Each NFL team’s biggest reason to be excited in 2018

Seattle Seahawks – A new era, led by a critical trio

Richard Sherman? Cut, signed with the 49ers. Michael Bennett? Traded to the Eagles. Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril? Forced into retirement by neck injuries. Jimmy Graham? Signed with the Packers. Earl Thomas? Holding out, and openly looking to be traded without a contract extension. So it’s a new era in Seattle, for better or worse.

After back-to-back Super Bowl trips, and nearly two wins, the Seahawks have faced the harsh reality that comes when you have to pay a quarterback market value based on his talent. Keeping everyone, particularly the best players on a once-vaunted defense, has slowly become impossible and that piper has been fully paid now.

But the Seahawks still have one of the top general manager-head coach duos in the league in John Schneider and Pete Carroll. On recent episode of PFT Live, NFL analyst Chris Simms chose Schneider and Carroll in a “draft” segment attached to the question of “Which coach/GM combination would  you want building and running your favorite team?”

A top-notch coach, general manager and quarterback are a trio that can keep a franchise afloat through uncertainty. No matter what you think of Carroll’s schtick, and Wilson’s too to some degree, the Seahawks have those three key pieces in place. And that’s enough to create excitement, and retain hope, for the 2018 season