The Seattle Seahawks are 5-2 and in first place in the NFC West. No, no. Don't go checking on that. I tell you it's true, almost shockingly so.
I don't mean to imply that Seattle is not good because they are, but the San Francisco 49ers started the season 5-0 so if you just woke up after nearly a month's nap, you might want to sit down for a minute. Plus, let's be real. The 49ers have been pretty banged-up at more key spots than Seattle.
Still, let's hope the Seahawks stomp the 49ers twice in 2023 and prove themselves to be the best team in the division. There is without a question a bit of an arms race between the teams right now, though. Both added defensive linemen at the trade deadline, so let's start there with Wednesday's news.
Seattle Seahawks and 49ers both added D-linemen in an effort to win NFC West
So, who got the better deal? Seattle getting Leonard Williams from the New York Giants in return for a 2024 second-round pick and a fifth-round 2025 choice while New York picks up a huge chunk of Williams' contract or the San Francisco 49ers trading a singular third-round choice to the Washington Commanders for Chase Young? Well, it gets complicated.
As far as the draft capital, Seattle gave up a late-round pick, but also an early-round choice in 2024. The Seahawks should assume that they will draft late in each round as they should have a decent record. That means the second-round pick they would have had would be closer to the third round and Seattle already has two third-round choices in 2024. San Francisco also had two third-round choices so what they gave up in draft capital is less than Seattle because the 49ers also still have their second-round pick.
As far as money, neither team is really paying much for Williams or Young, respectively, in 2023. Young is on his rookie deal and has a minimal cap hit, but since New York is picking up most of Williams' contract, Seattle is OK too.
The bottom line is that both the Seahawks and 49ers could be winners from the trades and there will be no clear winner in comparison between the teams. But still, let's hope the Seahawks win the division because that is what matters most.
Abraham Lucas might be out for a while still
Head coach Pete Carroll said on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of Abraham Lucas returning, "Just not quite ready." Carroll said the same thing a few weeks ago about Lucas, too. It is very difficult to parse Pete's words, but we might start safely assuming that Lucas won't be back for weeks, if not missing the rest of the season entirely.
Soft tissue injuries are much more difficult to ascertain as far as how long a player will be out. Lucas had some pain in his knee - an injury he has had since college - and got an injection for the pain. Carroll said Lucas has been running some but also feeling "discomfort." That word is really concerning.
With broken bones it's actually easier to know where a player is in their rehab. We can see if the bone is healed on x-rays and do tests on the strength of the bone. With knee injuries and a player feeling discomfort, there is no telling when or if that discomfort will subside. We know that Lucas played in Week 1 and then was placed on injured reserve where he remains, and we do not know when he will be ready to return.
In Lucas's absence, the Seahawks have played Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, and Jason Peters at right tackle. Curhan started well, but faded. Forsythe has been solid but not spectacular. Peters will be a Hall of Famer but he's also 41 years old now. Seattle needs Lucas back, but he might not return soon.
Jake Bobo is great and the numbers back it up
Jake Bobo doesn't get a ton of targets from Geno Smith, but he makes the most of the ones he does get. He has 13 targets in his rookie year through seven games and he has caught 10 of them for 135 yards. He's also scored two touchdowns receiving and one rushing. Bobo is second on the team in total touchdowns with 3 (in case math is as hard for you as it is for me).
Jake Bobo is third on the team in yards-per-touch at 12.5. His 76.9 catch percentage is third on the team among all players with more than 6 targets. The bottom line of all this is Bobo has been good where the raw numbers apply, but he's also helped the team so much more than just running and catching. Bobo is also an elite blocker.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Bobo is the 14-highest-graded receiver in the NFL so far this year. He is seventh-best in run blocking, but he is 21st where it matters most: Catching the ball. Time will tell how well Jake Bobo does in the NFL, but he is looking currently like Seattle's latest gem of an undrafted free agent.
Speaking of PFF, they seem to not know what to do when it comes to defensive linemen. Jarran Reed is currently ranked as the 45th-best interior lineman. Reed has been a key reason why Seattle is better against the run this year than last, and he has 4 sacks. Just to be clear, PFF is completely wrong about Reed.