This is The Gridiron Review’s Seattle Seahawks 2023 Offseason Team Breakdown. We provide you with all things you need to know about the Seahawks heading into FA and the draft. We also provide our thoughts on the needs of the team and how we think they can be addressed!

Seattle Seahawks 2022 Record: 9-8

Seattle Seahawks Salary Cap(According to Spotrac): $31,343,071

Notable Free Agents(According to Spotrac):

• Geno Smith, QB
• Drew Lock, QB
• Rashaad Penny, RB
• Travis Homer, RB
• Marquise Goodwin, WR
• Austin Blythe, C
• LJ Collier, DL
• Poona Ford, DL
• Cody Barton, LB
• Justin Coleman, CB

Team Needs: QB, WR(Primarily Depth), IOL(Center and depth), DL(Upgrade), ILB, CB, S(Depth)

3 Free Agent Targets(In No Order):

1. Arden Key, DL/Dre’Mont Jones, DL
2. Tremaine Edmunds, LB
3. Logan Ryan, CB/S

Seattle Seahawks First Round Pick(s): Picks 5 (From Denver for Russ) & 20

3 Draft Prospect Fits/Targets:

1. Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
2. Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia
3. JL Skinner, S, Boise State

Our Seahawks Ideal Offseason Plans/Thoughts:

• The Seahawks went out and had a season that no one expected under 32 year old breakout QB Geno Smith. They made the playoffs as the 7th seed, but were knocked out in the first round by their division rival the 49ers. The nice thing about Seattle’s roster is that they aren’t built on superstars. Outside of DK Metcalf, Tariq Woolen is the biggest name on their team and he was a rookie. Seattle also isn’t losing a ton in free agency. The foundation is returning with a good amount of cap space and draft capital, the Seahawks could be scary next season.
• We believe that the Seahawks shouldn’t lock themselves in at 5. We don’t think they necessarily need to take one of the QBs in this draft class. If someone is looking to trade up, it would be wise to field the call and see what’s being offered because it definitely could end up helping the team more than drafting at 5. 
• It is believed that the Seahawks are planning to bring back Geno Smith. Seattle needs to play it smart though. The reason they are in such a good spot right now is because they aren’t paying a QB. If Smith wants a contract around the $30-35 million range, it wouldn’t be bad to bring him back. If he wants anything over $35 million, Seattle should think about it. We’ve heard that Pete Carroll wants to bring Lock back. Saying that “He doesn’t know what’s coming up. He’s got to wait and see, but we’d love to have him back and keep growing with him.” It sounds like the future of the organization could be Lock’s to at least fight for.  
• For the second straight offseason there are trade rumors surrounding star WR DK Metcalf. It would be a mistake to trade away parts of this team considering you have built a strong foundation. If the Seahawks do deal Metcalf then they are going to need to address this room. If you decide to trade Metcalf, Dee Eskridge should be ready to take over as a starter… or so you would hope. Eskridge was talked about as a breakout candidate last season, and that didn’t happen, so it makes you wonder what’s happening with his development. If everyone stays, they could still add a little bit of depth to the room. 
• All football fans heard while Russ was in Seattle was that the offensive line was awful. Once they traded Russ, they decided to finally address on the line (makes sense). They signed C Austin Blythe, and then drafted Cross in the 1st and Lucas in the 3rd. Thanks in part to the three 2022 additions, we don’t recall hearing any issues or complaints with the Seahawks offensive line this year. The priority should be re-signing Blythe to keep this offensive line together. Outside of that, some depth could be added, particularly to the IOL, but this unit should be good once again heading into next season.
• The Seahawks have a handful of good rotational pieces on the defensive line, but they are lacking two things. The first is a pass rush specialist on the interior to pair with breakout OLB Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe, who still has a lot to prove. You could bring back Poona Ford as long as he doesn’t ask for too much money because he had decent production and is one of the younger pieces in the room. Al Woods and Shelby Harris are both solid veterans to have in the room, and have key roles, but both are in their 30s. If the Seahawks want a pass rusher to add to the rotation, Arden Key could be a name to watch for Seattle. If the Seahawks want to pay up for “the guy” who’s going to lead their defensive line look for Dre’Mont Jones as a name to watch. Seattle had an insane defensive line unit last time they made it to the super bowl. Look for Carroll to try to recreate that kind of presence on the defensive front.
• The Seahawks played their first season without superstar LB Bobby Wagner. The results weren’t bad. Brooks and Barton both had over 130 tackles(which isn’t always a good indication of a good season) along with some other stats. Bringing back Barton should be a priority whether he’s going to start or be a piece in the rotation. Brooks did tear his ACL late in the season so his recovery could affect their plans. It’s hard to imagine Wagner wanting to come back to Seattle after their parting last offseason, but it is not impossible. Also, look for Tremaine Edmunds to be a target on Seattle’s board.
• The Seahawks secondary is much improved from 2021. Woolen, who was a 5th rounder, played at a top tier level. He made the pro bowl and was the co-interceptions leader. Coby Bryant, who was their 4th rounder, had a decent year in the slot and should continue to develop. Right now they have Mike Jackson playing across from Woolen, and that’s the weak spot. We are absolutely in love with Georia’s Kelee Ringo as a fit in Seattle. They took a 5th round flier on Woolen who was very raw and considered a “project” coming out last year, and they turned him into an All-Pro caliber CB. In my opinion, Kelee Ringo is just as raw as Woolen was.  Ringo, Woolen, and Bryant could become the best young CB trio in the NFL.
• We loved the fit of JL Skinner to the Seahawks as he was reminiscent of Kam Chancellor. He just tore his pec training for the combine though, so he has a long recovery ahead of him. This could be great for Seattle as he now should cost no more than a day 3 pick for the team.
• UPDATE: Austin Blythe has retired. Seattle now needs to look for a new center.
• UPDATE: Geno Smith signed a 3 year, $105 million extension. Reports suggest Geno could make $52 million in the first year meaning it is pretty heavily front-loaded to be able to get out of it later.