3 reasons to be excited about the Seahawks in 2022
By Lee Vowell
The expectations for the Seahawks in 2022 are some of the lowest in over a decade. But there are several reasons to be excited about the upcoming season.
And forget the national pundits predicting the Seahawks to win 6 games or less. Games are played on the field, of course. No one truly knows how good or bad the 2022 version of the Seattle football team will be. They could easily be a lot better than most expect.
While there is no Russell Wilson to try to bail the team out in fourth quarters and produce a win out of a seemingly impending loss, Seattle’s defense should be much better this season than in the recent past.
Basically, there are many reasons for hope for 12s this coming year.
Three reasons to be excited about the 2022 version of the Seattle Seahawks
Reason 1: The kids are alright
Seattle is intentionally going through a youth movement. Out is Russell Wilson (turns 34 in 2022), Bobby Wagner (32 years old), Carlos Dunlap (33 years old) and Duane Brown (soon to be 37 years old). In are players like Charles Cross and Boye Mafe and a whole bunch of other recent draftees. The hope, and it seems like a safe one, is that the young players are going to be good.
By trading Wilson, the Seahawks picked up a top-ten draft pick for the first time in years. With the choice, Seattle chose left tackle Cross. He is highly rated as far as pass blocking goes but also strong enough to become a good run blocker.
Edge rusher Mafe along with cornerback Coby Bryant and others should transform the defense into one that is faster. Speed was a huge reason that the defenses of the early 2010s were so good. The defense over the last few years has gotten older and therefore slower.
Plus, Ken Walker looks explosive at running back, and running back is one of the few positions in the NFL where a rookie can make an immediately productive impact. Abe Lucas could step in Week 1 and be the starter at right tackle as well.
Seattle’s young players are going to make mistakes, sure, but they also look like they can help the team make a very quick turn back towards being one of the best in the league.