The NFL offseason is entering its longest stretch, as we await training camps and preseason games later in the summer. The hype has already started growing for next year’s Super Bowl hopefuls after a flurry of free agency signings and 2023 NFL Draft moves. After carefully examining every move and the NFL odds at DraftKings Sportsbook, we’ve found the Seattle Seahawks to be the top NFC sleeper.
Can the team with the 13th-best Super Bowl 58 odds at a +3000 return be an unlikely Cinderella story? We’ll dive into what makes the Seahawks such an intriguing team in 2023 and why they can improve upon their 9-8 Wild Card year.
Why the Seahawks Are NFC Super Bowl Sleepers
To be a sleeper, a team can’t be one of the trendy teams that are being ranked consistently in the top eight of power rankings or NFL odds. We’ve seen the New York Jets leap to being a real contender in oddsmakers’ eyes, but that same energy hasn’t been applied to teams that made significant upgrades at non-QB positions.
However, not every team needed to add a franchise quarterback this offseason to get better. The Seahawks are in this boat after seeing Geno Smith suddenly blossom into a star. As a result, Seattle re-signed Smith on a team-friendly, three-year, $105 million deal this offseason.
Smith was fantastic, ranking eighth in passing yards, third in money throws, fourth in passing touchdowns, and third in completion percentage in a clean pocket and after play-action. He was every bit as efficient as his predecessor, Russell Wilson, has ever been. Smith alluded to how the game slowed down for him after gaining more experience.
It’s possible Smith regresses, but it seems unlikely given that Seattle beefed up their offense around him. Instead of tearing down the unit, Kenneth Walker III is back as the starting RB and now has a more talented backup in Zach Charbonnet. Wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will benefit from first-round addition Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Seattle signed Evan Brown to play center and beef up their depth along the line in the draft.
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The NFL’s ninth-best offense became more talented. If Walker can stay healthy, the Seahawks can ascend even more to become a top-five offense in the league. Smith’s sudden development is a big part of that, but he has an excellent line in front of him and one of the best supporting casts of playmakers in the league.
The value of Seattle’s playmaking is immense as well. While NFC favorites like the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys have question marks at quarterback, the Seahawks have more clarity and have given Smith an incredible amount of help. Even the Philadelphia Eagles have to figure out their new offense without Shane Steichen pulling the strings.
Last year, Walker averaged 4.6 yards per carry, and both Metcalf and Lockett eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. With Marquise Goodwin in Cleveland now and Smith-Njigba’s hamstring feeling “great” at the team’s rookie minicamp, Seattle will terrorize teams with their impressive depth and ability to create explosive plays alike.
All Eyes Are on the Seahawks’ Defense
The offense will be just fine in Seattle, but it’s the defense that holds the key to the kingdom. Head coach Pete Carroll was unable to create an especially good unit in 2022, as he embraced several young, new starters and role players. They produced only the 25th-ranked scoring defense and 26th unit in defensive EPA.
After losing Cody Barton, Seattle brought franchise icon Bobby Wagner back, then replaced a slew of veterans with younger, more effective individuals. Safety Julian Love and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones headlined the rest of the class.
First-round cornerback Devon Witherspoon joins Tariq Woolen in a talented and highly athletic secondary that is also “optimistic” about getting Jamal Adams back. With the combination of adding star power and a higher floor of competence in Woolen, Witherspoon, and potentially Adams, the Seahawks’ secondary can become more of an asset outside of producing an occasional interception.
Despite adding five draft picks to the defensive side of the ball, the unit certainly isn’t perfect. Still, there are reasons to believe that the defense will take a step forward, and young players will benefit from getting experience and a full offseason of training.
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A whopping seven players who should make the final roster are entering their fourth season or are even younger. Alongside Adams, linebacker Jordyn Brooks may be the wild card. Coming back from a torn ACL, Carroll was encouraged that Brooks is ahead of the recovery curve. What that means for his return is unknown, considering he suffered the injury in December, but getting Brooks back even late in the season can be a needed boost.
None of this guarantees Seattle is in the Super Bowl come wintertime. Nevertheless, this is a team with the raw talent and the right playmakers to get there if everything breaks the right way. That’s worth taking a flier on as a deep sleeper.