5 breakout stars to watch for Seattle Seahawks in 2020
By Conor Myles
The Seattle Seahawks have made the playoffs the past two seasons and will need contributions from unfamiliar faces to continue that success.
Postseason success has become the norm for the Seattle Seahawks under head coach Pete Carroll’s guidance. The organization has qualified for postseason play eight out of the 10 years since Carroll’s arrival, and those expectations shall continue after an 11-5 finish a season ago.
After losing to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round 28-23, Seattle is ready to rebound and return to the Super Bowl, where the team hasn’t been since 2013-14.
Franchise quarterback Russell Wilson always puts the Seahawks in a competitive, “win-now” state, and that will be the case heading into the 2020 season. Carroll will be turning 69 years old in September, and with his contract set to expire after the 2021 season, Seattle’s urgency to win another championship will intensify.
The Seahawks need these five players to break out in 2020 for their championship aspirations to become a reality.
5. S Marquise Blair
Blair only made three starts for Seattle during his rookie year in 2019 after being selected in the second round. Two of those starts against the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed Blair’s coverage ability, where he graded 77.1 and 75.8 in those outings, according to PFF.
Seahawks fans were clamoring to see the hard-hitting safety get more playing time, and the 2020 season should bring just that. Carroll even gave Blair a ringing endorsement after showing definite improvement to his game. The praise came after the Week 7 loss against Baltimore when the defensive back broke up a pass intended for tight end Mark Andrews on a critical third down that forced a punt.
"“I thought Marquise did a really good job,” says Carroll. “I thought he was active, physical, covered well, and made a couple things happen that were real positive.”"
Seattle released former safety Tedric Thompson this offseason and opted not to add a defensive back to the group during the 2020 NFL Draft or in free agency. Blair will have to outperform teammates Brad McDougald and Delano Hill for a starting role, but the Seahawks will need their second-rounder to step up and become a contributor for their secondary.