4 terrible things to happen to the Seahawks in the 2024 offseason

The Seattle Seahawks have had an offseason like no other since 2010. That was the first season former head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider came to Seattle to begin running the team. Carroll is gone now, but Schneider remains.

Not every move Seattle made this offseason is going to pay off positively, of course. That never happens. If Seattle is the first team that happens to, the team is going to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Four decisions that the Seahawks made this offseason might backfire. Pete Carroll is not on the list below and Mike Macdonald should be a good replacement. Macdonald would have to deal with the potential problems these four decisions could bring.

4 worst things to happen to the Seahawks in 2024 offseason

Seattle releases Quandre Diggs

Sure, Seattle had to make cap room this offseason. The team was so tight against the cap that they would not have been able to afford their draft picks or any substantial free agents. That would have been no way to welcome in a new coaching staff and expect success right away. That would have been unfair to fans and the new coaches.

Diggs was a tough cut, though. As opposed to fellow safety Jamal Adams, Diggs had stayed mostly healthy over the last four seasons and was very productive. He made the Pro Bowl each season between 2020 and 2022.

His play dipped in 2023, but that does not mean he would not have had a bounce-back season under head coach Mike Macdonald this year. His versatility seems like it would have been a great fit in Macdonald's system.

Diggs also is around the same age as 2024 signee Rayshawn Jenkins and Diggs has been better over the last few years. Releasing Diggs and then brining him back instead of signing Jenkins might prove to have been the better move. Let's hope that it does not come to that, though.

Seahawks let Damien Lewis leave in free agency

Lewis made bank when he signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason as a free agent. Obviously, former Seahawks coach, and new head coach of the Panthers, Dave Canales appreciated what Lewis can do more than Seattle did. Re-signing Lewis might have been difficult, however, as Seattle did not have much to spend. Matching the Panthers' offer would have been impossible.

Instead, Seattle brought in veteran Laken Tomlinson to replace Lewis. Tomlinson has not been as good as Lewis the last couple of years. In 610 pass-block snaps in 2023, Lewis allowed 29 total pressures while Tomlinson allowed 51 in 733 pass-block reps. Lewis was also the better run-blocker.

Lewis might have been too expensive for Seattle, though he will likely be better than Tomlinson this year. In three years, Lewis will still be playing in the NFL. Tomlinson will be retired.

Seattle doesn't take an edge rusher in the 2024 NFL draft

This is not to say that the way Schneider approached the 2024 draft was bad overall. As opposed to all the years Pete Carroll was calling the final shots, the Seahawks aggressively addressed the trenches in a way Carroll never had before. Seattle was also hamstrung by not having a second-round selection.

The problem is that while Seattle should have two pretty good edge rushers this year, Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, the team doesn't have much depth. Backup Darrell Taylor flashes inconsistent ability to chase down quarterbacks but he is terrible against the run. Derick Hall was putrid as a rookie in 2023.

If Seattle has any kind of injury concerns at edge rusher this season, the group could be in trouble. If Seattle struggles to get consistent pressure on quarterbacks, the entire defense is going to have issues.

Seahawks watch Bobby Wagner leave for a second time

Wagner was seemingly going to be a bad fit in Mike Macdonald's defense. He has never been spectacular in coverage and Macdonald's scheme requires that. That doesn't mean watching future Hall of Famer Wagner leave Seattle in free agency for the second time in three years is a celebratory occasion.

Wagner is not only one of the best Seahawks ever, but he is one of the best linebackers in the history of the NFL. One might argue that his ability to stuff the run is more valuable than any defects he has in coverage. He also stays healthy and new Seattle inside linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker already have injury issues and are starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

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