The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2024 season with a strong offensive supporting cast on paper. Quarterback Geno Smith had a trio of effective receivers at his disposal in DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett. The duo of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet were supposed to form a productive backfield.

Going into last season, ESPN ranked the Seahawks’ weapons as the eighth-best unit in the league. Few of those positive projections came to fruition. Metcalf, Lockett, Walker III took a step back. JSN’s record-breaking season was among the few bright spots.

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Sweeping changes have arrived this offseason. Sam Darnold is the new starting QB. Lockett and Metcalf have been replaced by Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Klint Kubiak is the new offensive coordinator, replacing Ryan Grubb.

ESPN recently dropped their annual WR-RB-TE rankings (as a collective). The Seahawks tumbled down from No. 8 last offseason to No. 19 this year.

“A significant overhaul means the Seahawks drop in these rankings,” Bill Barnwell wrote. “Even while acknowledging that DK Metcalf’s 2020 season looks like an outlier and Tyler Lockett’s decline has become apparent, Seattle might have downgraded at both spots (while getting cheaper) by replacing them with Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.”

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Barnwell also expressed concerns about Walker’s declining efficiency. Seattle’s lead back was limited by injury last season, rushing for a career-low 573 yards.

“Kenneth Walker III has the fourth-worst success rate (37%) and is tied for third-last in first downs over expectation among running backs with at least 500 carries in the past three seasons,” Barnwell continued. “It’s one thing to combine that profile with spectacular big plays, as Walker did in 2022, but after breaking off three 60-plus yard runs as a rookie, he hasn’t posted one since. “

Kubiak will attempt to maximize the talent on an offense with several lingering questions.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: ESPN: Seahawks to field league-average offense