The Seattle Seahawks have made a few more notable moves in early free agency than they almost ever have since general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll were put in charge of running on-field activities in 2010. Whether the team is actually better in 2023 than 2022 remains to be seen, of course, but Seattle should be better. But how do they stack up against what the other NFC West have done this offseason?
Seattle finished an unexpected second in the division in 2022. Many national pundits picked Seattle to finish last in the NFC West last season and to win only 4 or 5 games. The Rams and 49ers were supposed to be better and the Cardinals a little less so, but all three were thought to be seasons better than the Seahawks. Not so.
As we enter the 2023 offseason and look forward, the 49ers should still be thought to be at the top of the division with Seattle next. Arizona is a bit of a mess and Los Angeles seems to be rebuilding. But as learned from last offseason, what we think in March may not be what we know in December. So here’s an idea of who is winning this offseason in the NFC West.
How the Seahawks’ offseason stacks up against the rest of the NFC West
Worst offseason in the NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
I don’t think anyone expected the Rams to just start tearing things down this soon after winning a Super Bowl in the 2021 season, but it does appear that is what they are doing. Not only did LA release Bobby Wagner, a second-team All-Pro in 2022, but the Rams release Leonard Floyd and traded Jalen Ramsey. That is a bunch of talent to lose on defense.
Don’t be completely fooled, however. Los Angeles still has enough talent to beat teams, especially offensively. The Rams, however, have only signed one unrestricted free agent this offseason and it was one of their own, offensive lineman Coleman Shelton, and don’t look like they are going to sign any high-end free agents from other teams.
Third worst offseason in the NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are a team in transition that might be thinking more about 2024 than 2023. Quarterback Kyler Murray tore his ACL late in 2022 and likely won’t be ready for the start of the 2023 season. Even if he is, he probably won’t have the same kind of mobility we are used to seeing. Not for a while at least. Plus, Arizona has a new head coach and a new general manager so the team might still be figuring out which direction it wants to go.
The weird thing is that Arizona has some good cap space still. They could sign a potentially impactful high-impact free agent. They still could but they also let defensive end Zach Allen leave this offseason. Allen had 20 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss in 2022 and will only be 26 years old when the 2023 season begins.
Arizona also let cornerback Byron Murphy leave in free agency. Murphy struggled with a back injury last season and only appeared in nine games, but he was very good in 2021 and is only 25 years old. Arizona could have afforded to pay him but didn’t.
The three players that the Cardinals have signed so far are likely more for depth than being a starter. Linebacker Kyzir White is a good tackler but doesn’t offer much else in terms of pressuring quarterbacks. Arizona hasn’t improved its team this offseason and doesn’t seem in any rush to, but they do at least have the number 3 choice in the 2023 draft.
Second best offseason in the NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
I almost – almost – went with the Seahawks in the number two spot. I chose to go with San Francisco not because I am a homer but because the Seahawks have simply gotten more overall talent from their cap room than the 49ers. San Francisco has signed a bunch of their own players – Kevin Givens, Tashaun Gipson, and Jake Brendel to name three – but they added probably the best free agent in the division in Javon Hargrave.
San Francisco’s defense was so unbelievably good last year that it is easy to overlook the fact that their defensive tackle spots did little when it came to rushing the passer. The 49ers DTs accounted for just one sack in 2022. Compare that to Hargrave who had 9 sacks from a DT spot alone, and you can see why the 49ers’ defense might go from great to greater.
San Francisco also signed underperforming defensive end Clelin Ferrell. Ferrell was the fourth pick in the 2019 draft but certainly hasn’t played up to that excepted level. But watch. He will somehow get 10 sacks for the 49ers in 2023.
The 49ers did lose right tackle Mike McGlinchey, however. McGlinchey hasn’t made a Pro Bowl in his five seasons but was really good in 2022 and was a better fit with the 49ers than other teams because San Francisco likes to run a bunch. He will be missed.
Best offseason in the NFC West: Seattle Seahawks
The moves the Seahawks have made this offseason aren’t going to necessarily vault them over the 49ers and into first place in the division next season, but they are a bit closer to the 49ers at this point than they were. Seattle still has a little money to spend and could add more pieces, but the players they have added in free agency – or re-signed – fill positions of need with quality performers.
First, the Seahawks re-signed Geno Smith to a relatively team-friendly team that could keep Smith in Seattle for three more seasons. He was good in 2022 and he just needs to continue that kind of play, maybe with a slight improvement, to keep Seattle in playoff contention. Seattle also re-signed kicker Jason Myers and he has been mostly stellar for the team for four seasons.
But Seattle needed better players on their defensive line and they got them when they signed Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed. If Hargrave is the best player added to the division, Jones isn’t far behind. He gives Seattle a pass-rushing presence at the interior of the defensive line. Reed can get to the quarterback some as well but is good against the run.
Seattle also added Julian Love at strong safety and he is an excellent tackler who should be able to help in run support. The Seahawks needed a center and they got Evan Brown who was solid for the Lions in 2021 at the position. At inside linebacker, Seattle added Devin Bush. All three of these players are relatively inexpensive.
And all these moves should help the team be better next year and that is before Seattle adds even more talent in the 2023 draft. Seattle has two first-round picks and two second-round choices. The 49ers might be the class of the NFC West right now but the Seahawks are catching up.