Seahawks get insulting projection for 2024 NFL season from USA TODAY

If the Seattle Seahawks can manage to put all the disrespect they've gotten this offseason from the national media to use they're going to be a real dangerous team. Ever since the surprise dismissal of former head coach Pete Carroll the projections for this team have been wildly negative and completely off-base. While Carroll deserves credit for keeping Seattle competitive as long as he did, the harsh truth is this is a talented team that underperformed the last couple of seasons precisely because Carroll was unwilling to change with the times in too many areas of the game.

While there are weak points on this roster as with any team, looking ahead at the very least they shouldn't get tripped up by their new offensive and defensive playcallers, who are widely regarded as being among the best in the industry at what they do.

The disrespect just keeps on coming, though. The latest insult comes from USA TODAY, who have the Seahawks going just 5-12 and finishing in last place in the NFC West, even lower than the Arizona Cardinals and only one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers, the worst team in the conference by a wide margin.

Ridiculous.

At an absolute bare minimum Seattle should be projected to win seven games this season. The only way they will lose 12 is if both Geno Smith and Leonard Williams wind up missing 10 weeks or more due to injuries.

The offensive line and the linebacker corps do admittedly look pretty shaky on paper - but if they can address those areas before the season begins they should be able to compete with anybody outside of the absolute top Super Bowl contenders around the league. Good news - they brought in Connor Williams for a visit yesterday, and he's the best remaining center on the market. If they sign him all they'll need to do is add a little bit more pass rushing firepower and they'll be ready to go.