The Seattle Seahawks have put together a promising roster heading into the 2023 season – and we feel better about this current group than any other team they’ve fielded since the 2015 campaign ended.
Here’s where each of Seattle’s nine most important players rank at their respective positions according to Pro Football Focus.
1
QB Geno Smith: No. 15
Geno Smith came in at No. 15 in PFF’s QB rankings.
“Another difficult quarterback to rank, Smith improbably ranked as a top-five quarterback for much of last season before the wheels fell off a little late in the year. Was that the inevitable regression back to the mean, or was it a product of his pass protection suffering a similar late-season collapse? Smith had flashed before in his NFL career, but we hadn’t seen the heights he hit last season. He earned three single-game PFF grades north of 90.0 and posted a 5.4% big-time throw rate.”
2
RB Ken Walker: No. 12
Second-year RB Ken Walker was ranked No. 12 at his position by PFF.
“Walker was a little boom or bust in his rookie season, as was evidenced by his 23.7% stuff rate (rushes for no gain or a loss of yards). But when it was the “boom” part of that equation, it was special. He finished 12th in the league in total missed tackles forced (37) and 10th in explosive runs (29). And that’s while starting only 11 games.”
3
WR DK Metcalf: No. 14
Metcalf came in at No. 14 in PFF’s wide receiver rankings:
“One of the most physically imposing receivers in the game, Metcalf brings size and athleticism that most cornerbacks can’t hope to match. He is an elite deep threat who has added multiple strings to his bow while in the NFL. Passes thrown his way over his professional career have generated a 105.7 passer rating.”
4
WR Tyler Lockett: No. 23
Meanwhile, Lockett continues to be underrated, coming in at No. 23 in PFF’s receiver rankings.
“Lockett’s peak may be behind him now that he will be 31 during the 2023 season, but he remains an extremely effective receiver who has thrived as an undersized player throughout his career. Lockett has some of the best hands in the game, having dropped three passes over the past two years and only 3.8% of catchable targets over his entire time in the NFL.”
5
Offensive line: No. 30
PFF ranked Seattle’s offensive line near the bottom of the league at No. 30 on their OL list.
“Seattle’s line largely rests on the development of its young tackles, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. While both played well early, each fell off substantially as their rookie seasons wore on. If those tackles play well, this ranking is too low. But if they don’t improve, this is a group that could struggle badly given its interior personnel.”
6
LB Bobby Wagner: No. 7
Seattle was shut out for both PFF’s edge and interior defensive line rankings, and Bobby Wagner came in at No. 7 on their linebacker list despite being ranked first in their LB grades at the end of last season.
“Wagner was PFF’s highest-graded linebacker in 2022, posting a 90.7 overall grade. Though he isn’t as athletic as he used to be, his anticipation and football IQ continue to put him in the right spots to make an impact.”
7
Riq Woolen: No. 16
Second-year corner Tariq Woolen came in at No. 16 in their cornerback rankings.
“Still very young to the cornerback position, Woolen showed as a rookie the stellar potential that his athletic profile puts on the table. Six interceptions flattered his stat line a little, but he showed more than enough to suggest that there is elite play in his future. Woolen allowed just a 72.1 passer rating on the season.”
8
SS Jamal Adams: No. 16
Despite missing most of the 2022 season, Jamal Adams came in at No. 16 in PFF’s safety rankings.
“There was a time when Adams may have headlined this list. Things haven’t quite worked out yet in Seattle for him. At his best, Adams is the best box safety in football with an unparalleled ability to rush the passer. Seattle’s defense would instantly change if Adams plays like he did in his final two years in New York (89.8 in 2018, 87.9 in 2019). It’s just been a long time since we’ve seen that from him, and Seattle will hope he can stay on the field after essentially missing all of 2022.”
9
FS Quandre Diggs: No. 22
Somehow Quandre Diggs only landed at No. 22 in their safety rankings.
“Death, taxes and Quandre Diggs. No defensive player has played more snaps over the past three seasons than Diggs. He has earned a 71.0-plus overall grade in four of the past five seasons while recording at least three interceptions in six straight seasons. His consistency is nearly unparalleled, and he came through in the clutch last year with an elite 91.1 game grade in Week 18 as the Seahawks clinched a playoff spot.”
