The Seattle Seahawks appear on the upswing heading into 2023. But did 2022 fool us a bit? Did the team so far exceed expectations last year that it is skewing how we should view the 2023 team?
Seattle made massive changes at some position groups. The defensive line has been nearly 100 percent rebuilt. On paper, the group should be better, but then football games aren't played on paper. Plus, the defensive line still seems to have a hole in it (more on that in a minute).
The offensive line still needs to resolve some potential problems as well. And did Seattle choose some players too early in the 2023 NFL draft. What follows are three potential mistakes Seattle made this offseason.
Seahawks could have waited on a running back in the 2023 NFL draft
Seattle drafting Zach Charbonnet, who I like a lot as a person and a player, might turn out to be a good move long-term, but the Seahawks simply had other needs at pick 52 over in the 2023 draft. No offense to rookie guard Anthony Bradford, and I hope he does well for Seattle if and when he gets a chance to start, but Seattle needed a more proven prospect in the draft. Seattle could have chosen Florida mauler O'Cyrus Torrence at pick 52 but he instead went at pick 59 to the Buffalo Bills.
Seattle could also chosen another Florida product, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, Sr., who is big enough and athletic enough to play nose guard. The Seahawks still have a question mark there, which is a bit of a shame as the rest of the defensive line appears to have been upgraded with free agent signees Jarran Reed and Dre'Mont Jones. Maybe Seattle wants to go more with a 2-4-5 base because they don't seem overly concerned with the important spot in the middle of the D-line.
The other issue is that while Charbonnet might be good, so might seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh. McIntosh should have gone higher in the draft and has a versatile game. He is a legitimate three-down running back as he can run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. Seattle could have chosen McIntosh late in the draft, signed a relatively inexpensive veteran RB in free agency, and then chosen a player at a greater position of need in the second round.
Seahawks didn't bring back Al Woods
The Seattle Seahawks did a lot to upgrade their roster this offseason. Getting a potentially excellent WR3 - and let's be honest, future WR2 once Tyler Lockett begins to slow down a bit - in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft with Jaxon Smith-Smith gives Geno Smith and the offense more variety and makes the unit even more dangerous to opposing defenses. Adding Devon Witherspoon at corner in the first round also should improve the secondary for the next half-decade, at least.
But Seattle still might have a big hole in the middle of the defensive line. Sure, Seattle chose Cam Young in the 2023 draft, but there's no guarantee he can be good. And thinking a rookie nose tackle can come into the league and be immediately and high-level effective against veteran offensive linemen is a big ask. Young still needs to add some quality size, including muscle mass and not just mass in general, to consistently eat up blockers.
The 2022 version of the Seahawks defensive line was not good, especially against the run. But Al Woods was not the problem. In fact, Woods was legit good when he was in the game. Even at 36 years old, Woods is likely going to be effective for his new team, the New York Jets. And Woods only signed for $2,250,000. Seattle should have brought Woods back to eliminate the nose tackle problem heading into 2023.
In 2022, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Woods had a good run defense grade of 65.2. But in 2021, his grade was a sterling 80.3. He's still capable of getting close to that number again. Plus, Woods had 13 total pressures last year so he can sometimes make quarterbacks nervous. Seattle just doesn't have that right now.
Seahawks weren't aggressive in free agency with the offensive line
Seattle's offensive line also has question marks. Three spots are set - left tackle Charles Cross, left guard Damien Lewis, and right tackle Abraham Lucas - but center and right guard are not. That means 40 percent of the offensive line is still a problem that needs to be fixed. Seattle did draft a couple of potential pieces and signed one versatile player in free agency, but none of those players added may be very good this coming season.
The Seahawks were more aggressive in free agency this offseason than maybe ever under general manager John Schneider. Seattle, for instance, signed defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones to the biggest free agent contract in the Schneider and coach Pete Carroll are. Jones should be a good addition, but he needs to improve his total pressure numbers to truly earn the new deal.
Seattle could have spent some other money, instead of bringing in Evan Brown and re-signing Phil Haynes and signed right guard Isaac Seumalo. Seumalo instead signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for three years and $24 million. At an average of $8 million a season, Seattle could have made room for that. Plus, Seumalo is proven to be better than Haynes and better than most other right guards as well.
Overall, I like what Seattle tried to do in free agency. But as good as the offensive skill-position group is, the offense is not going to perform as peak production if the offensive line isn't good. The hope is that Cross and Lucas are even better in year two, and that Lewis has another good year. But there are two potential holes in the middle of the offensive line as well.