After a disappointing 2023 season, the Seattle Seahawks made changes at the top of the franchise in search of new-found success.
Now, with training camp quickly approaching, it’s time to look forward to what is next.
Unanswered Questions Ahead of Seattle Seahawks Training Camp
Mike Macdonald is taking over a Seahawks team that made a surprise playoff appearance just two seasons ago. However, Macdonald has big shoes to fill, as Pete Carroll had a very successful tenure in more than a decade as the Seahawks’ head coach.
The transition from Carroll to Macdonald is the biggest question mark for the Seahawks this season, but there are plenty of other issues to address on both sides of the ball.
What Will Be the Biggest Changes Under Mike Macdonald After 14 Years of Pete Carroll?
The biggest change under Macdonald will be a new defensive identity. Carroll, a founder of the Seattle 4-3 hybrid defense, had used the same scheme throughout his career. Macdonald brings a 3-4 scheme from his tenure with the Ravens.
After guiding the Ravens to finishing as one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, Macdonald will have a long way to go in transforming this Seattle unit, which ranked 30th in yards allowed per game in 2023. The Seahawks struggled particularly against the run, as only the Arizona Cardinals allowed more rushing yards per game last year.
Another noticeable change will be cultural; Macdonald’s approach differs from Carroll’s. Shortly after assuming his role, Macdonald removed long-standing fixtures in the building, like the basketball hoop that had been on the auditorium stage for over a decade.
“That was the weirdest thing,” said quarterback Geno Smith of the hoop’s removal.
As training camp progresses, it will be Macdonald’s first as head coach and likely be markedly different from Carroll’s approach, who would often be on the field throwing passes and participating in drills with the team.
Is Geno Smith the Long-Term Answer At Quarterback?
At 33 years old, Smith is entering the 11th season of his career and his fifth with the Seahawks, but he has only been the team’s starting QB for two of them.
Starting his career with the Jets, Smith joined the Seahawks as a backup to Russell Wilson in 2020, with many viewing the former second-round pick as a bust. However, taking over as the team’s starter in 2022 following Wilson’s departure, Smith saw a career resurgence, winning Comeback Player of the Year while leading the NFL in completion percentage.
However, Smith took a step back in 2023, throwing for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Compared to 2022, he threw 658 fewer yards, 10 fewer touchdowns, had a nearly 5% dip in completion percentage, and only threw two fewer interceptions.
Considering his age and declining production, Smith’s Seahawks career might conclude after the 2024 season. The Seahawks can move on from Smith after this season and save $25 million against the salary cap. Smith’s 2025 cap number is a whopping $38.5 million, and the Seahawks would only incur $13.5 million in dead money if they decided to move on.
If Smith doesn’t return to his 2022 form, the Seahawks may cut ties and usher in a new era at quarterback in 2025. Whether it be Sam Howell, who was traded for earlier this offseason, free agency, or the 2025 NFL Draft, there will be options for the Seahawks to get younger if they want to move on at quarterback.
Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba Poised For a Breakout?
Taken 20th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba didn’t have a superstar-type rookie season that we’ve seen from others in the past. In 17 games of action, he only got three starts, where he recorded 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns.
However, there was a reason for that: DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Now, with a new coaching staff and an offseason under his belt, Smith-Njigba could be poised to start in the slot and quickly emerge as a breakout player for the team.
According to head coach Macdonald, Smith-Njigba will be a “massive piece” of the team’s offense.
“He’s a guy that we can focus our offense around, along with other guys,” said Macdonald, according to NFL.com. “Tyler Lockett is still a great player. DK Metcalf, phenomenal player. The runners, Noah Fant. But (Smith-Njigba is) definitely going to be a massive piece of what we’re trying to do offensively.”
Smith-Njigba also shared that it took a little bit of time to adjust to the NFL, especially because of an injury he had suffered in the preseason when he broke a bone in his left wrist, receiving surgery just before the season began.
“I felt like it was a good foundation,” said Smith-Njigba of his rookie season. “I can grow from it. A lot of growing pains, a lot of ups and downs, but kind of similar from first years of college and in high school. Kind of the same thing.”
If Smith-Njigba is to break out in his sophomore season, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s done that. Dating back to Ohio State, he improved his production from 49 yards and one touchdown as a freshman to 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore.
Can Kenneth Walker III Take the Next Step?
Kenneth Walker III has been the Seahawks’ lead back for two seasons now, and he’s been really effective in this role. However, can he take his game to the next level in 2024 and be considered one of the better running backs in the NFL?
As a rookie, Walker broke onto the scene immediately, running for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 attempts, a 4.6-yard average. Despite earning four more starts in 2023, his production dipped down to 905 yards and eight touchdowns on 219 attempts, a 4.1-yard average.
A reason for Walker’s dip in production? Injuries. He suffered an oblique injury that made him miss two games and he pulled his groin prior to the season. If Walker is to take his game to a new level in 2024, he will need to stay healthy.
However, one factor could hinder a Walker breakout season: Zach Charbonnet, who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Charbonnet played in 16 games with two starts, rushing 108 times for 462 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
While he didn’t take a ton of carries away from Walker as a rookie, Charbonnet could look to steal even more away as a sophomore now. It wouldn’t come as a shock to see the two split the carries 60-40 or even close to 50-50.
Similar to how the Ravens have done it, the Seahawks could take the running back by committee approach.
How Will the Linebacker Room Look Without Bobby Wagner?
Carroll isn’t the only Seahawks staple who won’t be leading the team in 2024. Long-time starting linebacker Bobby Wagner has also left, signing with the Washington Commanders in free agency.
In 2023, Wagner returned to the Seahawks after a one-year hiatus with the Los Angeles Rams. He started 16 games, leading the NFL in tackles with 183 while also recording 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Wagner did, however, struggle in the passing game, allowing an 80.3% completion percentage, 546 yards, two touchdowns, and a 114.9 opponent passer rating.
Now, with Wagner out the door and Macdonald in charge, the Seahawks have completely revamped their inside linebacker corps.
In free agency, the Seahawks signed Tyrel Dodson (one year, $4.26 million) and Jerome Baker (one year, $7 million) as short-term solutions. While they’re expected to start, their contracts suggest they may not be long-term answers.
Dodson, 26, played for the Buffalo Bills in 2023, tallying 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and eight tackles for loss. In coverage, he allowed an 82.9% completion percentage, 275 yards, one touchdown, and a 108.9 rating.
Baker, 27, has spent his entire career with the Miami Dolphins. Last season, he recorded 78 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He allowed an 84.8% completion percentage, 335 yards, one touchdown, and an 86.1 rating in coverage.
Additionally, the Seahawks drafted Tyrice Knight from UTEP in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, where he was first-team All-CUSA in 2023.
Seattle will rely on at least one of these three players, if not two, to step up, or risk vulnerabilities in the heart of their defense.