NFL Offseason Outlook: Being Better In The Run Game, Getting To The Passer More A Big Offseason Focus For Seattle

A 12-4 season and NFC West Divisional title in 2020 was not enough to appease Seattle Seahawks fans, who were not too happy about the team losing in the NFC Wild Card game at home to the rival Los Angeles Rams 30-20 in a game that it just never felt the Hawks were in.

Now into the offseason, the Seahawks have 31 total free agents to make decisions on, with the biggest being running back Chris Carson, who is just 27 years old and anchored a unit that the offense will count on this next year and moving forward.

Carson is back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher and has put up 28 touchdowns in the last three years. The Hawks need to throw out whatever they think about Carson and sign him to at least a three if not a four-year deal before a team breaks the bank for him.

In 2018 Carson ran the ball 267 times, and last season 315 times. Injuries hurt him in 2020, but he's proven he can carry the load.

Free agency will be ultra critical for the Hawks in 2021, as the team does not possess a first-round pick in 2021 meaning they need to make smart decisions in free agency and if any trades come down the pike.

Seattle has picks in round two, four, five and seven.

The team enter the 2021 season with $4.95 million in cap space, meaning they are up against it and down $17.7 million from last year.

Let's start with taking a look at the Seahawks free agents for 2021:

FB Nick Bellore, 32
RB Chris Carson, 26
WR Phillip Dorsett, 28
WR Josh Gordon, 30
TE Jacob Hollister, 28
RB Carlos Hyde, 31
G Mike Iupati, 34
WR David Moore, 29
T Cedric Ogbuehi, 29
G/C Ethan Pocic, 26
G Jordan Simmons, 27
QB Geno Smith, 31
G Chance Warmack, 30
T Chad Wheeler, 27
CB Quinton Dunbar, 29
DT Poona Ford, 26
LB Shaquem Griffin, 26
CB Shaquill Griffin, 26
S Delano Hill, 26
EDGE/DE Bruce Irvin, 34
DE Branden Jackson, 29
DE Benson Mayowa, 30
DT Bryan Mone, 26
DE Damontre Moore, 29
CB Ryan Neal, 26
FS Damarious Randall, 29
CB Jayson Stanley, 24
S Linden Stephens, 26
CB Neiko Thorpe, 31
LB K.J. Wright, 32

Offseason Outlook: The Seahawks number one need this offseason are players that can rush the edge to get to the quarterbacks. The team has two players, Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin, that are edge rushers but are also free agents and could be history.

A couple players who could see more playing time in 2021 if the team does not pickup any big names are L.J. Collier and Alton Robinson. Expect to see them a lot in camps early and for their names to pop up often.

Another position of need for Seattle this offseason is that of their offensive line. This is a unit that not only is responsible for protecting quarterback Russell Wilson, but also opening holes for the likes of Carson.

“I want to see if we can run the ball more effectively… I’d like to not play against two-deep looks all season long next year," coach Pete Carroll said.

Seattle has a number of pending OL's that the team would like to keep.

Tackle Cedric Ogbuehi ($2.3 million contract) and interior linemen Mike Iupati ($2.5 million), Ethan Pocic ($1.102 million), Kyle Fuller ($750,000) and Jordan Simmons ($675,000).

Expect to see a few of them back on the roster, but it also wouldn't be a surprise for new names and faces to be on the team for when 2021 gets going as well.

The Niners, Rams and Cardinals make up a very competitive NFC West. The Hawks are not a team that is such where they can just throw their helmets on the field and win.

They know that, and you can expect to see plenty of changes with this team, and a lot of new names to litter the roster when things heat up come July.