Seattle Seahawks: Top 5 needs for the 2020 offseason
By Andrew Kim
Defensive Needs
The main issue for Seattle was their defense, as it struggled to contain playoff-caliber teams through the regular season and into the postseason. Their pass rush downgraded in 2019, as they need more production from their edge rushers and their run defense got gouged up the middle at times. The secondary was also an issue, as the Seahawks need to get starting-caliber talent at both safety and cornerback.
At linebacker, they drafted Cody Barton (3rd round pick from Utah) and Ben Burr-Kirven ( 5th round pick from Washington) last year to back up K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner. It is uncertain if Mychal Kendricks will come back as he is a pending free agent. I would not be surprised if they sign a linebacker in free agency for cheap (Dekoda Watson is a pending free agent) or pick up one late in the draft again.
2. Defensive Back
Tre Flowers struggled on the outside opposite Shaquill Griffin, as the depth behind them is quite lacking. Neiko Thorpe, Akeem King, and Kalan Reed are all pending free agents and Seattle needs a major overhaul at cornerback. They played more base defense, as the Seahawks need a definite starting slot cornerback and the main candidate is Ugo Amadi (4th round pick from Oregon). At safety; they traded for Quandre Diggs ( from Detroit Lions) last year but the mosh posh of Marquise Blair (2nd round pick from Utah), Tedric Thompson, Bradley McDougald, and Delano Hill are all fighting for a starting spot.
1. Defensive Line
Not including Clowney and Reed, Seattle still has Ezekiel Ansah, Al Woods, Quinton Jefferson, and Branden Jackson unsigned as pending free agents on their defensive line. Former first-round pick L.J. Collier, from TCU, will have to be relied on to produce in 2020 (as he did not play that much last year) as he and former 6th round pick Demarcus Christmas (from Florida State) were used as depth players in their rookie year.
The Seahawks need more talent in their front seven in general but too much change may not be good for cohesion among the defense. Either way, they have to attack the defensive line positions multiple times in free agency and the draft, as this is their biggest need this offseason.