Seattle Seahawks NFL Offseason Preview: Will Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner Return in 2022?

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks experienced life without quarterback Russell Wilson for the first time in 2021.

It didn’t go well.

And it didn’t get any better when he returned from the broken finger that marked the most significant injury of his 10-year career. When Wilson began playing like himself again, the Seahawks were in too deep a hole to stand any chance in a loaded division that sent three teams to the playoffs, including the Super Bowl LVI champion Los Angeles Rams.

Who knows how the Seahawks’ 7-10 season would have gone had Wilson not suffered a fracture and ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand in Week 5. They lost that game after Geno Smith took over and he went 1-2 in his three starts. Wilson made a remarkably quick return from surgery, but he wasn’t himself, his uncharacteristic misfires suggesting his finger wasn’t ready. Seattle lost its first three games to fall to 3-8, ending any hope of another playoff run.

Surely, they would have done much better than 1-6 down that stretch with a healthy Wilson.

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On the other hand, his offense was inexplicably bad on third down before his injury and remained that way for much of Shane Waldron’s first season as offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, his defense failed to generate enough pressure or takeaway, even after recovering from another historically poor start. As a result, coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis were fired.

Coach Pete Carroll, whose job security has come into question, also parted ways with offensive line coach Tom Solari after the Seahawks finished their worst season in more than a decade.

Projected Salary Cap Space: $38.49 million

Top free agents: LT Duane Brown, RT Brandon Shell, C Ethan Pocic, RB Rashaad Penny, RB Alex Collins, TE Gerald Everett, TE Will Dissly, FS Quandre Diggs, CB DJ Reed, CB Sidney Jones IV, DE Rasheem Green, DT Al Woods

Possible court candidates: Linebacker Bobby Wagner had another highly productive season en route to his eighth career Pro Bowl. But the Seahawks could decide he’s not making enough impact plays to justify the $16.6 million nonguaranteed he’ll earn and the $20.35 million he’ll count against the cap in the final year of his contract, when he’s 32. The longtime defensive captain and six-time first-team All-Pro acknowledged his uncertain future at the end of the season and then said he’s optimistic about returning in 2022. If so, it will likely be in something other than his current contract. Running back Chris Carson is coming off neck surgery, but the Seahawks said they expect him to make a full recovery by 2022 and wouldn’t save much against the cap if they cut him.

The great question: Will Wilson stay? A trade this offseason seems unlikely for a number of reasons, but it’s not out of the question. The tensions that arose during the last offseason have calmed down, so it does not seem that the relationship has become unworkable. That puts the Seahawks in a position to trade hard like they did last offseason, when they had legitimate trade talks with the Chicago Bears.

It may take three first-round picks to get his attention, and more importantly, any offer would have to give the Seahawks a clear path to a replacement who could help them win a Super Bowl. But they probably don’t think that guy exists in such a weak quarterback draft, nor are they likely to see him sitting on the trading block. For his part, Wilson said he hopes to stay in Seattle. But his non-definitive wording (he has a no-trade clause and could guarantee he’ll stay) suggests he’s not sure how he’ll feel later on. And Carroll has strongly hinted that the Seahawks will again listen to trade offers. So you never know.

What you need to know: Diggs is the Seahawks’ top free agent. He led the team with five interceptions, matching his total from 2020 when he was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. His job patrolling the back of their defense was one of the main reasons Seattle was one of the best teams to limit explosive passing plays. He could have been the Seahawks’ MVP in 2021. But Diggs’ situation is complicated by a few factors. He’s coming off a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 18. And even before that, he wasn’t sure the Seahawks would pay him considering they refused to give him the extension he wanted last year. That reluctance may have been tied to the mega deal they eventually gave fellow security guard Jamal Adams. Losing Diggs would be a huge blow to a defense that already has few players who can generate turnovers.

Best scenario for the offseason: There are the obvious items on the checklist: improve his offensive line and passing rush, re-sign Diggs and add another ballhawk on defense, etc. They also need Waldron and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt to come up with solutions related to the scheme. But the Seahawks could also use some help from the rest of the NFC West, and if we’re talking best-case scenarios, what if Aaron Donald and/or Sean McVay walk away from the Rams?

Worst case scenario for the off-season: The absolute worst case scenario would be getting ripped off in a Wilson trade, which would lead to a full rebuild. But that’s not going to happen. Still, their usual approaches to free agency (where they eschew mega-deals in favor of value additions) and the draft (where they often trade to add picks) would flounder if they didn’t get enough impact players to keep up with the rest of the players. NFC West.

Preview of the NFL draft, from ESPN analyst Jordan Reid: Without a first-round pick due to the Jamal Adams trade, there are still plenty of routes GM John Schneider could choose to take. Regardless of what happens with Duane Brown, the Seahawks should look to address the offensive tackle issue. They have to keep building the offensive line. The depth along the defensive line is another point that needs to be improved.

Main needs: OT, EDGE, CB

First option: No. 41