Two years ago the Seahawks won a terrible NFC West division and hosted a playoff game. Now they look at a division around them that is quickly becoming one of the best in the league. The Jim Harbaugh-led 49ers are Super Bowl contenders. The St. Louis rams just gave up absolutely nothing for two extra first round picks and an extra second. They will still be able to get either Justin Blackmon or Matt Kalil with the sixth pick and they would have taken either of those players with the second pick if they hadn’t made a trade. The Cardinals are one of the favorites to sign Peyton Manning. Manning would make any team a Super Bowl contender, especially a team with Larry Fitzgerald starting at wide receiver. Only two years removed from a playoff win against the New Orleans Saints, the Seahawks are looking up at a much improved division and they need to make some moves in order to contend. Here are the top 5 moves they need to make in order from least important to most important.
5: Drive up the price on Peyton Manning
The Seahawks are not going to sign Peyton. We, as fans, need to give up on that dream right now. Unfortunately the Cardinals probably will sign him and the Seahawks are going to have to deal with that. The best thing the Seahawks can do is realize that Peyton is not going to sign in Seattle and make him an offer that the Cardinals would have to match. Peyton could still sign with the Cardinals at less than an offer the Seahawks make but hopefully the Broncos or some other teams will turn Peyton’s recruitment into a bidding war causing the Cardinals to spend enough on Peyton that they won’t be able to make many other moves.
4: Resign Michael Robinson
The Seahawks just dropped a lot of money on Marshawn Lynch and much in the way that a quarterback’s best friend is a good tight end, a running backs best friend is a good fullback. Continuity in the backfield is what caused Shawn Alexander to have as successful a career as he did. The best thing the Seahawks can do to protect their investment is to bring back a fullback he trusts.
3: Resign David Hawthorne
I love the way Hawthorne plays football. He hits hard, runs hard and plays hard. It is nice to have a guy like that on your football team. Especially when your team plays a style of defense like the Seahawks do. The Hawks need to resign Hawthorne at the right price and hope their defense keeps improving like it has.
2: Bring Back Hutch!
Robert Gallery was supposed be come and in play left guard for a few years to help Russell Okung become a dominant left tackle. He was released Wednesday because he hasn’t been that effective. Free agent left guard Steve Hutchinson could very well be the answer at the left guard position. He’s shown in Minnesota that he can still play near the level he played at in Seattle. For those of you who don’t watch the offensive line, you are missing out especially when this guy is playing. Steve Hutchinson is a beautiful technician and it is not a stretch to say that he is my favorite player in the NFL.
1: Sign Super Mario
The Seahawks very quickly took care of my former number one offseason goal. They resigned defensive end Red Bryant at the proper price. When Red is playing the Seahawks just do not let opposing teams run the ball, when Red is off the field it seems like opposing teams run rampant on them. As great a player as Red is, he isn’t much of a pass rusher so I would be helpful to have a great pass rusher on the other side of the defensive line. Chris Clemons is a serviceable rusher but there aren’t many defensive ends on Mario Williams’s level. With Mario Williams across the line from Red Bryant the Seahawks should have a formidable line for years to come. A formidable defensive line is often a sign of a great team; see the New York Giants this year and when they beat the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.
I believe that if the Seahawks make the moves I have outlined here, they will be ready to use the draft to make themselves a contender in the NFC west and the NFL. What moves do you guys think the Seahawks should make this free agency period?
Image Courtesy Of The Oregonian
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