As the Seahawks promising 2019 season has come to an end due to injuries and bad luck it's time to look forward to 2020. The Seahawks have a lot of work to do between getting players healthy and dealing with a lot of free agents potentially leaving the team. Overall the Seahawks have an opportunity, and the cap space, to retain almost all their starters if they wanted. Let's dive into who they might keep, who they might let go, and which spots they should fill to come back stronger next season.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
- Jadeveon Clowney (re-sign if less than $20M, loved by team, wants a contender over a big deal)
- Ziggy Ansah (gone, injury prone and expensive)
- Mychal Kendricks (gone, injuries and jail),
- George Fant (resign, affordable but has to move to RT, claims he's a starting LT in the league so it's possible we lose him and retain ifedi instead)
- Germain Ifedi (maybe gone, fans dislike him and he's avg at best, only stays if Fant leaves)
- Mike Iupati (gone, old and injury prone)
- Al Woods (gone, old and expensive, Hawks pick up a big veteran DT most years)
- Quinton Jefferson (re-sign, versatile and affordable due to broken foot)
- Josh Gordon (gone, drugs and suspension)
- Jaron Brown (gone, old and avg at best, Hawks usually bring in a vet wr each year)
- Akeem King (re-sign, special teams starter and good Thorpe replacement)
- Jarran Reed (re-sign, due to suspension and bad year could be affordable)
- Neiko Thorpe (gone, injuries and avg lately)
- Dekoda Watson (gone, filler roster spot only)
- Geno Smith (gone, Hawks rarely re-sign backup QB)
- Luke Willson (gone, injured and avg at best, maybe minimum deal to compete for spot in camp)
- C.J. Prosise (gone, injury prone and ineffective this year but Pete loves him for some reason)
Restricted Free Agents:
- Joey Hunt (re-sign, versatile and affordable backup),
- Branden Jackson (gone, hasn't done much lately and is replaceable),
- Jacob Hollister (re-sign, most productive TE this season),
- David Moore (re-sign, cheap and Pete loves him, decent 3/4 wr).
Projected 2020 starters:
Offense:
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Chris Carson
WR1: Tyler Lockett
WR2: DK Metcalf
WR3: David Moore or John Ursua or new FA signing
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Jamarco Jones or new FA signing
C: Justin Britt or new FA signing
RG: Danny Jesus Fluker
RT: George Fant or Germaine Ifedi
TE: Will Dissly/Jacob Hollister
Defense:
LE: Quinton Jefferson or Rasheem Green or FA
DTs: Poonah Ford, Jarran Reed or FA
RE: Jadeveon Clowney or LJ Collier or FA
CBs: Shaquille Griffin & Tre Flowers
LBs: KJ Wright, Bobby Wagner, Cody Barton
SS: Bradley McDougald
FS: Quandre Diggs
Seahawks top priorities in FA and draft:
DL, OL, DB, WR
Potential FA signings:
- WR: someone who competes for WR3 and is willing to block.
- OL: Depends on who the Seahawks keep around. Potential to lose Fant, Ifedi, and Iupati. I see them only keeping 1-2 but not all 3 so look for a starting caliber guard or tackle in free agency.
- DE: Depends if Seahawks can afford to keep Clowney and/or Jefferson. If neither then look for a big name signing. If both then maybe a middle of the road replacement for Ansah.
- DT: large run stopping veteran who is willing to sign a short term deal (similar to Al Woods)
The Hawks will trade out of the first round and trade one of their extra 2nd rounds to stock up on mid-draft picks (total of 8 picks). They will most likely draft a DE, G, T, CB, S, WR, TE, and a backup QB.
Coaching staff changes:
Pete doesn't like to make big changes after a playoff season, unless a coach leaves on their own accord. I could see some changes at assistants only. Expect all the same coordinators to be back.