Seahawks’ Bold Offseason Moves Have Them Looking Like Super Bowl Contenders

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Seahawks are contenders, and it started pinch confidence

In a luxury container precocious atop Northwest Stadium, John Schneider must person been beaming.

Schneider, nan longtime wide head of nan Seahawks, watched his squad demolish nan big Commanders, 38–14, connected Sunday Night Football. Seattle improved its grounds to 6–2, not only earning a stock of first spot successful nan NFC West alongside nan Rams, but besides tying nan Eagles and Buccaneers for nan conference’s champion record.

This offseason, Seattle’s ascension seemed unlikely. Schneider had made a series of bold moves, which galore deemed nan commencement of a rebuild. Instead, a flurry of activity complete 4 days led to a rebirth.

On March 7, nan Seahawks agreed to waste and acquisition Geno Smith to nan Raiders for a third-round pick. Two days later, Schneider erstwhile again dealt distant an violative star, this clip sending receiver DK Metcalf and a sixth-round prime to nan Steelers for a second-rounder.

On March 10, nan Seahawks agreed to a three-year, $100 cardinal woody pinch Sam Darnold, replacing Smith pinch personification 7 years his inferior and coming disconnected a play successful which he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns pinch nan 14-win Vikings.

It was a monolithic bet for a squad coming disconnected a 10-win play nether first-year coach Mike Macdonald. Seattle had missed nan playoffs connected a tiebreaker, and had ample logic to tally backmost an discourtesy centered astir Smith, who had thrown for 4,320 yards while completing 70.4% of his attempts.

Fast guardant to nan present, and Darnold is playing for illustration an MVP candidate. He was sublime against nan Commanders, throwing for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns connected 13.1 yards per attempt, while going a staggering 16-of-16 for 282 yards and 4 scores successful nan first half alone.

For nan year, Darnold has 2,084 yards and 16 passing touchdowns against 5 interceptions, nan erstwhile fig ranking him 5th successful nan NFL. He’s besides averaging 9.6 yards per attempt, topping nan convention among qualifying quarterbacks.

Darnold’s superior target, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, has go nan league’s apical receiver statistically without Metcalf and had different monolithic evening against nan Commanders. The third-year man from Ohio State caught 8 passes connected 9 targets for 129 yards and a touchdown, giving him a league-best 948 yards connected nan year.

Last season, Smith-Njigba was targeted 137 times, which classed 14th successful nan league. This year, he already has 79 done 8 games, putting him connected gait for 167, a fig that would person classed 3rd successful 2024 down only Ja’Marr Chase and Malik Nabers.

With Metcalf successful Pittsburgh, nan Seahawks are leaning much into Smith-Njigba while besides relying connected nan tandem of runners Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Last season, nan duo mixed for 288 carries (Walker played 12 games; Charbonnet played each 17). This season, they’re already astatine 186, putting them connected gait for 395 if some stay healthy.

As for nan guys Seattle moved connected from? The Seahawks surely look to person made nan correct move pinch Smith, who has thrown 11 interceptions successful 8 games connected a 2–6 Raiders team. Metcalf has played good for nan Steelers pinch 29 catches for 467 yards, but he’s besides down from past twelvemonth aft posting 66 receptions for 992 yards successful 15 games.

All told, Schneider’s bold moves adhd up to a Seattle squad that not only has morganatic aspirations of a playoff run, but possibly making nan NFC spell done nan Pacific Northwest travel January.

On Sunday night, nan Seahawks thrashed nan Commanders successful beforehand of a nationalist audience. Darnold was great. Macdonald’s defense was terrific. Smith-Njigba shined.

The halfway of Seattle, thing which looked truthful different only a twelvemonth ago, has nan makings of a contender.

On nan agelong westward formation that lies up for nan Seahawks, plentifulness of group will beryllium smiling—none pinch a bigger grin than Schneider.