NFL Offseason 2015: The NFC West
January 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws against the Carolina Panthers during the first half in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Signings:
- CB Cary Williams
- NT Ahtyba Rubin
Re-signings:
- FB Will Tukuafu
- TE Anthony McCoy
Trades:
- The Saints give the Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham and 4th-round pick for C Max Unger and 1st-round pick
Cuts:
- TE Zach Miller
Losses:
- OLB Malcolm Smith
- CB Byron Maxwell
- WR Bryan Walters
- S Jeron Johnson
- G James Carpenter
- TE Tony Moeaki
- EDGE O’Brien Schofield
As is the case with most of the Super Bowl teams, the Seattle Seahawks got their roster raided more than they have raided the rosters of others. But they didn’t lose anything of extreme value and the loss of cornerback Byron Maxwell was offset by them bringing in Cary Williams. You would think that the roster couldn’t go anywhere but down but the Seahawks got better.
They made a big trade, acquiring superstar tight end Jimmy Graham, giving up their 2015 1st-round pick in the process. The Legion of Boom is still intact, “Beast Mode” just signed an extension and quarterback Russell Wilson is still getting better. The addition of Graham just made the rich even richer and might have taken back any ground the Cardinals and Rams have gained.
This is a very deep class of receivers coming out in the draft and you can get a center later in the draft. So giving up the 1st-round pick to get Graham really wasn’t the biggest of sacrifices. The Seahawks now have a red-zone weapon for times that they really feel like they have to throw the ball at the one.