There was a lot of change for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, with the exit of longtime head coach Pete Carroll bringing a new staff as Mike MacDonald was hired as his replacement.
One thing that has not changed, though, is the identity of the starting quarterback.
Geno Smith remains the No. 1 in Seattle. However, by bringing in Sam Howell in a trade, the Seahawks do at least have a viable alternative if Smith struggles to get their passing game firing on all cylinders under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
What would help Smith greatly, in addition to improved pass protection from the offensive line, would be a breakout year from Seattle's 2023 first-round receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba .
The former Ohio State star endured an underwhelming first season in the pros, finishing with just 628 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
But NFL.com's Bucky Brooks expects Smith-Njigba to take the leap in 2024, naming him to his 'All-Breakout Team' for the 2024 season.
Brooks wrote:
The No. 20 overall pick from last year could enjoy a breakout campaign in new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's high-flying attack. With defenses intent on slowing down DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, JSN could flourish whipping CB3s alongside Seattle's established pass catchers. The smooth route runner posted modest production (63 catches, 628 yards and four scores) as a third option in 2024, but those numbers could surge in an offense that features more concepts designed to get the ball to a dangerous slot receiver on the move.
Forty-six of Smith Njigba's 90 targets came when he aligned in the slot, per Pro Football Focus, yet they went for just 271 yards and two touchdowns.
The Seahawks need much more from a player with the route-running craft and ball-tracking ability Smith-Njigba displayed in college.
If they get it and the breakout Brooks predicts materializes, the Seahawks could well have the most fearsome wide receiver trio in the NFL, with an ascending Smith-Njigba playing alongside Metcalf and a veteran in Lockett who had a streak of four successive 1,000-yard seasons snapped last year.
For as much as the Seahawks need a defensive improvement, they would also greatly benefit from having another passing-game weapon to strike fear into defenses and help them compete with two teams in the NFC West in the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams who possess a catalogue of playmakers.
Should Smith-Njigba provide them with one, Smith would have the benefit of throwing to a receiving corps that would be the envy of most quarterbacks in the league. For Smith to have a hope of being the Seahawks' long-term quarterback, he'll need to take full advantage of a supporting cast of skill position players that have the talent to help the Seattle attack keep pace with anyone.
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