ESPN\u2019s Benjamin Solak<\/a> joined us this week on Bump and Stacy<\/a> to preview Seattle\u2019s 2025 campaign<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Changing offenses are a boon for JSN as Seattle\u2019s No. 1 target<\/p>\n The departure of DK Metcalf cast doubt on Seattle\u2019s receiver group not because Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn\u2019t a great talent, but because Seattle lost another talented star with a proven track record\u2026 who\u2019s also a prototypical outside receiver.<\/p>\n \u201cJSN was unbelievably productive from the slot,\u201d Solak said. \u201cIn fact, it was one of the most productive slot receiver seasons we\u2019ve 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\u2019s just not where his bread is buttered.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you need an OC who\u2019s willing to work around that. But if you\u2019re asking me can he be a 120-reception, 1,300-yard player? Yeah, he absolutely can be.\u201d<\/p>\n 1K and counting for @jaxon_smith1<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/0qlEkQhkb2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n Solak\u2019s point is mostly highlighting that NFL offenses aren\u2019t what they were 15-20 years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have teams that live 85-95% of the time in 11 personnel. So one, we\u2019re just letting (more receivers) on the field more. The second thing is defenders are getting smaller and aren\u2019t 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\u2019t do that in the same way. So smaller bodies are more valuable at the NFL level.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd 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\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n A potential free agent fit<\/p>\n Wide receiver is the toughest position battle at camp right now, but there\u2019s another potential fit still available in the free agent market: Amari Cooper.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n WOW AMARI COOPER.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa: #NYJvsBUF<\/a> on CBS\/Paramount+ \u2014 NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI know for a fact he can line up outside. That\u2019s what he does best, right? He\u2019s a very typical \u2018X\u2019 receiver,\u201d Solak said. \u201cIn Buffalo\u2019s 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\u2019t need that. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m surprised he\u2019s not signed yet, and if he signed with Seattle that would make a lot of sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n An \u201castonishing ceiling\u201d for one offensive weapon<\/p>\n The Seahawks aren\u2019t shy about their goal this season: run the ball.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s 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\u2019s scheme didn\u2019t 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\u2019s worst units.<\/p>\n An ankle injury also limited starting running back Kenneth Walker III to 11 games, but Solak thinks 2025 could be his best opportunity.<\/p>\n One time for the birthday boy \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n Touchdown @Kenneth_Walker9<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/WtKSHQbGf2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 20, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a ceiling for Ken Walker in a Klint Kubiak offense that is astonishing,\u201d Solak said. \u201cIt\u2019s really, really high up there. I think they\u2019re probably going to stay more of a 1A, 1B approach. But if they want to, and if Walker has a nice, healthy season, there\u2019s some worlds where he has some ludicrous games as the primary back, 20-plus catches in the game in this offense. It\u2019s going to be fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n \u2022 Reports: Seahawks LT Charles Cross had finger surgery<\/a>
\ud83d\udcf1: https:\/\/t.co\/waVpO909ge<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Erc076QOvv<\/a><\/p>\n
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