Roster Changes

 

Key additions

QB Geno Smith, QB Paxton Lynch, FB Nick Bellore, TE Jacob Hollister, G Mike Iupati, DE Ezekiel Ansah, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Al Woods, CB Jamar Taylor

 

Key losses

QB Brett Hundley, RB Mike Davis, G J.R. Sweezy, DE Dion Jordan, CB Justin Coleman, S Earl Thomas

 

2019 draft class

DE L.J. Collier (1.29), S Marquise Blair (2.47), WR D.K. Metcalf (2.64), MLB Cody Barton (3.88), WR Gary Jennings (4.120), G Phil Haynes (4.124), DB Ugo Amadi (4.132), OLB Ben Burr-Kirven (5.142), RB Travis Homer (6.204), DT Demarcus Christmas (6.209), WR John Ursua (7.236)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Chris Carson
WR: Tyler Lockett
WR: D.K. Metcalf
WR: Gary Jennings
TE: Will Dissly
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Mike Iupati
C: Justin Britt
RG: D.J. Fluker
RT: Germain Ifedi

 

Defense

DE: Ezekiel Ansah
DT: Jarran Reed
DT: Poona Ford
DE: L.J. Collier
OLB: Mychal Kendricks
MLB: Bobby Wagner
OLB: K.J. Wright
CB: Shaquill Griffin
CB: Tre Flowers
S: Bradley McDougald
S: Marquise Blair

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Geno Smith, QB Paxton Lynch, RB Rashaad Penny, RB J.D. McKissic, RB C.J. Prosise, RB Travis Homer, FB Nick Bellore, WR David Moore, WR Jaron Brown, WR Amara Darboh, TE Nick Vannett, TE Jacob Hollister, OT George Fant, OT Jamarco Jones, G Ethan Pocic, G Phil Haynes, DE Cassius Marsh, DE Rasheem Green, DE Nazair Jones, DT Al Woods, DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Demarcus Christmas, OLB Barkevious Mingo, OLB Shaquem Griffin, OLB Ben Burr-Kirven, MLB Cody Barton, MLB Austin Calitro, CB Jamar Taylor, CB Akeem King, DB Ugo Amadi, S Tedric Thompson, S Delano Hill

 

Biggest strength: Linebacker

The overall depth for Seattle could be considered their biggest strength, but I’ll focus on the loaded group of linebackers. Bobby Wagner is obviously a stud in the middle, Mychal Kendricks proved to be a difference-maker in four games last season, and K.J. Wright will hopefully bounce back with a healthy 2019 campaign. Behind them, the Seahawks have invested in Cody Barton (third round), Shaquem Griffin (fifth round), and Ben Burr-Kirven (fifth round) over the past two years, and Barkevious Mingo will also have a role after starting 14 games in his first season with Seattle.

 

Biggest weakness: Cornerback

The Seahawks are set on the outside with left cornerback Shaquill Griffin and right cornerback Tre Flowers, but the duo will need to take a leap this year if they’re going to be a strength for Pete Carroll’s defense. And with two games against the high-powered Rams, two games against the emerging 49ers, and two games against the Kyler Murray-led Cardinals, Seattle’s entire secondary will be tested.

 

Position battle to watch: Wide receiver

Tyler Lockett—who should get time both outside and in the slot—will take over as the team’s clear No. 1 receiver this season, but all four of D.K. Metcalf, Gary Jennings, David Moore, and Jaron Brown are expected to have a role behind him. I was high on both Metcalf (No. 21 overall) and Jennings (No. 65 overall) in the pre-draft process, and I think they will be able to seize starting roles by showing well in camp for a franchise that feeds on competition.

 

One more thought

Plenty of “experts” wrote off the Seahawks last season because of their return to an old-school, run-heavy foundation, but I thought they would exceed expectations, and the roster looks even better in 2019. As long as Russell Wilson is under center and the competitive culture remains intact, Seattle should be a perennial contender.

 

Early over/under: 8.5 wins (via CBS Sports)

Over. I’m now over on the entire NFC West, but it’s perhaps the strongest division in football, and the Seahawks are clearly back on the upswing after retooling last year. The four straight primetime games (@ SF, @ PHI, v MIN, @ LAR) in November/December will be key.