2023 NFL Offseason report: Seattle Seahawks

•  Free agency recap: The Seahawks spent like a team poised to make a run — a wise move, considering the general weakness of the NFC.

• Best move of the offseason: The Seahawks have a unique WR tandem in the overpowering D.K. Metcalf and veteran technician Tyler Lockett, but Lockett has battled several injuries in recent years and will turn 31 in September. Enter Smith-Njigba, who is an outstanding route-runner ready to impact the field immediately

• Outlook for 2023: This year is all about Geno Smith. The pieces are there on both sides of the ball to make a significant run in a division with two weak teams and a conference with only one clear elite all-around roster.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL offseason, it's time to assess how each team fared in their quest to improve their roster.

Recapping blockbuster trades and high-profile signings to shrewd draft selections, PFF offers an in-depth assessment of all 32 NFL teams, shedding light on the potential impact these moves may have on their fortunes in the upcoming campaign.

For more information on each team's draft selections and offseason moves, download the PFF draft guide today!

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS OFFSEASON GRADE: A

2023 NFL Free Agency

Free agency recap: The Seahawks spent like a team poised to make a run — a wise move, considering the general weakness of the NFC. They brought back key players from prior Seahawks teams, including LB Bobby Wagner, one of the few bright spots on last year’s Rams squad.

They also scored a key upgrade in center Evan Brown, who recorded the sixth-best pass-block efficiency figure at the position when forced into extended play for Detroit in 2021. They also spent up for DI Dre’Mont Jones, who likely made it easier for them to look past Georgia's Jalen Carter at the top of the draft.

2023 Draft class

R1 (5): CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
R1 (20): WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
R2 (37): EDGE Derick Hall, Auburn
R2 (52): RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
R4 (108): G Anthony Bradford, LSU
R4 (123): DI Cameron Young, Mississippi State
R5 (151): EDGE Mike Morris, Michigan
R5 (154): C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
R6 (198): S Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
R7 (237): RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

2023 NFL Draft recap

The Seahawks were the only team with multiple first-round picks heading into the draft to maintain both original draft slots, but they still managed to exit the draft with PFF’s top prospects at two premium positions.

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon allowed a completion percentage of just 34.9% into his coverage and racked up 20 forced incompletions without surrendering a touchdown.

Days 2 and 3 produced a number of intriguing picks for the Seahawks, as well, particularly on the offensive line. Guard Anthony Bradford is an impressive athlete for such a large player, and center Olusegun Oluwatimi is the reigning Remington Award winner as the nation's top center and surrendered just three sacks in three years combined at Virginia and Michigan.

Best move of the offseason: Drafting WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Seahawks have a unique WR tandem in the overpowering D.K. Metcalf and veteran technician Tyler Lockett, but Lockett has battled several injuries in recent years and will turn 31 in September. Enter Smith-Njigba, who is an outstanding route-runner ready to impact the field immediately, the latest in a long line of standout Ohio State Buckeye receivers. He saw action in only three games in 2022 due to a nagging hamstring injury, but in 2021 he averaged a stunning 4.01 yards per route run to go with a 91.7 PFF grade.

Remaining team needs: QB

At 33 years old, Geno Smith enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2021, posting 32 touchdowns and 35 big-time throws. He signed a new three-year deal in the offseason that should keep him in Seattle through at least the 2024 season, but there is reason for concern about the stability of his play.

He posted a whopping 31 turnover-worthy plays in 2023, and only twice in the final 10 games did he post a passing grade over 70.0. There was considerable speculation leading up to the draft that Seattle could be in the QB market, but in the end, they did not spend any of their 10 picks on the position.

Drew Lock currently serves as the backup and should not be considered a reliable fill-in.

Early position battle to watch: DI Bryan Mone vs. DI CAMERON YOUNG

Mone is supposed to be a run-defense specialist, but in four seasons with the Seahawks has yet to post a run-defense grade better than 61.5. Enter Young, who the Seahawks drafted in the fourth round.

While he’s not likely to contribute much on passing downs — he won pass-rush reps at a rate of just 6.6% last year for Mississippi State — his run-defense grade of 69.1 in the SEC last year is respectable, especially considering the volume of snaps (336) he devoted to the pass rush. Young has already reportedly added 20 pounds to his frame and with a more singular focus on stuffing the run, could win the starting nose tackle job from Mone.

2023 Outlook

This year is all about Geno Smith. The pieces are there on both sides of the ball to make a significant run in a division with two weak teams and a conference with only one clear elite all-around roster, but he will need to play back to the level he showed the first half of 2022.

Through the first eight games last season, he had “just” 10 turnover-worthy plays (despite a season-high four against the Falcons in Week 3) and broke the 90.0-point threshold three times with his passing grades. If he can play closer to that level, Seattle should be a significant threat in the playoffs.