5 Seahawks players to be excited about for the 2024 season
By Lee Vowell
Seahawks player to be excited about No. 2
Kenneth Walker III, running back
Just as with Devon Witherspoon, and probably even more so, a new offensive coaching direction in Seattle is probably going to get much better use out of Kenneth Walker. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was inconsistently creative and an inconsistent play-caller. There were stretches in games he seemed to forget the team could run the ball. Walker finished with nine fewer carries this season even though he started four fewer games. He averaged almost the same yards per touch (4.7 in 2023 compared to 4.8 in 2022) so his lack of productivity was not his fault.
Very likely, whoever is named the new head coach should also bring in a new offensive coordinator. That OC should use Walker more. Doing so helps set up Geno Smith and his receivers for more success. Walker should be a 1,300-yard a season rusher, but under Shane Waldron he was never going to be.
Seahawks player to be excited about No. 3
Uchenna Nwosu, edge rusher
The Seahawks missed Nwosu after he was lost for the season after he tore a pec muscle in Week 7. Seattle got worse in nearly every statistical category without Nwosu. Unlike Darrell Taylor and most of the other Seahawks edge rushers, Nwosu knows how to play the run as well as pressure the quarterback. Nwosu would have made Seattle's run defense better in 2023 than it turned out to be.
In Week 4, Nwosu had 5 run stuffs alone. He started the season with multiple stuffs through the first four games. In both seasons he has played with the Seahawks, Nwosu has received a good run defense grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This is on top of good grades in pass rush. Getting Nwosu back next season is going to make Seattle's defense better.