The Seattle Seahawks are set up to have a successful season in 2021, and each piece of the team is obviously important towards making that happen. However, I believe there are a handful of players who will determine how successful the team turns out to be more so than the rest.
In big moments, the Seahawks will have to have full faith in these five guys to step up and make important plays when the outcome of the game is in their hands.
I also believe that if any of these players get hurt, the Seahawks’ chances to be successful effectively plummet, and in turn, if they remain healthy the Seahawks will find a solid amount of success in 2021.
5 Players pivotal to Seahawks success in 2021
While there could certainly end up being more than five players who determine the Seahawks fate, I decided to keep the list to the five that I feel will have the biggest impact on the team this season. There is a mix of offensive and defensive players on my list. Before we get down to the top five, I wanted to list three honorable mentions.
Jason Myers: If Myers continues to impress on kicks the way he did last season, the Seahawks will have nothing to worry about when it comes to field goals. Myers did not miss one field goal all of last season. Doing the same thing in 2021 would have a positive impact on the season.
Carlos Dunlap: Carlos had to be brought back, and I’m pumped the front office got a deal done with him. Dunlap provided a huge boost to this defense when he came over halfway through 2020. My target for him this season would be 10 sacks. If he can hit that number, the Seahawks defense has the potential to be a top-10 unit in the NFL.
Gerald Everett: Seattle hasn’t had a true TE1 in quite some time, so I’m excited to see what Everett can do this fall. He also has the bonus of knowing the Waldron scheme, and I think Shane will work some plays up specifically for Everett. If he can contribute 600 yards and 5 touchdowns this season, he’ll make a big impact on the passing game.
5. Jordyn Brooks
I don’t think the Seahawks are bringing back K.J. Wright, which means Brooks is going to receive starter reps in 2021. He was also drafted to be the future number one guy (post-Bobby Wagner). This team wants to get him in to play as much as possible. That means we’re likely to see him on the field for more than 85% of defensive snaps, possibly as high as 95%.
This is a huge jump for him from just 32% of snaps last year, but I think he’ll be able to handle it. Brooks had an impressive 57 tackles in his limited time on the field in 2020, and he was an excellent run defender. However, he was fairly lackluster in rushing the passer as well as in dropping back into coverage.
He gave up a 95.2 passer rating and a 68% completion rate while in coverage, and only had one pressure on the QB. I’m excited to watch Brooks have more playing time in 2021, but I think he needs to improve in one, hopefully, both, of those areas. If he is able to keep his coverage stats to a 60% passer rating and a quarterback rating of less than 80, I’ll be very pleased.
Likewise, if he is able to rush the passer more effectively and has around 15 pressures resulting in 2-3 sacks, I will be impressed. I think there’s a lot riding on Brooks’ shoulders when it comes to the Seahawks winning in 2021.
4. Gabe Jackson
I think the Seahawks offensive line is going to be better in 2021. The only change in players from last year to this year? Gabe Jackson. I think Shane Waldron will do a great job designing blocking schemes, too. Based on the new offensive scheme alone, the offensive line should protect Russell Wilson better than they did last year.
However, Gabe Jackson has formerly been one of the best guards in the NFL. He’s been historically healthy, starting an average of about 14 games each season throughout his career. I think moving Damien Lewis to left guard was a good move and provides continuity at the position the Seahawks didn’t have last year.
By moving Lewis to the left, Gabe Jackson will get to play right guard, making the offensive line overall better than it was in 2020. I compare him to Mike Iupati, just because Iupati is the only offensive line starter not returning for 2021.
Jackson should be much healthier than Iupati and should be able to produce at a higher level than Iupati did in the short time he was on the field. I’m excited to see Jackson play this fall, and I wonder whether he will remain at right guard or if he and Lewis will switch back.
3. DK Metcalf
DK is so fun to watch. I think he’s the most electrifying player on this team, and I’m hyped to see that continue into the 3rd year of his career. I think DK’s game will be different this year with Waldron’s scheme coming in.
I don’t know if there will be as many deep shots on the sideline taken, but I don’t think that means DK’s stats will falter. I expect him to be the primo number 1 target this year, and I would be ecstatic if he could best his 2020. A dream season for DK? 1500 yards, 12 touchdowns.
Whether he’s racking these up through short throws over the middle of the field or running the 50-yard post like in the good ol’ days, he will be the most productive member of the Seahawks 2021 offense.
That’s not to say Tyler Lockett won’t be productive. It’s just to say that I think the way Lockett plays won’t be affected much by the new offensive scheme. On the other hand, DK should learn a whole new skill set this year and use it to up his productivity. He’s my favorite player to watch, and I can’t wait for his matchups with Jalen Ramsey come this fall.
2. Jamal Adams
If anyone can contest DK for the most electric player on the field, it’s Jamal Adams. While his 9.5 sacks in 2020 were an NFL record for defensive backs, I truly think he can repeat that number in 2021. For starters, he was banged up in 2020, and only started 12 games.
He played on 68% of Seahawks defensive snaps, and if he can stay healthy enough to play 90% of snaps, it should be easy to get to 9.5 sacks again, and maybe even break his own record. In a 17-game season where he plays a healthy amount, I believe 9.5 sacks may be his floor. He’s extremely good at chasing down the quarterback and, likewise, other ball carriers.
His Achilles’ heel is that he isn’t the greatest in coverage. He gave up a 78% completion rate and a 104.7 passer rating in coverage. What’s crazy is that he was much better in coverage while playing in New York: 55% completion, 75 passer rating.
If he can get back to his old coverage numbers and remain at the level of his own record pass-rushing season from last year, he’ll be the best safety in the league and the most influential piece of the Seahawks defense.
1. Russell Wilson
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Russell Wilson is the single most pivotal piece of the Seahawks roster and has been since 2014. Without him, the Seahawks would most likely finish last in their own division.
The good thing is, he’s an iron man. He hasn’t missed a game since being drafted in 2012. At the beginning of last season, Russ led the MVP race and was truly playing like Mr. Unlimited. Shane Waldron will bring a whole new dynamic to Wilson’s game and, while he’s at it, should design plays to keep Russ on his feet more often.
The ‘Hawks should be getting the ball out of the pocket quickly and moving the chains over and over again. In 2021, Let Russ Cook won’t involve as many of those wild extended plays as it will involve tons of completions for short yardage. This way, the offense will be more efficient, and it will all run through Russ.
Though the offense won’t be as flashy as in years past, I think it might be the most consistently successful offense we’ve seen since the prime Beastmode days. If any year is his year to win the MVP award and, more importantly, take the Seahawks to another Super Bowl, this is it.
The Seahawks overall
All in all, of course, each piece of Seattle’s roster is vital to the state of the team. But some players are a cut above the rest in their importance. How much they can produce on the field may make or break the team’s ability to win games.
Jordyn Brooks is prepped to have a breakout year, and to do so will need to improve his game. Gabe Jackson needs to come to town and immediately make an improvement to the offensive line. DK Metcalf needs to continue to ball on opposing corners but also refine his game so he’s more available in passing schemes.
Jamal Adams needs to cover the way he did in New York and continue to rush the passer. And finally, Russell Wilson needs to continue to carry the team the same way he has for multiple seasons, hopefully sustaining fewer hits this time around.
The Seahawks will be a good team in 2021. They have been a good team consistently for a decade now. But will they be a great team? Will they be the kind of team that opponents fear? The type whose home stadium the road to the Bowl runs through? The only way to answer that question is to watch the play of these five.