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Seattle Seahawks: Surprising breakout candidates in 2018

By Samuel Teets

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Wide receiver Keenan Reynolds #14 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Wide receiver Keenan Reynolds #14 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the start of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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For the Seattle Seahawks to make a deep postseason run in 2018, they will need some unlikely heroes to step up and assume major roles.

The Seattle Seahawks have several established stars on their roster along with some good role players, but the team will really benefit from the emergence of a few deep sleepers on their roster.

Five players ranked low on the depth chart stand out as potential major contributors in 2018. One or more of these players realizing their full potential will seriously raise the postseason hopes and expectations of the team.

Let’s get started, beginning with a wide receiver who hasn’t always been at that position in his football career.

Keenan Reynolds, WR

Reynolds is a former college quarterback turned athletic prospect in the NFL. He’s listed at 5-10 and 191 pounds, making him a little undersized, but he makes up for that with his agility and movement. Because of his abilities he’s best utilized with the ball in his hands, so he could see some touches out of the backfield, not just as a wide receiver.

Marcus Smith II, DE

Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett left a lot of production that needs to be filled along the defensive line. Smith is a former first round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles who hasn’t panned out yet. He did have his best year in 2017 with the Seahawks, recording 2.5 sacks for the second season in a row. Still just 26 years old, Smith will have the opportunity to emerge in the Seahawks defense.

Tyrone Swoopes, TE

The Seahawks have a huge hole at the tight end position left by the departures of Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson. Right now there is no clear heir apparent, although Swoopes is a dark horse candidate. At 6-4, 254 pounds, he’s got a similar build to Willson and will be a size mismatch against most defensive backs and some smaller linebackers.

In college, Swoopes actually played quarterback at Texas and threw for just over 2,400 yards in 2014. He sounds like a good option to run trick plays with.

Marcus Johnson, WR

Speaking of Texas, that’s where Johnson attended school. The wide receiver position is a popular spot on this list because the Seahawks need to be better there and players will have the opportunity to earn more playing time. Johnson only had five receptions with the Eagles last season and he isn’t exactly exuding potential, but you never know how a receiver might mesh with a quarterback like Russell Wilson.

Next: NFL 2018: One breakout candidate for each team

Tre Flowers, S

The Legion of Boom is gone and the Seahawks are building a new secondary. Flowers, a fifth round pick this year, played four years of college ball at Oklahoma State. At 6-3 and just over 200 pounds, he’s a little light to be the next Kam Chancellor but has the basic framework to become a terror in the secondary. If he adds more weight and proves he can play some man-to-man, then he will find himself taking a lot of snaps. While he could get in this year, like most other players on this list, he’s more likely to be a two or three year project before he sees the field often.

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