposing quarterback or at least play the middle and stuff the run. If they don’t, the defensive line could be the reason Seattle doesn’t make the playoffs.