The Seattle Seahawks entered this offseason in a unique position. On the one hand, they have to deal with the pressure that comes with being the defending Super Bowl champions. On the other hand, they also have the confidence to know they can beat anybody.
The Seahawks didn't add as many new bodies to the mix as most teams, and understandably so. As such, rookie minicamp and organized team activities (OTAs) may not be as crucial as for other clubs, though the players obviously have to fight hard and earn their stripes.
For the most part, reports coming from the spring workouts have been positive, but nothing's perfect. Considering that, we'll take a look at the 3 winners and 2 losers from the Seahawks' OTAs and minicamp.
Winners from Seattle Seahawks organized team activities
George Holani
George Holani's stock rose late last season after Zach Charbonnet's injury. He played more snaps in the playoffs and even took the field for the Super Bowl, and it looks like head coach Mike Macdonald has been quite impressed with his work ethic and contributions.
Holani has made big strides and is a strong candidate to handle a 1B role next to Jadarian Price. Charbonnet will most likely miss the first stretch of the season, and the Seahawks won't rush him back to action if Holani is efficient.
He turned some heads in the spring and showed that he can be trusted with a bigger workload as a sturdy and physical blocker. He should take the field early and often in goal-line and passing down situations.
Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed was mostly an expensive decoy in his first year with the Seahawks. He arrived in Seattle midway through the campaign, and while he made a couple of big plays, he was mostly used on special teams.
Now, after securing a very lucrative three-year deal to return, he should be the team's secondary pass catcher behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He reportedly caught everything in minicamp, and with a full offseason to get a hold of the offense, he should be able to get a jump start next season.
Shaheed can give this team a speedy deep-ball specialist, something they haven't had since prime Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks went to great lengths to keep him in town, and it looks like he's poised for a breakout season.
Nick Emmanwori
Nick Emmanwori finished second in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting last season. While he ultimately won a much bigger prize, that must've left a bittersweet taste in his mouth, and that's great news for this team.
The star safety has already revealed that he's working with pass rushers to add to his repertoire. He's already one of the most dynamic and versatile defensive players in the game, and becoming a better pass rusher would probably make him the most complete defensive back.
Emmanwori was one of the team's most crucial players right out of the gate, but even though he looked like a veteran out there, he's just getting started. He's got the hunger, the work ethic, and the skills.
Losers from Seattle Seahawks OTAs
Jadarian Price
To be fair, there might not be many clear-cut losers in Seattle right now. But if we're nitpicky, Jadarian Price might not be the happiest guy right now. While he's drawn rave reviews, George Holani's surge might not be that great for him.
Price is firmly expected to replace Kenneth Walker III as the workhorse running back. They share similar traits, including speed, though he needs to improve his ball security. He was a polarizing selection at the time, and not being head-and-shoulders above the competition might not help flip the narrative in his favor.
Of course, he will still have more than enough touches to silence the doubters. However, Holani's surge may have made him go from an RB1 role to a 1A. That's not necessarily bad, but not what he hoped for.
Sam Darnold
Likewise, Sam Darnold might be the team's other loser right now. He didn't get a contract extension after the Super Bowl, though general manager John Schneider doesn't hand out extensions early, so this wasn't personal.
Even so, not even hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy has been enough to cut him some slack. Some still argue that he's the team's Achilles heel, and a guy who just led the team to a Super Bowl win shouldn't have to worry about his team potentially making a run at Brendan Sorsby, yet here we are.
If that wasn't bad enough, the Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett and might bring Aaron Donald back from retirement. That's a nightmare matchup for anyone, and he'll have to deal with them twice a season.
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