NFL PREVIEW: 2020 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Key Additions: TE Greg Olsen (free agent), OLB Bruce Irvin (free agent), CB Quinton Dubar (free agent), C B.J. Finney (free agent), RB Carlos Hyde (free agent), RT Cedric Ogbuehi (free agent), RT Bandon Shell (free agent), CB Linden Stephens (free agent)

2020 NFL Draft: LB Jordyn Brooks (round 1), DE Darrell Taylor (round 2), OG Damien Lewis (round 3), TE Colby Parkinson (round 4), RB DeeJay Dallas (round 4), DE Alton Robinson (round 5), WR Freddie Swain (round 6), WR Stephen Sullivan (round 7)

Projected Offensive Starters: WB Russell Wilson, RB Chris Carson, WR Tyler Lockett, WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Phillip Dorsett II, TE Greg Olsen, LT Duane Brown, LG Mike Iupati, C B.J. Finney, RG Damien Lewis, RT Brandon Shell

Projected Defensive Starters: LDE Bruce Irvin, LDT Poona Ford, RDT Jarran Reed, RDE Benson Mayowa, WLB Jordyn Brooks, MLB Bobby Wagner, SLB K.J. Wright, LCB Shaqull Griffin, RCB Quinton Dunbar, SS Quandre Diggs, FS Bradley McDougald

K: Jason Myers

P: Michael Dickson

Head Coach: Pete Carroll

2019 Record: 11-5, 2^nd place NFC West

A Look Back: Last season served as the perfect reminder of how important it is to have a franchise quarterback. In spite of being hamstrung by one of the worst playcallers and offensive minds in the league in OC Brian Schottenheimer, Russell Wilson still strapped this team on his back and drug them into the playoffs with an 11-win season.

Their best stretch came in the middle of the year as they reeled off five straight victories including three over NFC playoff teams in the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. It ground to a halt against the Rams, who even in a down season could find a way to knock off Seattle when it counted.

In the playoffs, they handed the Eagles another loss and then fell just short in the divisional round against the Green Bay Packers in spite of Wilson leading both teams in passing and rushing. He did all he could. It’s a shame he has so little help from the sideline.

2020 Projection: Which remains the biggest hurdle to the Seahawks making any significant improvement this season. Just look at this chart. No team in the NFL threw fewer passes on first and second down than the Seahawks in 2018. In 2019, they were the sixth from the bottom. That might make sense if you’re the Washington Whatevers or the Indianapolis Colts with Jacoby Brissett at QB. It makes no sense at all with Wilson, who is at worst the second best quarterback in football, under center.

So again, Wilson will be asked to work his magic in the fourth quarter in games that, with a competent playcaller, would have been handled long before. He’s required to do it without a ton of help on offense. Lockett and Metcalf are fine, but no one would put either in the league’s top 20 receiver conversation. Olsen was a smart addition at tight end and will pay dividends, but the NFC West could be even tougher this season.

2020 Projected Win Total: 11-5. For the Seahawks, you get paid at -140 for over 9.0 wins and +130 at 10-14 victories. Until Seattle makes a change in playcaller and actually acquires some elite skill players for Wilson to toss the ball to, they’ll max out here year after year.

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