Seahawks value ratings: The good, the bad, and the weird

The Seahawks values are revealed. So, how did you do?

Before we reveal the rated players, let’s take a deeper look at the thought process. Again, Darrell Taylor was rated higher in value than Uchenna Nwosu. Taylor received a value rating of 75.12, while Nwosu’s was only 58.01. Now when you consider that Taylor’s average salary was $1.69 million, and Nwosu’s was more than five times that at $9.53 million, it makes some sense. Was Nwosu more than five times better than Taylor? Of course not. But that’s not how the NFL works. He doesn’t have to be five times better.

But twice as good? Sure, you could easily make that argument. While Taylor came on strong at the end of the season and tied Nwosu for the team lead in sacks at 9.5, there were several games in which the second-year player virtually disappeared. We have high hopes that it simply took him more time to adjust to a new scheme.

Nwosu, though, was a force in virtually every contest. He played in all 17 games, and only had four in which he didn’t record a tackle for a loss, a QB hit, or a pass defense. In two of those, he had five and six tackles, respectively. So he basically never disappeared from the field. Taylor missed 10.3 percent of his tackles, Nwosu 5.7 percent. Nwosu was vastly superior to Taylor in 2022. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the former Tennessee Vol close the gap in 2023.

Now, time to check your predictions, 12s. I’m sure you managed to identify a couple of the goods and the bads, but I imagine the weirds were quite a challenge. I mean, they were just weird.

Player A: at 89.06, guard Damien Lewis. He only gave up three sacks, committed just four penalties, and truly balled out for an average salary of just $1.23 million.

Player B: at 98.34, safety Ryan Neal. That might have surprised you, but he was PFF’s top-graded safety, was obviously fantastic, and did that for just $920K. That payday is about to change.

Player C: at 82.32, QB Geno Smith. I know everyone had the NFL Comeback Player of the Year pegged as one of the top value players. With his next contract, that value is going to take a hit.

Player D: at 16.03, guard Gabe Jackson. Considering Jackson’s salary of $7.5 million, Damien Lewis probably was five times better.

Player E: at 14.19, defensive lineman Poona Ford definitely underperformed. His average salary of $6.17 million was a huge factor in his poor valuation.

Player F: at 15.59, center Austin Blythe was another member of the underperforming club. Yes, I gave him credit for helping to stabilize the line, but at $4 million, you need better production.

Player G: at 27.34, DK Metcalf is a name you never thought you’d see on a list of low-value players. His average salary is $24 million, but that’s what it takes to keep freakishly great talent.

Player H: at 8.63, safety Quandre Diggs simply blows my mind. He had the lowest value rating of any of the Seahawks, yet arguably was the glue of the defense. I know, $13 million, but weird.

Player I: at 79.03 we have CB Tariq Woolen, while Player J at 83.39 is Coby Bryant. Both got very high valuations, and I get that. But Bryant’s salary is $1.12 million, while Woolen’s is $998K. So according to their number-cruncher Bryant performed better than Woolen by enough of a margin to make up for his slightly higher salary. That was the weirdest of all. I blame it on ChatGPT.

I merely bring this up to point out that the value rating isn’t the final word in statistical analysis. I guarantee you, Spotrac doesn’t intend it to be, either. Please don’t storm the castle and demand they retract their work. Yes, some of it might seem a bit weird, but it’s truly a great tool for fans to look at their favorite players through another lens. It provides another – and I think fascinating cuz, ya know, it’s mathy –  way to look at a player’s contribution to the Seahawks’ success.