Though fans may view the team’s decision to cut ties with several popular, high-priced veterans this offseason as early stages of a rebuild, there’s a method to the madness for general manager John Schneider and the Seattle Seahawks.
Scoffing at the idea the Seahawks will be entering a season of rebuilding in 2018, Schneider told 710 ESPN’s Brock and Salk: “It’s just a reset. We’ve got some pretty good football players on this team.”
Indicating Seattle has several young players people may be unfamiliar with – including name-dropping special teams standout Tedric Thompson – Schneider and coach Pete Carroll hope to return the Seahawks to a winning formula by building a “smart, tough, reliable, fast, physical football team” through intense competition.
Sound familiar? Such roster construction shouldn’t come as a surprise for Schneider and Carroll in Seattle, as the dynamic duo created similar magic in the past by jettisoning veterans such as Marcus Trufant, Josh Wilson, Lawyer Milloy, and Kelly Jennings in favor of younger, unproven talents. Among those who benefited from the roster turnover, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor became starters and eventually teamed up with safety Earl Thomas to form the well-renowned “Legion of Boom.”
The Seahawks brain trust believes in this formula, and after missing the playoffs for the first time in six years, it was time to shake up an aging roster and re-instill Carroll’s “always compete” mantra.
Across the board, the Seahawks will be initiating a youth movement unlike anything seen in Seattle since the aforementioned roster demolition prior to the 2010 season.
Offensively, Seattle found a short-term replacement for Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson by signing veteran tight end Ed Dicksonand added a reliable complementary receiver in Jaron Brown.
Ultimately, however, the Seahawks will need to see what former third-round pick Nick Vannett and converted quarterback Tyrone Swoopes can do with extended snaps at tight end. On the outside, Seattle has swung and missed on several free agent wide receivers and will be counting on immense growth from 2017 draft picks Amara Darboh and David Moore to pick up the slack for now-departed vertical threat Paul Richardson.
Youth will also be served on the defensive side of the football, as Carroll could be looking multiple starting lineup changes. After letting Sheldon Richardson walk during free agency, defensive tackles Jarran Reed and Naz Jones will become the building blocks of Seattle’s defensive line. At defensive end, Seattle will be replacing Michael Bennett and most likely Cliff Avril with much younger options in Frank Clark and Dion Jordan.
While linebacker should remain unchanged with Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright returning, Schneider cited 27-year-old Barkevous Mingo as Seattle’s top priority as an outside free agent target. With his best football yet to be played, Seattle opted to give him a two-year deal, which indicates the front office views him as a key piece in the team’s latest roster transition.
The secondary will likely see the most changes, as Seattle already recycled Sherman, DeShawn Shead, and Jeremy Lane at cornerback in favor of rising star Shaquill Griffin, DeAndre Elliott, and a cast of relative unknowns. In addition, Chancellor’s neck injury could prevent him from seeing the field again and Thomas continues to be linked to trade rumors, creating an opportunity for Delano Hill or Thompson to see the field defensively this season.
Undergoing this many changes so rapidly often makes it difficult for NFL teams to find success on the field, but unlike when the Seahawks overhauled the roster back in 2010, the current roster has more than enough remaining star power to make this a seamless transition.
With Carroll still at the helm, quarterback Russell Wilson still under center, and re-trusting “the process” that paved the way for Seattle’s recent string of success, Schneider believes the best is yet to come for the Seahawks.
