Most analysts have the Seahawks as a below-average team heading into the 2024 season, with a fundamentally flawed roster. However, not everyone agrees. Earlier this week ESPN ranked the roster for all 32 NFL teams and Seattle landed right in the middle of their list at No. 16.
Seth Walder at ESPN listed the team’s greatest strength as their wide receiver corps, the greatest weakness as their offensive line. The x-factor is second-year wide out Jaxon Smith-Njigba:
“Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba had a poor rookie campaign with open/catch/YAC scores of 45/23/55 in ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics, putting him well below average. While Seattle could get by on their aforementioned receiving strength before, they might need Smith-Njigba now. Lockett will turn 32 this year and showed signs of decline last year.”
We’d be pretty surprised if the Seahawks get anything but a fantastic year from JSN. The real x-factor is going to be that offensive line and whether it can be merely a mediocre unit or a back-breaking, fatal flaw. Much will depend on offensive line coach Scott Huff and how he can coach them up, as well as how much offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb can minimize their issues in pass protection.
On the other side of the ball, we’re confident that head coach Mike Macdonald will finally get their issues against the run fixed and dramatically improve their pass rush prowess. So long as the key pieces stay healthy the Seahawks should have no worse than an average defense after several seasons hovering near the bottom.
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