Former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause liked to say that organizations win championships – implying that players were not responsible for his team’s winning six rings in eight years. As usual Krause was wrong. While it took at least a little bit of competence to recognize Michael Jordan’s potential and capitalize on the chance to draft him, the truth is that organizations only win championships when they’re great at finding talented athletes and putting them in a position to succeed.
The Seattle Seahawks are better than most NFL teams at this, which is why they’ve been at least a fringe playoff team ever since 2010. Pete Carroll and John Schneider obviously deserve a pretty large slice of the credit, but the main reason is their eye for finding capable players.
This latest version of the team may not have a bonanza of All-Pros like the San Francisco 49ers or several future Hall of Fame OL and DL like the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they do have a good number of quality performers on both sides of the ball, both veterans and rookies.
We can find evidence of this in the Pro Football Focus grades, which have six current Seahawks players ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions…
1
QB Geno Smith: 77.4 grade - ranks No. 9
As defenses across the league have tightened up at the top to keep a lid on explosive throwers like Geno Smith, most big-name quarterbacks’ numbers are down from last year. That includes Smith, who has totaled 846 passing yards and five touchdowns in four games so far. Those numbers put him near the bottom of the league in fantasy production.
However, what matters is that Smith is making the right plays when he needs to. At the top of the list, Smith is avoiding both sacks and turnovers about as well as any QB in the NFL right now. Despite missing both starting offensive tackles, not having a particularly gifted offensive coordinator and not having integrated first-round draft pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba as of yet, the Seahawks rank just outside the top five in points per game (27.8). Smith is the main reason why and PFF has recognized that with another top-10 grade.
2
RB Ken Walker: 78.7 grade - ranks No. 7
With the lone exception of Christian McCaffrey, no running back has looked more impressive on film this season than Seattle’s second-year stud Ken Walker out of Michigan State.
As a rookie Walker flashed an obscene amount of explosiveness and speed in the open field, making him one of the league’s best home run hitters at his position. This year Walker has matured as a playmaker and is recognizing when and where to cut, giving what was a relatively poor success rate in 2022 a massive boost.
Through five games, Walker’s traditional numbers are 283 rushing yards and five touchdowns in four games. As good as those are – they don’t do justice to how well Walker is running right now. Some advanced stats do recognize it, though. For example, he leads the league in broken and missed tackles on runs. As for PFF, he’s keeping some excellent company. Walker’s 78.7 grade is just two points below Derrick Henry.
3
RB Zach Charbonnet: 75.7 grade - ranks No. 10
Walker isn’t the only extremely promising rusher in the Seahawks backfield, though. Fellow second-round draft pick Zach Charbonnet hasn’t gotten a ton of carries but he has flashed a ton in his limited time on the field. Heading into Week 6, Charbonnet has totaled 105 yards on 21 carries, an average of five yards per tote. He hasn’t scored yet but that’s only a matter of time and red zone opportunities. Charbonnet’s PFF grade ranks him only one spot below Bijan Robinson.
4
TE Noah Fant: 77.8 grade - ranks No. 5
Across the board Seattle’s trio of tight ends is having another strong year. This season Noah Fant has replaced Will Dissly as the No. 1 option in the passing game at this spot, and for good reason. Fant also hasn’t scored but he has totaled 160 yards on 10 catches, demonstrating remarkable YAC ability in the process. PFF has him graded out at 82.5 as a receiver, the third-highest mark at TE and just a point and a half below Travis Kelce.
5
LB Bobby Wagner: 86.9 grade - ranks No. 4
Those who wrote off Bobby Wagner late in the 2021 season when he has obviously playing hurt probably feel a little bit silly right now. While Wagner doesn’t have the same blinding all-world speed he had 10 years ago, he’s still among the best in the game at his position.
Wagner’s 93.2 run defense grade at PFF is not only the best among linebackers – it makes him the highest-graded run defender in the entire league. His performance and general influence have helped reverse Seattle’s fortunes against the run, turning what was the third-worst in the league to the third best going by yards per carry allowed.
6
CB Devon Witherspoon: 79.7 grade - ranks No. 10
If there is a potential football-Jordan on this roster, the guy with the best chance to meet that mark is cornerback Devon Witherspoon. After just three games Witherspoon has established himself as one of the top defenders in the business – at any position.
Witherspoon has made big plays against the run, rushing the passer and in coverage – including a 97-yard pick six. Witherspoon’s 91.2 pass rush grade is the highest among cornerbacks. His overall grade (79.7) ties him with Brian Branch, but he’s already drawing comparisons to Deion Sanders from those who played with him. Clearly Witherspoon has All-Pro potential already, but with more time to develop he could blossom into an all-time special corner.
7
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