Russell Wilson, QB
This may seem like an obvious one, but Russell Wilson will be what makes or breaks the Seahawks’ season. With the lack of a running game in recent years, Wilson has had to carry the offense all by himself. And with the lack of a consistent offensive line, he has had to do it while running for his life.
Wilson has attempted over 500 passes in the last two seasons. He ranked sixth in pass attempts in 2017 with 553. Wilson has been asked to pass more and more, and he has done it with success. The days of the ground and pound for Seattle are over, and the offense now runs through Wilson.
Another thing that makes Wilson so important for Seattle is the lack of options behind him. The Seahawks are going into the season with career journeyman, Austin Davis, and seventh round rookie, Alex McGough. Davis has only played in 16 career games, and in three of those games, he did not attempt a pass. While he has been in the system for a year, he doesn’t inspire much confidence as someone who can come in and run an offense at a high level.
While McGough has turned some heads early in camp, he is still a seventh round rookie who will take some time to develop into an NFL caliber quarterback. Wilson staying healthy will be a key factor to Seattle’s success.