3 winners (and 2 losers) from Seahawks 2024 offseason overhaul

The Seattle Seahawks won't look the same in 2024 as they have since 2010. No longer will Pete Carroll roam the sidelines, chewing his game, and winning the vast majority of his games. Seattle will hopefully keep winning, of course, but it will be jarring not seeing Carroll coaching the team.

Seattle hired Mike Macdonald this offseason to replace Carroll. Carroll was the oldest coach in the NFL by the end of his time in Seattle, and Macdonald will come in as the youngest. Both are defensive-minded coaches, but Macdonald should be able to get his team to be more focused.

Seattle will also have several new starters, especially defensively. Gone is future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner and 2024 free agent signee Tyrel Dodson is expected to take his place. But who are some winners and losers among the players this offseason?

Winner: Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III

Walker was ill-used under former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and the trend was only getting worse. In 2023, Walker started 15 games, four more than in 2022, but he saw seven fewer touches. The running back might be a bit too boom-or-bust at times, but he also can change the outcome of a game in about three plays. He is also a solid receiver with a catch rate of 77.8 percent over his first two years.

In other words, Walker needs the ball more and not less. Under Waldron, Seattle's seeming need to throw more was trending upward as well. After passing the ball the 13th-most times, per percentage, in the NFL in 2022, Seattle threw the ball the fifth-most in 2023. The issue was Waldron did not have the ability or creativity to know how to pass the ball and also scheme his receivers open.

What would have helped is if Waldron had used his running backs more. He simply abandoned the run many times in close games, especially early in the second half. Walker has game-breaking speed and has proven he can score from anywhere on the field. In 2024, new OC Ryan Grubb will probably not only use Walker more but he will probably put Walker in situations the running back has not seen during his time in the NFL. That should help the player and the overall offense.