We are just a couple of weeks before the start of camp and the ‘Hawks seem to be standing pat with what they have been dealt. QB Baker Mayfield and his salary are off to Carolina and no longer a talking point for Seattle.

QB:

I still suspect that QB Geno Smith will get the start. There was not much of a drop between his last game last year and the first several of QB Russell Wilson’s return. Wilson’s best games were after RB Rashaad Penny decided to play beyond himself for the last handful of games. Smith will do better than most expect, but not well enough for us to stop watching the list of college quarterbacks announcing for the draft.

Offensive line:

Camp will show how real the possibilities are with LT Chris Cross, LG Damien Lewis, OC Kyle Fuller, RG Gabe Jackson, and RT Abe Lucas as the starters. Starting raw talent and getting them better over the year makes sense to me.

RB:

Ah. Farewell RB Chris Carson. He was all ‘Hawk. Rough and tumble and injured and now retired. Speaking of, I wonder what the odds are in Vegas for RB Rashaad Penny making it out of preseason without injury? Probably better odds than the ‘Hawks making the postseason. Obviously, draft RB Kenneth Walker period and especially if you draft Penny. I know they do not have pads on yet, but I would put Walker in the ROY pool coming out of the gate.

WR:

Maybe WR DK Metcalf will have an attitude issue with not getting paid. Maybe not. WR Tyler Lockett may be more solid with that in mind, or that might be overthinking. Who is #3 though? WR Dee Eskridge should have that role, but he will have to defend it in camp. And if Metcalf underperforms, Dee may well overperform. Keep an eye on this situation as it develops over the next month.

TE:

Nothing to keep an eye on here. TE Noah Fant should be a reasonable fantasy pick even though that is mostly fueled by media over the trade. I think the tight ends will have their work for them helping the rookie tackles and there are no fantasy stats for that.

K:

I keep hoping to see some news that PK Jason Myers is no longer the only kicker on the team. But no. Ugh.

D:

The defensive line and edge rushers look good starting out. I hope that will hold up going forward. IDP nod will have to wait until we see if DE Uchenna Nwosu or DE Darrell Taylor can be consistent on the edge. Rookie DE Boye Mafe may start out strong, but rookie DE Tyreke Smith is starting out on the PUP list.

Linebackers LB Cody Barton and LB Jordyn Brooks will need to stay healthy and improve their games.

Safeties SS Jamal Adams and FS Quandre Diggs are rock stars.

CB Tre Brown is also starting on the PUP list which will help CB Artie Burns get the start along with CB Justin Coleman along with CB Marquise Blair as the nickel.

The ‘Hawks D should not go very high in fantasy drafts. But wouldn’t ‘Hawk fan want to have them started when the log a sack on the Bronco’s #3? Or is that just me. Is it wrong to fantasize about Poona dropping Wilson 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage after one of his signature scrambles during week 1? Then I am wrong.

Go ‘Hawks!

End.