The Seattle Seahawks appear to be an improving team. But some of their 2023 opponents seem to have gotten worse this offseason. This includes a couple of teams in their own division.
The good thing is that Seattle is not yet done making the roster better. Sure, free agency is probably done for them for the most part, and the Seahawks did really well there, but they also have many high-end draft picks still to make. Seattle currently has two first-round selections and two second-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft. The team was already made better through free agency and is only going to be made even better through the draft.
Seattle's 2023 schedule isn't an easy one, though. Seattle faces the Cowboys, Giants, Ravens, Lions, and Bengals on the road this coming season, for instance. Luckily, though, as things seem now, three of the Seahawks' foes in 2023 seem worse now than those teams were at the end of the 2022 season.
Seahawks 2023 opponent that is worse No. 1: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have been an unperforming team for several seasons now. Now-fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury somehow coached his team to be worse in the second halves of seasons consistently. Still, Arizona gave the Seahawks fits every year but 2022.
This offseason, however, the Cardinals let Kingsbury walk and brought in a coaching staff who previously had no experience in the positions they currently hold. The head coach (Jonathan Gannon), offensive coordinator (Drew Petzing), and defensive coordinator (Nick Rallis) had never been in those positions previously. This doesn't mean they can't coach, but even most veteran coaches in their first season with a team struggle until they understand what they have.
The Cardinals also have lost a bunch of defensive talent in free agency, however. Gone are cornerback Byron Murphy and defensive lineman Zach Allen to name two talented pieces. Arizona's defense is likely to be bad - very bad - in 2023.
Plus, the Cardinals could be without quarterback Kyler Murray for much of 2023. Not that Seattle can't lose to a backup quarterback for the Cardinals, the Seahawks have proven that, but with so much talent either gone or not available to play for the Cardinals this coming season, Seattle should have an easier job of defeating the Cardinals. Two wins against Arizona would be important, obviously, but especially with such a tough overall road schedule for Seattle.
Seahawks 2023 opponent that is worse No. 2: Tennessee Titans
The Titans decided this was the offseason to get rid of a bunch of players. Sure, they added a couple of good defensive players in free agency with edge rusher Arden Key and Azeez Al-Shaair moving to Nashville but they lost some good ones on defense (notably David Long, Jr.). Tennessee's offense was bad in 2022 and it currently seems even worse heading into 2023.
The Titans struggled at receiver last year and have done zero to address the issue. They had a bit of cap space in which to sign a wideout, but instead seems like they chose to try to make the defense a bit better. Even that is debatable, though. Maybe Tennessee thinks it can draft a couple of good receivers, but wide receiver rookies normally have difficulty adjusting to life in the NFL.
Part of the Titans issues on offense last year were the offensive line was bad. It isn't any better now and could conceivably be worse after losing Nate Davis in free agency and oft-injured Taylor Lewan to retirement. Again, Tennessee might address the line in the draft but that doesn't mean the line is actually good in 2023 and as far as Seahawks fans are concerned, we are only worried about how good Tennessee is this coming season.
While running back Derrick Henry remains on the roster and is still very good, so does quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill simply can't elevate a passing game on his own without good receivers (I realize this seems obvious but Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones both did well enough in 2022 without having proven receivers) and makes mistakes. Tariq Woolen and Quandre Diggs should be able to pick off a Tannehill pass or three.
Seahawks 2023 opponent that is worse No. 3: Los Angeles Rams
This is probably the most obvious Seahawks opponent in 2023 that has gotten worse. And it also seems intentional on the part of Los Angeles. They sold their soul to win a Super Bowl and it paid off in the 2021 season. But 2022 was extremely disappointing for Los Angeles and all those years of trading high draft pick selections away is about to do the opposite of pay off.
Los Angeles has 11 draft picks in 2023, but eight of them are in round five or later. The Rams do not have a first-round choice and their first selection currently is in round 2 and pick 36 overall. This likely means that the Rams are going to get much better, if any, through this year's draft.
The Rams suffered tons of injuries in 2022 and this went a long way to leading Los Angeles to a 5-12 record. But this offseason they lost almost as much talent in free agency or in a trade as was on the injury report last season. Gone are linebacker Bobby Wagner (Yay!; Back with the Seahawks!), cornerback Jalen Ramsey, edge rusher Leonard Floyd, safety Taylor Rapp, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, and defensive back Nick Scott. And all that talent gone is just on the defensive side.
The Rams have been a good offensive team since Sean McVay became the head coach, but the reason they won at such a high level is because of their great defense. LA still has Aaron Donald but he doesn't have a lot of help now. The Seahawks should be expected to beat the Rams twice in 2023.