Seahawks make 3 moves on Wednesday that could have massive impacts

Besides signing edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu on Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks made three other moves that could be very impactful in 2022.

The hope is that Seattle still has an idea or two for Thursday or Friday that will result in more wins for next year. At this point, without Russell Wilson at quarterback, the Seahawks aren’t likely to even sniff the postseason next year. That said, there is still talent on the roster and a few more key pieces added could drastically improve the team.

Seattle isn’t going to sign players like Chandler Jones or Von Miller, though. Those players got jobs with other teams on Wednesday. But here are three things Seattle did do.

Three Seahawks moves you may have missed from Wednesday

Seahawks release Benson Mayowa

The writing for Mayowa was probably on the proverbial wall when Seattle signed Nwosu. Nwosu is five years younger than Mayowa and likely more productive in the future. I do feel a bit bad for Mayowa, however, as he had to play 2021 in Ken Norton, Jr.’s defense and was ill-used. Mayowa had just 1 sack this past year and that is going to hurt his free agent market.

No Mayowa should mean more Nwosu, though, and that could mean a far better Seattle pass rush in 2022.

Seattle might have replaced Ethan Pocic too by signing Austin Blythe

Blythe didn’t play much in 2021 for a couple of reasons. He had to have hernia surgery in preseason and this kept him out for a long time. And he was replaced by rookie Creed Humphrey who was among the best centers in the NFL. But Blythe started 47 of 48 games at center for the Los Angeles Rams from 2018 through 2020 and this is when Shane Waldron, now the Seahawks offensive coordinator, was with the Rams.

This means that Waldron has a good idea of what to expect from Blythe and how he fits into the blocking scheme and that is a good thing. It likely means Ethan Pocic, Seattle’s starting center for much of 2021, isn’t coming back.

Seattle adds underproducing cornerback Artie Burns, but wait…

Another player added on Wednesday who is familiar to a new coach for the Seahawks is CB Artie Burns. Burns played in Chicago in 2021 and played under then-Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai. The bad is that Burns was a first-round pick in 2016 and wasn’t good enough to stay a starter with the Steelers.

The good is that Burns wouldn’t be coming to Seattle if Desai didn’t see something in him. Burns shouldn’t be expected to start for Seattle but he has the potential and size to get a bunch of reps and maybe finally meet his potential with the right coaching.