The Seattle Seahawks made several interesting moves this offseason to re-tool their roster. Adding and subtracting from their 2023 team. With an almost entirely new coaching staff taking over, their roster looks quite different than it did a month ago, particularly on defense.
Seattle's general manager John Schneider made big roster cuts to save cap space to bring back the Seahawks' most important free agents. At least, the ones he thought were most important. Seattle almost had to bring back defensive lineman Leonard Williams, for instance, because of what the team gave up for him in a midseason 2023 trade.
The Los Angeles Rams made few roster cuts this off-season, mostly keeping their roster together. They made a few additions to their team during free agency but used restraint given their salary cap situation. LA lost four offensive linemen in free agency. Possibly letting them go, so they can add younger options in the draft and because they could not afford to retain these offensive linemen.
Grading the Seattle Seahawks' and NFC West rivals' offseasons
The San Francisco 49ers lost a pair of good defensive linemen because they could not afford to retain them. They did find cheaper options to replace them via trade and free agency. Unlike their defensive line which saw the 49ers lose players to free agency, the Niners brought back their entire offensive line from last year's Super Bowl team.
The Arizona Cardinals had cash to spend in free agency and they spent it after a rough season in which they went 4-13. The Cardinals went to work on their roster adding multiple players at several positions to fill holes in free agency. Notable positions they addressed include their secondary, offensive line, linebacker, defensive line, running back, and backup quarterback.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks did a good job of re-signing their most important free agent DT Leonard Williams. Seattle accomplished that by cutting S Quandre Diggs, S Jamal Adams, and TE Will Dissly. Freeing up enough cap space to re-sign Leonard Williams to a 3-year/$64,500,000 deal. While bringing back Williams was likely the best move Seattle made this off-season, prioritizing his re-signing put getting Jordyn Brooks re-signed on the back burner, as Brooks left to join the Dolphins.
Although the Seahawks were unable to bring back Jordyn Brooks, they did re-sign TE Noah Fant. As well as adding C Nick Harris, signing T George Fant, and trading a third-round pick to Washington for QB Sam Howell. The Seahawks also restructured Tyler Lockett's contract to make room to sign more players. Which allowed Seattle to pursue two linebackers to replace Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner. As the Seahawks signed Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker with the extra cash they had to spend.
Plus the Seahawks still had enough money to sign a tight end to replace starter Will Dissly, with the signing of TE Pharoh Brown. Even after all those moves, the Seahawks were able to add DT Jonathan Hankins, DB K'Von Wallace, G Tremayne Anchrum, S Rayshawn Jenkins, and CB Artie Burns. Seahawks GM John Schneider has been active this off-season subtracting and then adding to his roster, shaping a new team for coach Mike Macdonald. Making moves to change the Seahawks roster for the better.
Offseason grade: B+
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals did a good job of making several free-agent signings this off-season. They signed CB Sean Murphy-Bunting to a 3yr/$25 million contract, as well as DL Bilal Nichols ( 3yrs/$21 million) and Justin Jones (3yrs/$31,165,000), plus they signed LB Mack Wilson Sr. (3 years/$12,750,000). Then they re-signed DL L.J. Collier (former Seahawk) to a 1yr/$1,292,500 contract. With these moves, the Cardinals addressed holes in their defense.
Not only did the Cardinals address their defense, but they also acquired offensive talent as well. Adding offensive lineman Jonah Williams on a 2yr/$30 million contract. They also received QB Desmond Ridder in a trade with the Falcons which sent receiver Rondale Moore to Atlanta. The Cardinals also signed running back DeeJay Dallas (3yrs/$8,250,000) and center/guard Evan Brown who each played for the Seahawks last year. They also re-signed center Keith Ismael to a 1yr/$1,055,000 and tendered WR Greg Dortch.
As far as the Cardinals are concerned, they went to great lengths to improve their defensive line by adding Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones along with re-signing L.J. Collier. The Rondale Moore trade is a bit of a head-scratching decision considering what they gave up for a backup quarterback in Desmond Ridder. While the Cardinals made a few nice moves, they did not do much to improve a team that finished last in the NFC West.
Offseason grade: C
LA Rams
The Rams have been mostly quiet during free agency and made a few notable additions to their roster. They also have had four offensive linemen depart in free agency including guard Tremayne Anchrum (who signed with the Seahawks), center Coleman Shelton, center Brian Allen, and offensive tackle Jonah Williams (who signed with the Cardinals). The Rams did re-sign guard Kevin Dotson one of their best offensive linemen from last year's team though.
LA also re-signed running back Ronnie Rivers, linebacker Christian Rozeboom, and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. On top of re-signing four of their own free agents, they also added five other free agents this off-season. Signing tight end Colby Parkinson (who played the last four seasons with the Seahawks), safety Kamren Curl, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Darious Williams, and guard Jonah Jackson. Also, after losing two interior offensive linemen in free agency, the Rams were able to bring back guard Kevin Dotson and sign guard Jonah Jackson.
Other than strengthening the interior of their offensive line, the Rams did little to improve the rest of their roster. After spending big money in past free agencies, the Rams appear to have been hesitant to put a strain on their salary cap with big free-agent signings. Perhaps the Rams are also more interested in using the draft to find talent to add to their roster after finding a talented receiver in Puka Nacua last year. Whatever their reason for an uneventful off-season, the Rams did not make a significant splash in free agency this year.
Offseason grade: C-
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners have made a couple of moves to bolster their defensive line after two key departures. Defensive linemen Erik Armstead and Chase Young both were let go by the Niners in free agency. To replace them, San Francisco signed edge rushers Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd. They also boosted their offensive line by signing G Jon Feliciano, T Brandon Parker, and re-signing T Colton Mckivitz. The Niners have always been focused on the trenches and have continued that with the moves they made this off-season.
In addition to the defensive and offensive lineman the Niners added in free agency, they made several other moves of note. San Francisco acquired Joshua Dobbs from the Vikings via trade to give them a backup quarterback swapping sixth and seventh-round draft picks. They also added depth to their secondary by signing cornerback Chase Lucas, and cornerback Isaac Yiadom, and giving a contract extension to safety George Odum. The Niners were able to replace backup quarterback Sam Darnold with Josh Dobbs and they shored up the back end of their defense with these moves.
The Niners may not have made any big splashy moves, but they did find solid replacements for the players they lost. The biggest takeaway from their off-season is they retooled their offensive and defensive line while keeping the rest of their strong core in tacked. They already have one of the best teams in the NFL and are still likely the best team in the NFC West. No matter what happens in the rest of free agency and the draft, the Niners are still the team to beat in the division.
Offseason grade: B