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DK Metcalf is one of the many key players the Seahawks have drafted into in recent years. (Getty)
For the first time since 2016, the Seattle Seahawks are NFC West champions. But aside from eight players, the roster has essentially changed completely during that time.
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Stars like Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright, Tyler Lockett and Jarran Reed were on that squad, as were current training squad members Alex Collins and Luke Willson as well as injured special teams captain Neiko Thorpe. , but other than those eight, it’s basically a new list.
Now Seattle is bursting with young talent, will win at least 11 games in 2020, and hope to be ready for more long-term success under the leadership of head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. It comes as the rest of NFC West also amassed young talent and looked set to take the Seattle division away.
Danny o’neil on 710 ESPN Seattle, Danny and Gallant said it was remarkable that Seattle was able to revamp and rebuild the roster without actively “tanking” and racking up the best draft picks like others in the division have. done in recent years.
“Whatever the word for it, that’s what the Seahawks have been doing for the last two or three years where they’ve basically flipped almost their entire roster without losing a record and they’re now back in the game. point where I believe they have the best young roster in the division, ”he said.
The San Francisco 49ers, for example, were drafted into the top 10 from 2016 to 2019, drafting three defensive linemen and one offensive tackle. Seattle regularly drafted at or near the end of the draft due to successful seasons. The Seahawks have won at least nine games every year since 2012.
“The Seahawks weren’t drafted near the top of the first round and yet you look around the division and say ‘who’s the best team to go forward?’ and I think it’s the Seahawks, ”he said.
Former NFL wide receiver Michael bumpus called what the Seahawks made a “slow steady grind” that was worth it.
“They didn’t take the easy way out. They didn’t take and it shows character, ”he says. “They’re going to make the most of what they’ve got and that’s what they’ve done, and then along the way, they’re going to add things that hopefully materialize in the future.” They realized it was a marathon, it wasn’t a sprint… It’s a long process and the Hawks have a really good process.
O’Neil said it’s easy for teams to start folding after paying their quarterback, but the Seahawks seem to be ready to show they’re one of the top four teams in the NFL, well for Wilson to be the second-highest-paid player in the league to enter the 2020 season.
“But the thing that becomes a challenge … is that the quarterback is getting expensive, and Russell has been expensive for four or five years now, and they’ve gotten to the point where it can weigh things down (but it’s not is not the case) “, he told me.
While having those latter draft picks and less money due to Wilson’s salary, the Seahawks have added impact players like DK Metcalf, Damien Lewis, Jordyn Brooks, LJ Collier, Ugo Amadi and others over the course of the last two seasons. The 2017 and 2018 drafts also added key players such as Chris Carson, Shaquill Griffin, and Will Dissly. Starting defensive tackle Poona Ford was also added as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
“I feel like they have a young core,” he says.
Bumpus added that this offseason will be tough with Griffin and Wright set to hit free agency and Carlos Dunlap and Jamal Adams will likely look for new offers.
“They have young people, but the founding of this team, the older guys, what are you going to do with them?” he said.
Paul Gallant noted that this offseason will be particularly critical as the salary cap is likely dropping due to loss of income due to COVID-19.
“There’s a part of me that wants to keep it all together, but there’s a part of you that has to realize the limits of the salary cap and I wonder how many players are going to be convinced that maybe it’s worth it. take less in the long run. ,” he said.
Listen to Wednesday’s conversation at this link or in the player below.
Follow Brandon Gustafson on Twitter.
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