Seattle Seahawks: 5 Positions They Need to Bolster with Depth After NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll have been a program that is all about competition.

John Schneider has helped him find players in the draft's later rounds, on the waiver wire and from other leagues who can step in and challenge for starting jobs.

While a pair of seven-win seasons don't seem materially better than the nine combined wins Seattle had in the two seasons before Carroll was hired, the overall talent on the team has improved significantly.

If Seattle had the same level of production at the quarterback position that they had with a younger Matt Hasselbeck, there is little doubt the team would have produced several more wins last season. Carroll may have been given a pass on quarterback in 2011, but it is time for him to prove he has found a franchise quarterback.

While the focus on competition has improved most position groups, there are still a few areas where the Seahawks need to focus.

The next slide shows the staff is dedicated to making sure the roster is as solid as possible. The four that follow show that their work isn't done.

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Tight End

Status

The addition of Kellen Winslow replenishes the position group, possibly making it the best in Seahawks history.

Roster

Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy, John Nalbone, Sean McGrath (R)

Overview

Tight end has been a rough position for the Seahawks in recent seasons. They have struggled with dropped passes and inconsistent production in the passing game.

When I started this article on Sunday, tight end was the biggest position of concern on their roster.

The Seahawks lost John Carlson in training camp last season, erasing the plan to have him and Miller work passing lanes together. Morrah missed the start of the season with an injury and didn't make the expected impact after coming off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

McCoy didn't prove to be a productive distraction, struggling with dropped passes more than opposing defenses struggled to cover him.

While Morrah and the Seahawks will benefit from him logging an entire offseason while healthy, they have shown interest in bolstering the position. They hosted Visanthe Shiancoe early in free agency but didn't extend a contract offer.

Pete Carroll and John Schneider opted against using a draft pick on a thin 2012 draft class, but they did sign Cooper Helfet, an undrafted free agent out of Duke.

There was an expectation that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and new head coach Greg Schiano would part ways with Kellen Winslow as opposed to paying him his $4.8 million in salary and bonus money in 2012.

I expected the Seahawks to be one of his primary suitors should that happen, or at a minimum use his presence to drive down Shiancoe's expectations.

Seattle chose to avoid the risk of losing out in a free-agent bidding war. They will send Tampa Bay a conditional late-round draft pick and absorb his contract. 

Many fans were frustrated Seattle didn't make a move for Coby Fleener or another tight end in the draft. Once again, it appears Carroll and Schneider knew something most others didn't. 

Seattle was able to use their draft picks in other areas and added a tight end that averaged 792 yards per season over the last three. Carlson's 627 yards as a rookie is a club-high at the position.

Seattle now has two Pro Bowl tight ends on the roster, leaving Morrah, McCoy, Nalbone and McGrath likely competing for one slot. Cooper Helfet impressed the coaches during the rookie minicamp but was released to make room for Winslow.

Continuing the competition mantra that has followed the Carroll/Schneider regime, they made one of their weakest position groups a strength.

Now they just need a quarterback who can deliver them the ball.

Offensive Guard

Status

This position is in flux given the uncertainty of several potential starters.

Roster

John Moffitt, Paul McQuistan, Deuce Lutui, Paul Fanaika, Rishaw Johnson, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Frank Omiyale, J.R. Sweezy

Overview

The Seahawks will likely keep nine offensive linemen on the active roster in 2012. Given Jeanpierre's ability to back up center and guard, this could leave room for as few as three other guards.

Sweezy will almost certainly end up on the practice squad, and Johnson is eligible for assignment as well.

One wild card with the position is where James Carpenter fits in. He could miss the season with his knee injury and will most likely start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. 

It is unclear if he will stay at right tackle or move inside.

Another story during summer workouts and OTAs will be Lutui's progression. He was a very good guard earlier in his career, but weight and conditioning issues the last few seasons made him expendable from a poor Arizona Cardinals offensive line.

Lutui has migrated to a vegan diet and reported to camp just under 340 lbs. This is a better weight than where Arizona saw him and could be a sign that he is ready to be productive again.

There is certainly going to be competition for the starting jobs in Seattle. This position group could turn out to be very good with solid depth if Lutui can play well and McQuistan continues his late-season surge from 2011.

Linebacker

Status

Of all the position groups on the roster, the linebacking corps is the most murky and unsettled.

Roster

K.J. Wright, Leroy Hill, Bobby Wagner, Barrett Ruud, Malcolm Smith, Korey Toomer, Heath Farwell, Matt McCoy, Mike Morgan, Allen Bradford

Overview

This group will certainly need the summer and training camp to form an identity.

Wright, Wagner and Hill are filling the starting spots during this week's OTAs, but Ruud will be a factor in the starting middle linebacker spot when he is able to return to the field.

The unit has enormous potential, but there are uncertainties should reserves be pushed into action.

Ruud's production slipped last season, as he was slowed by injury for the first time in his seven-year career. If he can return to the form he showed in Tampa Bay, he and Wagner could provide a powerful punch in the middle.

Regardless, there are high expectations for the Seahawks' second-round draft pick. Wagner is getting a solid jump in the position battle, but defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is quite familiar with Ruud, as he was his position coach in Tampa Bay.

Farwell and McCoy have been productive on special teams, but neither have proven themselves as an every-down linebacker. The same can be said for Smith, but he shows promise particularly as a nickel linebacker.

Toomer will look to be another fifth-round gem for Seattle that landed Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman in the prior two drafts.

The reserves could be very good, but uncertainty will make this a position group worth watching.

Offensive Tackle

Status

Uncertainty, primarily from the questions surrounding James Carpenter.

Roster

Russell Okung, Breno Giacomini, James Carpenter, Frank Omiyale, Allen Barbre, Alex Barron, Paul McQuistan, Andrew Mitchell

Overview

It simply wouldn't feel like a conversation about the Seahawks offensive line if injuries weren't a major topic of discussion.

Seattle will likely keep four tackles on the roster, but may opt to keep just three if Lutui wins one of the starting jobs at guard. That would leave McQuistan as a capable backup for guard and tackle.

If Carpenter is not ready to play by the start of the season, or if he is moved to the interior of the line, Seattle will be facing a real concern with depth at the tackle positions.

Giacomini showed the ability to be a decent starting option when pushed into that role last season. 

However, if Carpenter is lost for part or all of the season, the numbers get thin.

Omiyale was a decent addition in free agency, but "Gate 68" was seen as expendable from a Chicago Bears offensive line that was one of the worst in the NFL last season. He played both guard and tackle, taking over the right tackle duties after Gabe Carimi was injured.

Omiyale struggled, though, and was replaced by Lance Louis in Week 4.

The biggest concern for Seattle is Okung's health. He's missed time in each of his first two seasons. Should he miss time again, the Seahawks may have to disrupt the rest of their lineup to replace him.

McQuistan and Giacomini are the most likely to step into the position, but they could have starting roles elsewhere on the line.

There is some hope that Barron will be able to regain the form that made him a first-round draft pick in 2005. His career was marred by holding and false-start penalties, which doesn't bode well for the Seahawks.

Seattle's offensive line was one of the most penalized in 2011. 

Line coach Tom Cable was able to piece together blockers last season, and they finished the season fairly well with three starters on injured reserve. He may be the key to keeping the line proficient in 2012.

He will need to find an answer to penalty issues this offseason.

Center

Status

After Max Unger, the position can get a bit dicey. 

Roster

Max Unger, Lemuel Jeanpierre

Overview

With the injury issues that have followed the Seahawks offensive line in recent seasons, depth is an important factor. 

Jeanpierre was an undrafted free agent in 2010 and spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. He made the Seahawks roster as Unger's backup with the ability to play guard.

He started five games for Seattle last season and was adequate while filling in.

Seattle was fortunate to have Jeanpierre last season, and the 2012 offseason could have him prepared for additional starts in 2012 should he be needed.