The Seattle Seahawks have quite a few free agency decisions to make this offseason. That goes beyond just who Seattle might want to sign from another team. Seattle needs to decide which of its own free agents to try to re-sign.
Plus, Seattle's free agents might ask themselves if they want to come back. Maybe they want to go to a team they think has a better chance to contend. Of course, the decision might come down to whether Seattle has enough money to pay them.
But the four players that follow should either seriously consider returning to the Seahawks or be happy they are already on the roster. Seattle has a new head coach in Mike Macdonald that should improve the team while improving many specific players. To be good in 2024, Seattle needs to make sure these four stick with the team.
No. 1 - Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant should stick around
Hopefully, Noah Fant does not see the "Seahawks" part of his jersey and think, "Oh, I could have done so much better as far as production!" Because he is probably correct. Whether the issue was quarterback Geno Smith or the scheme of the offense by former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron remains to be seen. My feeling is the problem was Waldron because the same issue as far as not getting tight ends involved existed with Russell Wilson as QB1.
In 2024, Seattle will have a new OC, of course. That OC should see the talent Seattle would have at tight end with Fant and Will Dissly and think, "We should get those people involved more." Fant, unlike Dissly, is an unrestricted free agent, though. He is free to sign elsewhere so the new Seattle OC might not have a chance to use Fant.
The hope is that general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald can talk Fant into returning. Macdonald is likely want an offensive scheme that compliments his defense and that should mean running the ball a bit more while using the tight ends to help pick up first downs. Fant only had 43 targets in 2023 and that could double in Seattle in 2024.
No. 2 - Linebacker Jordyn Brooks
Like Fant, Brooks is an unrestricted free agent. The Seahawks chose to not pick up his fifth-year option likely because he would have been owed $12 million or so in 2024. That made sense at the time as Brooks had been injured and he had not become a transcendent player. He still has not, but he did show the ability to come back quickly from being hurt and be a very good player.
But Brooks should return because Mike Macdonald might easily make him into a top-ten linebacker. Macdonald worked wonders with the Baltimore Ravens as both Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith graded in the top 23 linebackers in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Brooks has the same kind of speed and athleticism as Smith or Queen. He just hasn't worked in a system that benefits his strengths.
Under Macdonald, Brooks won't be asked to blitz much, but he will be put into positions where he can best succeed. He will also probably be taught to cover better. Pass coverage has been a weakness for Seattle's linebackers for years. There is no reason to think Brooks could not excel in that area.
As Seattle's run defnese scheme was poor overall, Brooks' personal numbers were low. With an improved system - and the system will improve with Macdonald - then Brooks is also going to look a lot better. Maybe Brooks comes back for one season but then improves his asking price for 2025 after likely being fantastic in Macdonald's system.
No. 3 - Quarterback Geno Smith
Geno Smith is still on the roster, of course, but there is no real way of knowing what the team might want to do about their quarterback situation moving forward. Smith is not old, but he isn't in his 20s either. Maybe with a young, first-time head coach, the team wants to get a younger quarterback. That could mean taking one in the first round of the 2024 NFL or trading for someone such as Justin Fields.
But the biggest reason Smith should be happy to return to Seattle is that his defense is probably going to be a lot better. Some fans seem to think Smith was the problem with the team. He wasn't. In fact, Smith led the NFL with five fourth quarter comebacks in 2023. Where would the team be without him?
With a better defense and an offensive coordinator who is not as run averse as Shane Waldron seemed to be Smith's number are likely going to be even more efficienct. This likely means Seattle is winning a game or two more in 2024 as well. If Seattle had won one more game this season, they would have been in the postseason.
Moreover, a defense that is much better for the Seahawks and a more efficient quarterback does not just mean Seattle will make the playoffs but be dangerous once there. Smith led the NFL in completion percentage in 2022 and had a bad defense. He tied for the league-lead in game-winning drives in 2023 with a bad defense. The team around Smith should be better and this will make Smith better, too.
No. 4 - Defensive lineman Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams has already made his bones in the NFL. He was very good for the New York Jets to begin his career, was good after joining the New York Giants, and was terrific after coming over midway through 2023 to the Seahawks. No matter where Williams ends up in free agency, he is very likely to be a highly productive player.
Seattle should be more desperate to keep Williams than Williams is motivated to stay with the Seahawks. If Williams, who will be 30 years old in Week 1 of the 2024 season, wants to play near the end of his career for a potential contender then he is going to ask himself if Seattle fits that description. Is Seattle closer to being a contender with Mike Macdonald than Pete Carroll?
We know that a potential pairing of Macdonald and Williams is likely magical. Macdonald puts all his players in their best positions to succeed. Williams already knows how to succeed but would be playing in a revamped Seattle defense that will probably allow Williams to get more support.
We should hope that Williams comes back. He likely has two or three very good seasons left, if not more. He made Seattle's defensive line better when he arrived in 2023 but the scheme and run defense overall was atrocious. Just think how much better and productive Williams could be in a defense led by Mike Macdonald.