Seattle Seahawks: What Would Make 2024 A Success?

The Seattle Seahawks will be led by a new head coach in 2024 for the first time since 2010. Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald replaced Pete Carroll earlier this offseason. Macdonald is inheriting a competitive roster that should have postseason aspirations in 2024.

The 2023 campaign was slightly disappointing. The Seahawks finished 9-8 for a second consecutive season, but it wasn't enough to gain entrance into the playoffs. General manager John Schneider decided to initiate change by removing Carroll after his highly-successful 14-year stint as head coach.

Macdonald was chosen as his successor. It represents a meteoric rise up the coaching ranks for Macdonald, who spent just two seasons (2022-23) as an NFL coordinator before accepting a lead gig. He's hired inexperienced coordinators in Ryan Grubb and Aden Durde, who are both making their professional debuts in those roles. Wisely, Leslie Frazier has been appointed as assistant head coach to serve as a veteran voice in the room.

Macdonald deserves this opportunity despite his inexperience. His 2023 Ravens allowed a league-low 16.5 points per game, and a sixth-lowest 301.4 yards per contest. Several defenders enjoyed career-best, or resurgent years in his scheme, including Justin Madubuike and Jadeveon Clowney. The Ravens won a league-high 13 games, claiming the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Creativity was at the forefront of Macdonald's effective scheme. It's heavily reliant on versatile players that can wear multiple hats. Mixing and matching looks to create conflict and confusion offer an advantage when executed correctly. Macdonald's Seahawks have enough talent on defense to make a successful transition.

Dre'Mont Jones, Leonard Williams, and 2024 first-rounder Byron Murphy II should be dominant forces on the defensive line. There's also an influx of talented and ascending pass rushers, ranging from Uchenna Nwosu to Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe, and Derick Hall. The secondary has depth, with Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, and Julian Love setting the tone.

The real question is how effective Seattle's offense will be. Macdonald will likely take a hands-off approach. He's entrusted the aforementioned Grubb, who has never coordinated an NFL offense, but did coordinate an explosive Washington Huskies unit last season that produced two top-10 draft picks in quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Rome Odunze.

The soon-to-be-34-year-old Geno Smith is still the starting quarterback. Smith enjoyed a resurgent campaign in 2022, but regressed in 2023 while often playing through injury. The 2013 second-rounder from West Virginia is entering the second season of a three-year, $75 million extension. The Seahawks could release him next offseason with $25 million in savings and a manageable dead cap charge.

Smith is talented enough to position the Seahawks for postseason contention. A run-heavy approach could be Grubb's preference with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet sharing the backfield workload. At receiver, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba give Smith options.

In an interesting move, Sam Howell was acquired at quarterback from the Washington Commanders. At times, Howell flashed starting-QB upside in Washington last season. It may be Macdonald's creative way of gambling on a low-risk, high-reward potential successor.

The NFC West will be extremely competitive in 2024. The San Francisco 49ers are reigning NFC champions, and the Los Angeles Rams are a playoff team. It won't be a cakewalk.

A successful 2024 campaign means the Seahawks made the postseason. That would also indicate Macdonald was the appropriate hire, and his young coordinators didn't struggle to acclimate. The Seahawks have a talented roster. Good coaching should help them achieve their lofty goals.