Seattle's 5 Biggest Needs for 2017
After a semi-disappointing ending to the 2016 season, the Seattle Seahawks look ahead to 2017 as a Super Bowl favorite. Vegas ranked Seattle as the 5th most likely team to win it all. But anybody who watched the team all year will point to several major holes that need to be addressed if the Lombardi Trophy is coming back to Seattle. Here are the 5 biggest needs for the 2017 Seahawks:
1. Cornerback- It feels a little odd writing this, but the Legion of Boom needs help. Deshawn Shead was the healthiest member of the secondary this season, but will likely miss a large chunk of 2017 after suffering a torn ACL in Atlanta. Both Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas missed significant time and Richard Sherman battled a MCL tweak all season.
Jeremy Lane was a major disappointment. Newcomer Neiko Thorpe showed some promise, but is an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) and his Special Teams prowess will make him an attractive piece to many teams. A healthy Sherman, Chancellor and Thomas could all help the great but no longer dominate secondary, but they still need help.
Thankfully, most people agree that the 2017 draft is loaded with talent in the secondary. The Seahawks need to add at least 1 quality corner to help revamp the secondary.
2. Offensive Line- Perhaps the most obvious need, Seattle cannot maintain status quo on the O-line. For the first time in his career, Quarterback Russell Wilson suffered a major leg injury (2 in fact) that severally limited his mobility. The lack of the threat had serious ramifications on both the pass game and the run game.
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Seattle has stated they wish to return to the "bully" in the NFC, but they cannot get their without turning over this line. Left Tackle George Fant shows some promise as a "swing" tackle, but is not an answer to protect the blind side of your Franchise QB. Garry Gilliam flashed late, which might be enough to buy him 1 last shot in Seattle.
The interior of line was better than its flanks, but only Center Justin Britt proved to be a solid starting option in the NFL. 2016 First Rounder Germaine Ifedi showed some promise, particularly in the run game, but has a long ways to go. Left Guard Mark Glowinski needs to clean up his foot work in year 3 if he wants to be anything more than a backup guard in the NFL.
The "experts" don't sound optimistic about this draft class, but Free Agency does offer up some interesting names like Ricky Wagner and Reilly Reiff.
3. Running back- Thomas Rawls and C.J. Procise are both very exciting, and the vision of them staying healthy for an entire season should have anybody excited. But for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, banking on 2 players with no history of staying healthy is not smart.
The Seahawks do not need to go get an elite runner, but they do need to add some competition in the running back room. Rawls, Procise and Alex Collins have not proven they are a full time starter at this level, and until they do, Seattle should consider the position an area of need.
The 2017 Draft is loaded with a cornucopia of backs, in every style you can imagine. The team isn't likely to spend at the position in Free Agency, but if they do, DeAngelo Williams, LaGarrette Blount and Eddie Lacy all fit the mold.
4. Outside Linebacker- The Seahawks might have the best Linebacker duo in the NFL. But even Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright need a strong 3rd. It is possible the team is happy with Mike Morgan, who certainly plays at a satisfactory level, but he is an UFA, and the team might look for more upside at the position.
The team has a history of wanting a 3-4 style "Sam" linebacker, a la Bruce Irvin, to stay in the game on nickel defense to rush the passer. The issue with this strategy is that LB's that rush the passer cost money on the open market. The Free Agent class is loaded with such players, but Seattle is unlikely to jump into this pool.
Instead, they may focus on the draft to fill this need. Players like Temple's Hassan Reddick, UCLA's Takkarstic McKinley, or LSU's Tashawn Bowers all fit the mold.
5. Wide Receiver- In particular, a Jermaine Kearse replacement. It is easy to hate on Kearse after a visibly poor season in 2016, but this is actually a matter of practicality. The Seahawks cannot afford to hang on to Kearse after the end of 2017, and he will likely be cut then. Also, Tyler Lockett will need a minor miracle to avoid starting the season on the PUP list.
Paul Richardson emerged in the playoffs, and Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham are excellent receiving options. But the team can give Wilson even more weapons. The team will not be spending big on a free agent wide receiver, since they have roughly $18 million in cap space invested in Baldwin and Graham alone, but this draft does offer several unique players.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Penn States Chris Goodwin and California's Chad Hansen both fit the Kearse mold as slightly above average height with an ability to high point the football. If the team wants to replace Tyler Lockett, North Carolina's Ryan Switzer offers the versatility to return kicks/punts and work well out of the slot.
What do you think are the biggest needs for the Seahawks? Comment below or hit us up on Twitter @12sTalk
