The Seattle Seahawks' Biggest Offseason Moves 2019: Odds and Predictions

If the 2019 Seattle Seahawks can make it to the playoffs this season, it will make seven of the last eight years that they have been a postseason factor, and you better believe they are itching to get back to the Big Game like they recently did (two times in a row).

The Seahawks’ front office obviously believes in their veteran quarterback Russell Wilson after giving him enough financial security to be set for life, but can he get back to the Super Bowl leading a roster of younger, less experienced players than the last two times?

Seattle’s front office believes the answer is yes, and so we take a look at some of their offseason moves, including their eleven draft picks, as well as go over the odds and predictions of their 2019 season.

Looking for more offseason predictions and odds? Then take a look at the “Biggest Offseason Moves 2019” of Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2019 Seattle Seahawks are:

• Owner: The Allen Family, now that Paul Allen, Microsoft founder, is deceased
• General Manager: John Schneider (Hired January 2010)
• Head Coach: Pete Carroll (Hired January 2010)
• Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer (Hired January 2018)
• Defensive Coordinator: Ken Norton Jr. (Hired January 2018)
• Quarterback: Russell Wilson (8^th NFL season, all with the Seahawks)
• Offensive Stars: Running back Chris Carson and wide receiver Tyler Lockett
• Defensive Stars: Linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive tackle Jarran Reed

How did the Seahawks do in 2018?

Though the Seattle Seahawks’ 2018 season started with a huge turnover in the roster – gone were cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril and safety Kam Chancellor – the team still managed to do one win better than the previous season and posted a 10-6 record, good enough for a Wild Card playoff spot.

Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 35 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions during a season that started slow for the Seahawks, but after a 2-3 start they finished out the season with a 6-1 run that included beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.

The Seahawks went to the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons but lost the Wild Card game to the Dallas Cowboys, 22-24, after scoring a touchdown with a two-point conversion at the end of the fourth quarter but not executing the onside kick in the very end.

Is it true that Russell Wilson was almost traded?

For a while (and not coincidentally right when Super Bowl Champion quarterback Russell Wilson’s contract was about to end), rumors started floating around that he may be leaving Seattle to possibly replace Eli Manning in New York for the Giants.

Wilson put a quick end to those whispers when he went on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and called the rumor “dumb” and told the audience how much he loves Seattle, saying, “I’d never leave Seattle.”

Turns out he wasn’t lying, because about a month later Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension that made him the highest paid player in the NFL.

Biggest strategy shift Seahawks will make for 2019?

The Seahawks general manager John Schneider cleaned house last offseason and did a little more this offseason, allowing All-Pro safety Earl Thomas go to free agency (and the Baltimore Ravens) along with cornerback Justin Coleman, who signed with the Detroit Lions.

The defensive holes left by Thomas’ and Coleman’s departures will be filled (hopefully) by the younger (and less expensive) defensive talent that Schneider just picked up from the draft (see below).

Another important strategy was to beef up the offensive line and add depth to the squad that allowed Wilson to be sacked 51 times last season, tied for third most in the league.

And with three young wide receivers drafted, as well, it will be interesting to see if giving Wilson a few more targets – mostly talking about D.K. Metcalf, the man-beast “built like a superhero” – improves the Seahawks passing attack, ranked 27^th last season.

What major players have the Seahawks lost so far this offseason?

Safety Earl Thomas, who signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, with $32 million of that guaranteed.

Cornerback Justin Coleman, who went to the Detroit Lions with a four-year, $36 million deal, with $17.9 million of that guaranteed.

Left guard J.R. Sweezy, who signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, with $3 million of that guaranteed.

What have been the Seahawks’ key free agent pick-ups this offseason?

Left guard Mike Iupati, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million, with $2.25 million of that guaranteed.

Place kicker Jason Myers, who signed a four-year, $15.45 million contract, with $7 million of that guaranteed.

Defensive end Cassius Marsh, who now has a one-year, $1.85 million contract with $600,000 of that guaranteed.

What were Seattle’s Biggest offseason needs?

Offense: wide receiver, offensive line.

Defense: Cornerback, defensive line, outside linebacker.

What draft picks did the Seahawks have in 2019?

The Seahawks ended up with 11 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they were:

• Round 1: L.J. Collier, defensive end, TCU (29^th pick overall)
• Round 2: Marquise Blair, safety, Utah (47^th)
• Round 2: D.K. Metcalf, wide receiver, Ole Miss (64^th)
• Round 3: Cody Barton, linebacker, Utah (88^th)
• Round 4: Gary Jennings Jr., wide receiver, West Virginia (120^th)
• Round 4: Phil Haynes, outside linebacker, Wake Forest (124^th)
• Round 4: Ugochukwu Amadi, safety, Oregon (132^nd)
• Round 5: Ben Burr-Kirven, linebacker, Washington (142^nd)
• Round 6: Travis Homer, running back, Miami (204^th)
• Round 6: Demarcus Christmas, defensive tackle, Florida State (209^th)
• Round 7: John Ursua, wide receiver, Hawaii (236^th)

How have the Seahawks done in the last ten postseasons?

Over the last decade, the Seattle Seahawks have been to the playoffs seven times, including twice to the Big Game – Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013, in which they beat the Denver Broncos 43-8, and Super Bowl XLIX, in which they lost to the New England Patriots 24-28.

In their other five postseason appearances, the Seahawks lost in the Divisional Playoffs four times (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) and in the Wild Card Game in 2018.

The only other time Seattle has been to the Super Bowl was in 2005, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL, 10-21, despite running back Shaun Alexander winning the NFL MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year Award that season.

How are the Seahawks predicted to do during the 2019-20 season?

Odds makers are not looking at the 2019 Seattle Seahawks to make it all the way to the Super Bowl next season, having given fifteen other teams as good or better chances of winning a Lombardi Trophy.

The Seahawk’s main problem will continue to be the Los Angeles Rams, who will most likely win the NFC West again and force the Seahawks to enter the postseason as a Wild Card team at best.

Of course, Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll already have a ring (and would have had two had they just let running back Marshawn Lynch run the ball in for a final touchdown in Super Bowl XLIX), so do not count them completely out of the 2019 race.

What are the current postseason odds and predictions for the 2019 Seattle Seahawks?

How will Russell Wilson respond on the field to being set for life financially?

Will the Seahawks strategy of inexpensive youth led by a highly paid veteran take them all the way or does it take expensive veterans to close the deal in the postseason?

Can the Seahawks take care of the Rams in the regular season and possibly force them to be the Wild Card this time?

Will third-year running back Chris Carson have another breakout year like he did in 2108, when he had 267 touches for 1,314 yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns?

The Seahawks are potential winners, for sure, but they need to get a quicker start to their season this year if they expect to keep up with the other powerhouses in the NFC.

Here are the current odds listed for the Seahawks’ postseason in 2019-20:

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