The Seattle Seahawks are a team that has struggled to make a deep playoff run since their loss in Super Bowl 49. Although they own one of the best records in the regular season the past five seasons (50-29-1), they haven’t been strong in the playoffs. Last season, Seattle’s loss to Green Bay in the divisional round marked their third divisional-round loss in five years. With the recent struggles, can the Seattle Seahawks finally get over the playoff hump and make another Super Bowl?
Draft
Round 1, Pick 27 overall: LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Round 2, Pick 48 overall: DE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Round 3, Pick 69 overall: OG Damien Lewis, LSU
Round 4, Pick 133 overall: TE Colby Parkinson, Stanford
Round 4, Pick 144 overall: RB DeeJay Dallas, Miami
Round 5, Pick 148 overall: DE Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Round 6, Pick 214 overall: WR Freddie Swain, Florida
Round 7, Pick 251 overall: TE/WR Stephen Sullivan, LSU
Draft Grade: C+
Draft Description
Even though Seattle’s first-round pick, Jordyn Brooks, is an exceptional talent, they should have prioritized team need over the best available player. A team that gave up the third-most sacks (48) and ranked T-30th in sacks (28) should have focused more on protecting Russell Wilson and adding pass rushers.
However, the Brooks pick is not as bad as everyone makes it to be. Although Brooks joins a crowded linebacking core led by Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, he will learn from two terrific linebackers. His 4.54 40 time makes him one of the fastest linebackers coming out of the draft. The reason this pick makes sense for Seattle is the fact that Brooks’s college coach at Texas Tech was also Wagner’s coach at Utah State.
Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells called Jordyn Brooks the “next Bobby Wagner.”
Brooks was remarkable in his final year at Texas Tech. He finished with 108 tackles (20 for loss) and three sacks. Over his four year career in college, Brooks had 360 tackles, good for seventh all-time at Texas Tech. Time will tell if Brooks will be as good as Wagner, but selecting Brooks made the most sense at pick 27.
Their second-round pick Darrell Taylor will help Seattle’s front seven tremendously. Last season, Taylor was exceptional at Tennessee totaling 8.5 sacks.
At 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds, Taylor is a scary sight for offensive linemen. He has an excellent bull rush move as well as outstanding footwork. His 18.5 sacks the past two seasons show just that. This selection will presumably add help to the defensive end position in Seattle.
Key Additions
The Seahawks had the most striking deal of the offseason trading for All-Pro safety, Jamal Adams. Although Seattle had to give up two first-round picks, a third-round pick and safety Bradley McDougald, Adams is a special kind of talent that can’t be replaced.
Adams is coming off his best season as a pro football player. In his 14 games for New York, he had 75 tackles (10 for loss), 13 quarterback hits and 6.5 sacks. His 6.5 sacks ranked first among all safeties in the league. Adams can simply do it all and his presence on the field is undeniable.
A defense led by Bobby Wagner, Jamal Adams and Shaquill Griffin is a scary site for offenses. Could this be the new legion of boom in Seattle?
To help Russell Wilson in the passing game, the Seahawks signed veteran tight end Greg Olsen. Despite the fact that Olsen is entering his 14th NFL season, Olsen still has enough left in the tank to be a reliable weapon for Wilson.
Although Olsen will not put up 80 catches for over 1,000 yards as he once did, he will be a steady red-zone target and an outstanding run blocker for Seattle.
Other Key Additions: Bruce Irvin (OLB), B.J. Finney (OT), Brandon Shell (OT), Quinton Dunbar (CB) and Phillip Dorsett (WR)
Key Losses
As mentioned earlier, the Seahawks need all the pass rushers that they can get, yet they let Jadeveon Clowney walk. Although Clowney has struggled in his career with injuries missing 21 games over his six-year career, he is an elite pass rusher when healthy.
Clowney and Seattle could not agree on a deal as Clowney wanted $20 million per year, while Seattle was only willing to give $18.5 million. The big factor being Clowney’s past injury problems.
Although last season was considered a poor year for Clowney, he still managed to have three sacks with 31 tackles, four forced fumbles and 13 quarterback hits. His best years were considered to be in 2017 and 2018 when he combined for 18.5 sacks, 106 tackles and 42 quarterback hits.
Clowney is a three-time pro bowler and former first overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and will look to sign with a playoff team this season.
Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah is another pass rusher that Seattle lost. Like Clowney, Ansah is also a free agent looking to sign a contract. In Ansah’s seven-year career, he has 50.5 sacks with 12 forced fumbles.
Ansah and Clowney have both proven to be solid pass rushers, so hopefully, Seattle can find viable replacements for them.
Other Key Losses: George Fant (OT), Quinton Jefferson (DT), D.J Fluker (OT), Al Woods (DT), and German Ifedi (OT)
Record Prediction
12-4
Although the Seahawks lost three offensive lineman and two former Pro Bowlers in Clowney and Ansah, Jamal Adams is a difference-maker on the field. The Seattle Seahawks finally get over the playoff hump in 2020. With new offensive pieces around Wilson, he will finally get his first MVP vote. As for Seattle, they will win the tough NFC West and compete for the NFC Championship for the first time in six years.
Featured Image Courtesy of CBSSPORTS
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