Seattle Seahawks training camp preview: What does life look like post-Russell Wilson?

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks report back to 2022 coaching camp on Tuesday on the Virginia Mason Athletic Heart. Here is a more in-depth take a look at a number of storylines:

Largest query: Can the Seahawks be aggressive with out quarterback Russell Wilson? Regardless of the way it may need appeared to informal observers when the Seahawks parted with Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, it is a group in transition versus a full-on rebuild. Shelling out large cash to maintain 29-year-old security Quandre Diggs and different veteran gamers like working again Rashaad Penny and tight finish Will Dissly says as a lot. These re-signings, plus different marquee returning gamers (receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, security Jamal Adams) plus two sure-fire starters they received again within the Wilson commerce (tight finish Noah Fant and defensive finish Shelby Harris) plus an enormous free-agent addition (edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu) and a promising draft class that featured their first top-10 decide since 2010 (offensive deal with Charles Cross) depart the Seahawks with a strong roster … outdoors of quarterback.

Their protection and backfield look sturdy sufficient to maintain them in video games if quarterbacks Drew Lock and/or Geno Smith may be succesful recreation managers. However can they keep away from sufficient errors to play that means? And may they ship in crunch time like Wilson so usually did? If Lock does not present that he is worthy of an extended look, Seattle has the additional 2023 first-rounder from the Wilson commerce to focus on his long-term alternative in subsequent yr’s draft.

Essentially the most compelling place battle: Will Lock’s upside or Smith’s familiarity win out? Lock and Smith are duking it out within the Seahawks’ first quarterback competitors since 2012. That was the yr that Wilson (an electrical rookie) beat out free-agent pickup Matt Flynn (the presumed starter for a lot of the offseason) and incumbent Tarvaris Jackson (whom the locker room cherished). The intrigue on this competitors will not come from identify worth however from how shut it is perhaps.

Some within the group have anticipated that Lock’s expertise (which hasn’t been his problem in three up-and-down seasons) will win out. However there is a thought that he might should win convincingly or else Seattle’s teaching workers will go for the extra identified commodity in Smith and award something near a tie to the Tenth-year veteran who’s backed up Wilson the final three seasons. Pete Carroll made it clear that Smith was nonetheless forward when the offseason program ended.

The participant with essentially the most to show: Can Adams return to his 2020 kind? In his debut season in Seattle, Adams recorded a defensive-back document 9.5 sacks en path to his third straight Professional Bowl. He appeared worthy of the massive worth the Seahawks paid to get him (a package deal that included two first-round picks) and to maintain him (an extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid security). Then 2021 occurred.

Adams was held with out a sack and had as many forgettable performs in protection as productive ones. He additionally performed by means of accidents for the second straight yr till his season ended after 12 video games due to a re-torn left shoulder labrum that required one other surgical procedure. Adams’ dropoff in pass-rushing manufacturing final season was largely the results of all the eye opponents began paying to him after his document sack binge, which led Seattle to blitz him much less usually. He might profit greater than anybody from the scheme modifications they’re implementing as a result of he needs to be tougher for offenses to pinpoint pre-snap. However he has to remain on the sector for any of that to matter.

Fiercest fantasy related place battle: Can Penny final as RB1? Chris Carson’s probabilities of getting back from neck surgical procedure proceed to look iffy, with phrase nonetheless but to emerge on whether or not he is been medically cleared. There isn’t any query as to who could be the No. 1 possibility in his absence. Penny is the man after his stellar end to final season, when he led the NFL in dashing by a large margin over the ultimate 5 video games. However you understand the cope with Penny: his lengthy damage historical past makes it unlikely that he’ll be there for all 17 video games.

Even when he’s wholesome, the Seahawks will virtually definitely attempt to handle his workload with a watch in direction of conserving him contemporary. Second-round decide Ken Walker III figures to issue closely into the backfield rotation a method or one other. He is vital handcuff for any fantasy participant with Penny on their roster.

What is the cope with Metcalf’s contract scenario? The Seahawks usually do not finalize big-money extensions till the beginning of coaching camp, so they are not essentially not on time with Metcalf. And so they’ve sounded optimistic that they will get a deal performed, however it does not appear to be a slam dunk given every little thing that is occurred since March. The receiver market exploded, main normal supervisor John Schneider to precise sticker shock at among the megadeals. Then Metcalf skipped necessary minicamp with an unexcused absence, which was stunning on condition that he had taken half in some voluntary work.

The steep fines are an enormous disincentive for training-camp holdouts, however the latest development with Seahawks and different gamers in Metcalf’s place has been to “maintain in,” that means they present as much as camp however do not take part in any on-field work, thereby avoiding fines and the chance of damage. Will Metcalf do the identical?

Camp prediction: Coby Bryant shall be a Week 1 starter at cornerback. Seattle’s rookie nook has greater than a well-known identify. He additionally has a ton of school expertise (53 profession video games) and a few critical ball expertise (the most effective of any defender on this yr’s draft, if you happen to ask him). These traits might make him extra NFL-ready than most rookie corners drafted within the fourth spherical.

It additionally helps that the place is vast open. Sidney Jones IV appears to be like like a favourite to start out at one of many spots, however nobody is entrenched. Tre Flowers received a beginning job at nook as a rookie in 2018 — whilst a transformed security. So Carroll is not afraid to belief younger gamers at that place. For that matter, fifth-round rookie Tariq Woolen might issue into the competitors together with Tre Brown and Artie Burns.