The average age of the projected starters is only 28.5. And if you figure we have our replacements covered behind OG Chris Gray with Ray Willis, and FB Mack Strong with Leonard Weaver, then the average drops over a full year. So the average age of the starters a year from now would be less, even if 20 of 22 guys are the same.
In addition to OG Gray and FB Strong, on the list of guys to replace are:
TE Marcus Pollard (35), LT Walter Jones (33), QB Matt Hasselbeck (31), DT Chuck Darby (31), DE Bryce Fisher (30), DE Patrick Kerney (30), and RB Shaun Alexander (29).
OG: The team looks pretty set for the future with Sims, Willis, and Wrotto. A backup center for Spencer might be more important, and Pat Ross could already be that guy (we don't need a starter, just a long-term backup). Another interior lineman in the 4th round next year would be a good investment.
FB: Already taken care of between Weaver, Parry, and Kirtman.
TE: Tight end is an obvious place we need some new faces, but it isn't that important and we can easily draft someone, or sign someone decent in free agency. A decent tight end can be found in the draft, even at the end of the second round. Some 2008 Free Agents: Chris Cooley, L.J. Smith, Eric Johnson (again), Ben Troupe. Getting one of those guys and using a later pick in the draft would be ideal.
LT: Left tackle is crucial and a good one is hard to find, but Jones probably has 3 more years. Willie Roaf didn't retire until he was 36 and he could still play then. Jones has a $7.3 million per year incentive to play in 2010 and 2011 (when he would be 36 and 37). The plan is probably to re-sign Locklear and eventually move him to left tackle with Ashworth playing right tackle. So things are under control. It is a tough to get a good tackle in the draft, but a first round pick in the next two years is probably the way to go. Really deep tackle class coming out in 2008.
QB: Matt Hasselbeck could have 5 or more solid years left. Look at Trent Green, Brett Favre, and Rich Gannon. The Seahawks do need to find his eventual replacement in the next few years to start grooming him to take over. It might be time to invest another 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft, or go after someone like Craig Nall, Chris Simms, or David Carr when they become free agents in 2009. People will be willing to sign here when Hasselbeck is older. A late first-round pick like Aaron Rodgers or Brady Quinn if someone slips would work, but that would have to be when Hasselbeck was at most two years from retirement.
DT: The team probably has the DT of the future in Brandon Mebane. And the system is based on rotation anyway, and they have a lot of depth. Another 3rd/4th rounder in the future would be a good idea.
DE: This is another big concern because of the importance of the position, how hard it is to draft a quality DE (the best one usually go toward the top of the first round), and two guys at 30. Darryl Tapp should be able to fill one of those spots, preferable as the #2, and Kerney should be around for awhile, but the anchor DE of the future isn't on the team. Getting a good DE is one of the toughest things to do. That is why Alex Brown was intriguing.
Jarred Allen (25), Justin Smith (27), and Terrell Suggs (24) are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents next year, and Julius Peppers (27) the year after that. Although Suggs and Peppers are almost certain to get locked up in long-term deals. Allen signed a one-year RFA tender, and Smith signed the one-year franchise tender. The other option is the draft, but it would probably be 2009 or later before we could use a first round pick on a DE.
RB: Shaun Alexander should have several more solid seasons, maybe 3 or 4. The team should start working on a long-term replacement in the next year or two. It would let Alexander move into a time-sharing situation towards the end of his career and extend it. They could use a 2nd round pick next year or think about using a first or second round pick in 2009.
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