Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks.
As we sit here with our whistles whetted with the return of regular season football, many 12s want to see their favorite Seattle Seahawks stay healthy until September 10. It hurts to hear that 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba needs surgery, and injury-plagued Dee Eskridge was hurt on the first snap of preseason play (in addition to his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy).
Even when undrafted players like Joshua Onujiogu and Andrew Whittaker are lost for the season, it’s a blow to the Seattle Seahawks depth chart. Fans want to see the full potential of this team!
Injuries aren’t limited to the above players. In addition, the Seahawks have uncertainty with top-tier names like Kenneth Walker III, Jamal Adams, ‘Riq Woolen, Jordyn Brooks, Dareke Young, Mike Morris, Noah Fant, Darrell Taylor, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, Bryan Mone, and Cade Johnson. Sheesh!
Maybe Seattle’s early bye week will be a good thing after all. On the bright side, many of these guys will be good to go in the long run. Hopefully, they’re ready to contribute to a season with more expectations than it had last year.
There is a group of six players who, if they stay relatively healthy, on the Seattle Seahawks roster that are key for the team to make noise in the NFC this season.
In reverse order, here are 6 through 1:
The stout defensive end garnered by far the biggest contract that Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider has ever handed out to a free agent. Dre’Mont Jones will be expected to help Seattle strengthen their run defense and potentially free up the outside rushers.
It’s been widely reported that Jones is the player Schneider wanted from Denver in the Russell Wilson trade, not Shelby Harris. Jones provides an aggressive and experienced force as an inside rusher and run stuffer. A job that nobody else on the roster has proven they can consistently handle.
Charles Cross was the first selection from the bounty of draft picks the Seattle Seahawks secured from Denver for RW3. His development is a pivotal catalyst for 2023 team success. The sophomore blindside protector has massive anchor potential as a fleet-footed, long left tackle.
If forced to play without him, Abe Lucas would slide to the left while some mystery candidate backfills the right side of the O-line. That has offensive disarray written all over it.
Adams may get headlines, but Quandre Diggs is the modern-day Earl Thomas. The Seattle Seahawks deep center fielder brings the range, instincts, sticky hands, and big hits that Defensive Coordinator Clint Hurtt’s defensive scheme relies on.
He is the only NFL safety to record three or more interceptions in each of the last six seasons. The Hawks have a deep and exciting group of safeties who can play all over the field, but none can top Diggs’ range.
Let’s start by reminding everybody that BWagz was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded middle linebacker of 2022.
The Seattle Seahawks hupe that Bobby Wagner‘s return, after a year with the Rams, can be instrumental in helping an otherwise young defense improve against the run, as well as learn how to diagnose plays at the highest level.
It’s easy to see the gravitas he holds with his teammates. By bringing Wagner back, the organization wants his infectious confidence, focus, and determination permeate the entire defense.
In a recent training camp interview with Bump and Stacy from Seattle Sports, newly acquired Seattle safety Julian Love had this to say about Metcalf’s importance to the offense:
“This offense has a chip on its shoulder. I haven’t been around that too much; usually, it’s the defense that always has that swag, that energy.”
DK Metcalf is central to the Seattle Seahawks attacking mentality and may even be the offense’s tone-setter. Head Coach Pete Carroll like a punishing presence on offense, whether that came from Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson, or Marshawn Lynch. This is the first time it’s manifested in a receiver.
What’s crazy is that there may be another level Metcalf can reach. He is the superior wide receiver prospect to his former Ole Miss college teammate, A.J. Brown. Last year, Brown transformed Philadelphia’s offense, and Metcalf should take that as a challenge.
In 2022, Geno Smith was the league leader in completion percentage and one of six quarterbacks with a QB Rating over 100 (higher than Joe Burrow and Josh Allen). He is also the reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and, most importantly, the Seattle Seahawks number one quarterback.
Smith is determined to build on his revelation of a season last year, signing a team-friendly contract this off-season and returning to a squad he believes in. Future Hall of Fame Receiver Steve Smith Sr. recently described a conversation he had with Geno Smith at training camp, quoting him as saying, “I’m just getting started, bro. I have a lot of unfinished business.”
12’s want a hungry Geno Smith leading this team with all the poise and talent he displayed in 2022.
Will there come a time this season when Carroll and Schneider make a trade for another high-impact defender? Somebody like the disgruntled defensive tackle currently dodging Kansas City could barge his way into the Seattle Seahawks top-6 like a new Facebook friend. Fans can dream.