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Seattle Seahawks face major decisions heading into offseason

By Luis Tirado Jr.

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The Seattle Seahawks are heading into an offseason with a bitter taste in their mouths thanks to one of the roughest losses in franchise history. Make no mistake about it, that decision to pass the football on that particular situation to win or lose the biggest game of them all will haunt them for quite some time. As they try to pick themselves up from such a terrible loss, they will now enter the NFL offseason with many key decisions to make on the horizon.

The “Legion of Boom” is known for its incredible cast of defenders but truth of the matter is, they wouldn’t be where they are today if not for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. The defensive mastermind is no long a part of the Seahawks as he is now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Believe it or not that will be a huge blow to their defensive scheming as he was the orchestrator that made their defense one of the most feared in the league.

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Even though Kris Richard looks like he will get promoted to most likely take over where Quinn left off, it’s not easy to go from a defensive backs coach to a defensive coordinator. There will be a learning curve and it might take quite some time for him to replicate the defensive success the Seahawks have been enjoying for the past few years. Richard should be fine but he will have some pretty big shoes to fill should he get it.

As the Seahawks head into the offseason, some priorities will have to be made in regards to retaining some of their core players for the future. Quarterback Russell Wilson will be the first and top priority to give a contract extension since he is the heart of their potent offense. It’s expected he will be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL as he is set to make even more money than Aaron Rodgers who holds the record with a five-year $110 million contract he got from the Green Bay Packers.

Wilson deserves every penny of what is coming his way since he is such a dynamic player, he is easily their franchise quarterback for the next pivotal years of their success. Other key players that should get some quality extensions will be the anchors of their defensive line in both defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. The Seahawks must ensure they keep these two together so they can continue wreaking havoc against offenses for years to come. It should also be noted that Bobby Wagner is another easy extension to make in the offseason.

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) tackles New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the third quarter in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody really knows yet what will happen with running back Marshawn Lynch but the Seahawks have the right intentions to ensure he retires with the team and sticks around for the long haul. They want to make him the highest paid running back in the league due to how he elevated his game this past season and was one of the main reasons why they punched their ticket to a consecutive Super Bowl appearance. He should be brought back next season but keep in mind, he’s an unpredictable kind of player. He might retire out of nowhere, ask to be traded or who knows what.

Now, some of the toughest decisions for the Seahawks will be on what to do with their current set-to-be key free agents. Some key players that contributed to their Super Bowl run last season are set to hit the free agency market and will absolutely draw interest from a plethora of teams. Cornerback Bryon Maxwell and linebacker Malcolm Smith should all be given new deals to keep them from hitting the open market.

Maxwell is a top priority for the Seahawks to ensure they make a strong effort to keep him on the team. His contributions are immense and he compliments fellow cornerback Richard Sherman beyond belief.

The two make one of the best tandems when it comes to a dominating defensive secondary but should they let him walk, it will surely impact them where it hurts the most. Same goes with Smith who is a leader on defense and makes those around him better.

Once the free agency market begins, the Seahawks will need to come to the reality that they need to infuse better talent into their wide receiving corps. While Chris Matthews was an absolute star in the Super Bowl, there is no guarantee he will play consistently like that ever again. He might but it’s truly doubtful since it could just have been the nerves of steel he played with in the biggest game of them all in the sports world.

A tall, speedy receiver is what the Seahawks truly need to acquire either in free agency or the 2015 NFL Draft. Wilson needs a true huge target that can make big plays and be a game-changer. Keep in mind the Seahawks will continue to be dominant and I fully expect them to once again return to their third consecutive Super Bowl come next year. This team is nowhere near a rebuilding phase as they are just adding more weapons to add to their impressive arsenal.

Overall, the Seahawks might have some hiccups when it comes to their defense next season but keep in mind this is a team that usually finds its way at the right moment. Once they get red hot and take off, there won’t be anyone to really stop their success or passion to return to the Super Bowl after such a bitter loss in the big game this past season.

Next: Mock Draft: Seahawks add a deep threat

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