March 21, 2023 11:03 pm

The Seahawks kicked off absolutely free agency by extending 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith. Immediately after spending two seasons away, defensive finish Jarran Reed signed to return to Seattle, the group that drafted him in the second-round of the 2016 draft. Bolstering the pass rush, the group brought in defensive finish Dre’Mont Jones – who has 3-consecutive seasons of 5-plus sacks. Podell breaks down why these moves are placing Seattle on the correct track to turn into a playoff contender.

Crucial additions: DL Dre’Mont Jones (Broncos), DL Jarran Reed (Packers)

Crucial re-signings: QB Geno Smith

The Broncos are the present that keeps on providing for the Seahawks. Dumping quarterback Russell Wilson on them in exchange for 5 draft picks and 3 players brought the Pete Carroll Era back to life in Seattle as they got unprecedented, instant effect from their 2022 rookie draft class. Seattle very first-year players began 70 games as a group in 2022, tied for the most by any playoff group due to the fact the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, along with the 2018 Colts.

Seattle also has the fifth general choose in the upcoming NFL Draft thanks to Wilson’s very first-year flameout at Mile Higher Stadium, permitting them to potentially grab a quarterback of the future to understand beneath Geno Smith, who played like a top rated-5 quarterback in 2022 en route to a 3-year](3-year”&gthttps://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-absolutely free-agency-2023-geno-smith-re-indicators-with-seahawks-on-multiyear-contract-with-40m-assured-per-report/”&gtthree-year)), $75 million extension this offseason. That contract puts the Seahawks in position to have some stability at the position whilst not sacrificing flexibility either. Even so, they could also just choose 1 of the draft’s top rated 3 draft prospects amongst Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr, Georgia’s Jalen Carter, or Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson. If the Arizona Cardinals trade down from their third general choose spot with a quarterback-hungry group, the Seahawks could have their choose of any of these 3.

Not to mention Seattle also took a further important asset from the Broncos in defensive finish Dre’Mont Jones, whom they signed on a 3-year deal for $51.five million on Monday, according to NFL Media. The 26-year-old has recorded a minimum of five.five sacks and seven tackles for loss in every single season due to the fact 2020 immediately after shifting to the defensive finish spot from defensive tackle immediately after his rookie year in 2019. Final season, Jones had a profession year with six.five sacks and nine tackles for loss. The Seahawks are a great draft away from becoming a extended-term contender in the NFC.

Study far more on Podell’s thoughts of the league-wide acquisitions via the very first official week of absolutely free agency right here.