Seahawks with mega offseason, Saints at a standstill?

The Seattle Seahawks have revamped their roster – but there’s no sign of a rebuild. Pete Caroll is going for the NFC title. The Saints, on the other hand, have a new quarterback, but is he an upgrade?

Seattle Seahawks

Strenghts

The Seahawks were able to surprise last season, and in 2023 we see a much better 53-man roster. Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has committed to the franchise long-term, safety Julian Love and D-lineman Jarren Reed also joined. There is also a reunion with Bobby Wagner, the legend returning to the fold after a strong season with the Rams. The Broncos’ draft picks also helped them impress in the draft, with cornerback Devon Witherspoon bringing strong man coverage. Top wide receiver in the class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, should be able to start immediately. Oh yeah, there was also a new contract for quarterback surprise Geno Smith. It’s just the way things are going in Seattle…

Weaknesses

Sounds weird, but this squad is almost a bit overloaded. DK Metcalf leads the receiver room, but the skill sets of Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are quite similar. Still lacking a bit of imagination as to how all three will produce 1000 yards or more, especially since the Seahawks are, after all, putting their focus on the running game. Among the many positives with this franchise, one person gives us a little bit of a stomach ache. Can Geno Smith repeat his terrific season or will the backup curse come back up? Residual doubts remain.

Motto of the season: The Seahawks are coming off an incredibly attractive offseason on paper – Pete Caroll could once again surprise everyone.

New Orleans Saints

Strenghts

The New Orleans offense has been respectable, at least in part. Chris Olave, with 2.4 yards per route run, has shown he can shine on both intermediate and deep routes. Juwan Johnson is still underrated, the tight end once played wide receiver and should get a lot more spotlight with the more pass-heavy play of Derek Carr. The running game also looks solid and especially wide with Williams, Miller and Kamara. Bryan Breese came in the draft for the D-Line and brings size, agility and explosiveness.

Weaknesses

The Saints are confident they have got a massive upgrade on Andy Dalton in Derek Carr. The reality, however, is different: Dalton caused fewer turnovers, had a higher completion rate and more yards per attempt. The shaky interior offensive line could become another problem along with Carr’s own insecurities. Add to that the fact that Alvin Kamara is suspended two to six games by the NFL and will be missing, especially early in the season. At least WR Michael Thomas is poised to make a comeback from injury, though how much he’ll return is still unclear. After the defensive line had to let some important players go, Breese and other new ones better ignite right away.

Motto of the season: Little movement in New Orleans. The roster is minimally better than in 2022, but in a weak NFC South it should be enough for the playoffs.