Pencil the San Francisco 49ers in as NFC West’s greatest in 2023 at your individual danger. After the shellacking that the Seattle Seahawks suffered by the hands of the 49ers in the postseason, they’ve taken vital steps to shore up expertise deficiencies on the roster. Come autumn, Kyle Shanahan and Co. had higher be prepared for the 49ers, Seahawks rivalry to be again in full power.
The Seahawks’ bountiful offseason started with the re-signing of Geno Smith. Following a breakout, Pro-Bowl season in his early 30s he signed a three-year, $105 million deal. It consists of $27.3 million assured at signing.
The assure by itself is sort of $10 million greater than he has earned as an NFL quarterback all through the whole thing of his 10-year NFL profession. However, the deal is vastly staff pleasant for the Seahawks. The $52 million that he’s owed for his first 12 months, Smith solely receives the complete quantity if he’s on the roster for a calendar 12 months. Also, his cap hit for the 2023 season is simply $10 million, and if he’s launched following the upcoming season his 2024 dead-cap quantity is $17.4 million. With the NFL chief in completion share inked to a team-friendly deal, the Seahawks have been in a position to be aggressive in free company.
For the Seahawks to enhance on their 9-8, 2022 document they badly wanted higher personnel to defend in opposition to the run. Per Football Outsiders, the Seahawks had the Twenty fifth-worst rush protection DVOA in the league. That was exploited by the 49ers in the playoffs.
Brock Purdy was spectacular throwing for 300-plus yards and 4 touchdowns, however he possible doesn’t put up these eye-popping passing statistics with out his offense’s beastly efficiency on the bottom. Christian McCaffrey averaged 7.9 yards per carry and Deebo Samuel averaged 10.7. With the 49ers in a position to constantly gash the Seahawks on the bottom it opened up the remainder of the sphere for the 49ers’ huge receivers. Three of them — Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings — averaged higher than 20 yards per reception.
The Seahawks’ greatest transfer in free company was signing Dre’Mont Jones. According to Next Gen Stats, Jones had the tenth highest Run-Stuff Rate in the league. He can be a flexible participant who can line up each inside and outdoors. Jones can be a succesful go rusher. He has recorded 6.5 sacks in the final two seasons.
He isn’t the one addition that the Seahawks made to their defensive position. They introduced again their 2016 second-round decide Jarran Reed. In his final season with the Seahawks — 2020 — they’d the seventh-best rush protection DVOA in the NFL.
Reed isn’t the one former Seahawk that the franchise signed this offseason. The captain is house. They introduced again Bobby Wagner after one season with their division-rival Los Angeles Rams.
Wagner is probably not as explosive of a participant as he was in the course of the Legion of Boom years, however he’s nonetheless a extremely productive participant as an inside linebacker. Pro Football Focus graded him as the very best participant on the Rams in 2022.
The signing of Julian Love marks an enchancment in the Seahawks’ protection in any respect three ranges. Of all of the safeties in the NFL who’ve tallied a minimal of 150 tackles during the last three seasons, Love missed the second-fewest. He might be paired in the secondary with Jamal Adams.
Thanks to the Russell Wilson commerce, in addition to all of this defensive enchancment, the Seahawks nonetheless have two picks in the primary spherical of the upcoming NFL Draft — together with No. 5 total.
For the gamblers on the market, it’s time to place wagers not solely on the Seahawks to win the NFC West but in addition for them to go to the Super Bowl. They have a powerful roster that’s going to proceed to enhance with the draft now just one month away.
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