As we sit three weeks ahead of the draft, John Schneider has filled most of Seattle’s roster holes in free agency, retaining half a dozen top role players and filling vacancies (at least for 2018) at tight end, receiver, guard, linebacker and defensive tackle.
Seattle’s only immediate needs are a starting corner, a backup QB, another running back and some more linebackers. Assuming Schneider adds the corner and QB before the draft, he will be looking more toward the future of the roster, which means finding a couple of pass rushers, a linebacker or two, a running back, another corner and maybe a guard or tight end. He’s not going to find contributors at all of those spots; but, if he does his job, he should find three or four new core guys.
This is the level of paranoia John Schneider has created with his surprisingly explosive offseason: Russell Wilson’s agent apparently is concerned Schneider is looking to replace the quarterback.
Richard Sherman is gone because John Schneider has drafted poorly and paid too many guys, not because Sherman can’t play anymore.
John Schneider is focused on moving younger players into the Seahawks’ lineup, which is why he is willing to move aging stars.
Even as John Schneider extends core players and fills roster gaps this preseason, it is clear he is already looking intently toward the 2018 offseason.
The Seahawks have not had much luck with their top draft picks under John Schneider, and their most recent three are continuing the tradition.
“(Ethan Pocic and Germain Ifedi) are going to compete and obviously what you hope is that they prove to us day in and day out that they are two of the best five. And then you’ve got to move one of them somewhere, and that’s a good problem to have.’’ — Tom Cable to KJR
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 