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Seattle Seahawks: Predicting the starters for 2019

By Samuel Teets

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image as the Seattle Seahawks take the #29 overall pick during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image as the Seattle Seahawks take the #29 overall pick during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss works out during day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss works out during day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Offense

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Did you expect someone else to be in this spot? Wilson just signed a record-setting four-year extension with the Seahawks this offseason. The team will try to keep him around for the entirety of his career.

Running Back: Chris Carson

I don’t care that the Seahawks selected Penny in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and neither should Carson. The 2017 seventh-round pick performed at a borderline Pro Bowl level in 2018, posting the fourth-most rushing yards per game among runners who started at least half of the year. That means Carson averaged more rushing yards per game (82.2) than Saquon Barkley (81.7).

Penny will see more carries now that Mike Davis is no longer on the team, but Carson has earned the right to securely hold the starting job.

Wide Receiver: Tyler Lockett, Gary Jennings and D.K. Metcalf

Lockett is the only wide receiver on the Seahawks roster to record more than 500 receiving yards in a single season. When Doug Baldwin was limited last year, Lockett thrived posting career bests in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. After four years in the league, fans certainly hope that Lockett is ready to shoulder the majority of the burden that comes with replacing a player like Baldwin.

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I went really young when choosing the other starters at receiver, picking two rookies. Seattle does have more experienced players like David Moore and Jaron Brown, but Metcalf (second round) and Jennings (fourth round) seem like they might just grab the jobs and run with them.

Metcalf was a star at the combine and, although he’s not a great cutter, he will be an excellent deep ball and jump ball option. Jennings seems like he’s the best option to fit the Baldwin mold, especially considering his 2017 season at West Virginia was highlighted by a lot of receptions and a lower yards per catch average.

Brown only recorded 14 receptions with the Seahawks last season, but Moore did start in that third receiver position and posted 445 yards and five touchdowns on 26 receptions. If there’s anyone who could keep Jennings or Metcalf out of the top three receivers, it would be Moore.

Tight End: Will Dissly

The 2018 fourth-round pick was off to a pretty good start in 2018 before landing on IR in Week 4. Dissly is primarily a blocking tight end, but he showed some surprising upside in the passing game last season. Nick Vannett got the majority of starts at tight end in Dissly’s absence, but he’s also primarily a blocking tight end and is more limited as an offensive threat than Dissly. Vannett will be a quality backup to Dissly in the Seahawks run-heavy offense in 2019.

Offensive Line: Duane Brown, Mike Iupati, Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker and Germain Ifedi

Brown wasn’t a Pro Bowler in 2018, but he was still a Second Team All-Pro, meaning he was one of the best tackles in the league yet again. The left tackle spot is locked down. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the right tackle spot. Sure, Ifedi’s job is probably secure, but the team didn’t pick up his fifth-year option for a reason. Ifedi has been destroyed by pass rushers in recent years and has failed to live up to his first-round draft status.

The Seahawks clearly brought Fluker back in free agency to be a starter again. After the Seahawks led the league in rushing last season, largely thanks to Fluker’s effort on the inside, the team wanted to keep him around for another run.

Iupati will start at the other guard spot, but the former Pro Bowler’s best days are behind him. He’s started just 11 games in the last two seasons and the Seahawks are just going to have to hope he can keep it together for 2019. If Iupati goes down, there could be an Ethan Pocic sighting or rookie Phil Haynes could get a shot if he impresses in camp.

Britt will be the starting center again, and that’s no surprise. There’s no one on the roster who could compete for the job with Britt. Even though he’s just an average center, the Seahawks seem happy enough with him.

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