What The Seahawks Should Do This Offseason

In a division that is now under San Francisco’s reign, this offseason may make or break the Seahawks for the next handful of years. Only a little over a year ago, Marshawn Lynch made one of the most memorable NFL playoffs runs in history as the Seahawks knocked off the reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. This year was ironically the same end of regular season result but no playoff berth with a losing record, luck runs out eventually. Nobody seemed to tell the Seahawks that normally you need to win at least eight if not nine games to win an NFL division and make the playoffs, especially two years in a row. But it is what it is and the Seahawks have to look towards the future.

The need at the quarterback position was blatant last year even before Matt Hasselbeck departed for the Titans. But to make matters worse, the Seahawks skipped over Andy Dalton, which in hindsight is easier to call now, and took offensive tackle James Carpenter. Nothing against Carpenter at all, he played in nine games his rookie year and hopefully will only improve as a Seahawk. However, skipping on Dalton was something that will be biting the Seahawks in the butt for years to come.

Entering this year’s NFL draft, the Seahawks will either have the 11^th or 12^th overall pick depending on a coin toss between them and the Chiefs. A top 12 pick in the NFL draft is normally great. However, it puts the Seahawks in a tough spot. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will both be gone within the first 5-7 picks. This leaves the Seahawks with Ryan Tannehill, Nick Foles, and Brock Osweiler to choose from as the next projected QB’s.

In my opinion, the Seahawks really only have two options. They either need to trade down this year and pick up a QB later in the first or second round while picking up a quality wide receiver to accompany him. Or they need to trade away their pick this year in an attempt to get a top first rounder next year where there will be a bounty of quarterbacks with great potential.

Whatever the Seahawks do, it needs to be centered around getting a quarterback. Unfortunately Jackson will not be leading the Seahawks to any division titles or playoff wins unless something drastic happens over the offseason with him.

Not only is the Seahawks’ future hanging in the balance this offseason and especially draft, but so is Pete Carroll’s time as head coach. If the Seahawks put together another mediocre season next year that falls below the .500 mark, then Carroll might be looking to return to the college game and the Seahawks would only extend their road to a Super Bowl that much farther.