The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up for training camp, and with a rare level of continuity, they're poised to make waves in the NFL. With nearly 87% of their offensive and defensive snaps retained from their championship-winning team, the Seahawks are looking to build on their success. But with a lot of fierce roster battles on the horizon, the team faces some tough decisions. Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Seahawks' offense and how those battles could shape up.
Quarterback
The quarterback position is looking solid with Sam Darnold leading the way. After back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns and a Super Bowl title, Darnold is in the prime of his career. And though he's adjusting to his ninth offensive coordinator in nine seasons, Darnold seems to be handling the transition well, given that new OC Brian Fleury runs a similar Shanahan-style system as predecessor Klint Kubiak. Seattle seems likely to roster three quarterbacks again, with Drew Lock serving as one of the league's most experienced backups and Jalen Milroe hanging around as a long-term developmental project. Milroe's development will be pivotal, and it'll be interesting to see if he can carve out a role as a change-of-pace weapon in specialty packages.
Running Back
With Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet likely to miss the start of the season, first-round pick Jadarian Price is the favorite to open as Seattle's RB1. But it's likely to be a running-back-by-committee approach, especially given Price's limited workload at Notre Dame. George Holani and free agent addition Emanuel Wilson are the likely candidates to join Price in that backfield timeshare. Kenny McIntosh also could be in the mix, but he has a steeper hill to climb as he works back from a torn ACL.
Fullback
The fullback position might even take on a larger role this fall, with head coach Mike Macdonald hinting that the fullback could be more involved in the passing game. Robbie Ouzts is likely to remain the primary fullback, while de facto special teams captain Brady Russell returns as a hybrid depth piece who can play both fullback and tight end. Kubiak is gone, but the fullback is here to stay under Fleury.
Wide Receiver
The Seahawks have a strong core of wide receivers returning, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, and Tory Horton. Shaheed, in particular, is poised for a big step forward as a receiver, and Horton's return to health could give the offense another significant boost. Seattle matched Jacksonville's offer sheet and signed Jake Bobo to a two-year, $5.5 million deal. The question now is whether the Seahawks will keep a sixth receiver to fill Dareke Young's role as a gunner and special teams stalwart.
Tight End
AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo are locks to make the roster, but the Seahawks will look to get more out of Arroyo, who had a relatively underwhelming rookie campaign. Eric Saubert and Nick Kallerup seem likely to return as run-blocking specialists, but neither is a guarantee. Brady Russell can play both fullback and tight end, and he's already a roster lock as the de facto special teams captain.
Offensive Line
The Seahawks have returned all 11 offensive linemen who played snaps last season and added All-American guard Beau Stephens as a fifth-round pick. The roster battles in the trenches will be particularly tight, with Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, and Abraham Lucas all locks to make the roster as returning starters. However, several players could push Bradford for the starting right guard spot, including Stephens, Bryce Cabeldue, and Christian Haynes. Olu Oluwatimi's name has been floated as a potential trade candidate, given that he's a starting-caliber center whose path to a starting job is blocked by Sundell.
