Most national praise for the Seattle Seahawks has focused on a defense that finished as one of the league’s best last year, but at least one NFL analyst sees plenty of potential with Klint Kubiak’s new offense.
Macdonald: Seahawks’ defense enters Year 2 on much ‘better foundation’
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak joined us this week on Bump and Stacy to preview Seattle’s 2025 campaign. He explained why Jaxon Smith-Njigba can be a No. 1 threat, mentioned a possible free-agent addition, and explains why one Seattle player has an unbelievably high ceiling.
Changing offenses are a boon for JSN as Seattle’s No. 1 target
The departure of DK Metcalf cast doubt on Seattle’s receiver group not because Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t a great talent, but because Seattle lost another talented star with a proven track record… who’s also a prototypical outside receiver.
“JSN was unbelievably productive from the slot,” Solak said. “In fact, it was one of the most productive slot receiver seasons we’ve seen since 2021. Is JSN ever going to be that paragon that comes to our mind, the image we conjure up, of Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson and Justin Jefferson, the bigger guys who win on the outside down the field? It’s just not where his bread is buttered.
“So you need an OC who’s willing to work around that. But if you’re asking me can he be a 120-reception, 1,300-yard player? Yeah, he absolutely can be.”
1K and counting for @jaxon_smith1. pic.twitter.com/0qlEkQhkb2
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2024
Solak’s point is mostly highlighting that NFL offenses aren’t what they were 15-20 years ago.
“You have teams that live 85-95% of the time in 11 personnel. So one, we’re just letting (more receivers) on the field more. The second thing is defenders are getting smaller and aren’t allowed to hit as hard. So previously if I put a 5-11, buck-90-pound guy out there, I was worried about him getting tackled for 17 games by some of these hard-hitting safeties coming down off the roof lighting him up. Now you can’t do that in the same way. So smaller bodies are more valuable at the NFL level.
“And the last thing I would say to the slot is just that as college schemes and influence have trickled up into the NFL ranks, we’re a lot better at scheming up touches for everybody. If we want to, we can choose a tight end to be our primary touch guy, we can have a (halfback) catch the ball 50, 60, 70 times, we can do that. So if you give Kubiak a team (with a slot receiver as the best receiver), we have a lot more ways than we did 10-15 years ago to scheme touches for that guy out of the slot.”
A potential free agent fit
Wide receiver is the toughest position battle at camp right now, but there’s another potential fit still available in the free agent market: Amari Cooper.
For all the potential of a slot receiver being a No. 1 guy in 2025, every OC wants a diversified offense, and Solak sees an opportunity there for Seattle with Cooper.
WOW AMARI COOPER.
📺: #NYJvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Erc076QOvv
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
“I know for a fact he can line up outside. That’s what he does best, right? He’s a very typical ‘X’ receiver,” Solak said. “In Buffalo’s offense, it was nice to have him, but they never ended up needing him or wanting to rely on him as this one-on-one winner, they don’t need that. He’s not going to break out any big plays he used to, but as a possession receiver and, again, a guy who can line up outside, I think he still has some value.
“So I’m surprised he’s not signed yet, and if he signed with Seattle that would make a lot of sense to me.”
An “astonishing ceiling” for one offensive weapon
The Seahawks aren’t shy about their goal this season: run the ball.
Last year’s pass-happy offense (a byproduct of former Washington OC-turned-Seahawks coordinator Ryan Grubb) was 29th in rushing yards per game, better only than the Bengals, Jets and Raiders. Seattle’s scheme didn’t lean into rushing (evidenced by a frustrating goal line series against the Jets), but they also struggled with consistency on the interior of their offensive line, grading out as one of the league’s worst units.
An ankle injury also limited starting running back Kenneth Walker III to 11 games, but Solak thinks 2025 could be his best opportunity.
One time for the birthday boy 🎉
Touchdown @Kenneth_Walker9! pic.twitter.com/WtKSHQbGf2
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 20, 2024
“There’s a ceiling for Ken Walker in a Klint Kubiak offense that is astonishing,” Solak said. “It’s really, really high up there. I think they’re probably going to stay more of a 1A, 1B approach. But if they want to, and if Walker has a nice, healthy season, there’s some worlds where he has some ludicrous games as the primary back, 20-plus catches in the game in this offense. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Reports: Seahawks LT Charles Cross had finger surgery
• Macdonald: Seahawks QBs have made ‘significant jump’ since spring
• Seahawks GM explains decision to release TE Noah Fant
• Stacy: Why Seahawks may be on Clowney Watch again
• Bump: MVS will be Seattle Seahawks’ explosive-play threat
