Three hottest seats on Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are starting a new era this season by replacing long-time head coach Pete Carroll with former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. While Carroll was extremely successful in Seattle, the Seahawks had slipped into a state of mediocrity the past few seasons and have consistently had one of the league's worst defenses.

A new voice and a fresh defensive mind might be what they need to get back to a level of consistent Super Bowl contention. While the new head coach will be safe for at least a couple of seasons, there are still some players -- and personnel -- on the hot seat heading into the 2024 season.

Quarterback Geno Smith

Smith's arrival in Seattle four years ago turned out to be a career-changing moment for him. He ended up being the replacement for long-time starter Russell Wilson, and during the 2022 and 2023 seasons was one of the biggest surprise stories in the league. He went from second-round bust and career backup to a passable starting quarterback that threw for nearly 8,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. He has been a great find for the Seahawks.

But Seattle also has to deal with the reality that Smith is going to turn 34 years old this season and, despite his success in turning his career around, might not be a game-changing quarterback that can help them become a legitimate Super Bowl contender. He is still signed for two more years and is set to have a $38 million salary cap hit in 2025 with a $10 million roster bonus. If he does not have a big year, the Seahawks might want to consider moving on and taking the $13 million cap penalty that would come with it. 

General manager John Schneider

Schneider has been the general manager in Seattle since the 2010 season and has put together an impressive resume, building two Super Bowl teams and claiming one Lombardi Trophy. He also did a masterful job in moving on from the Wilson era and making one of the best trades in recent league history. 

Those are all great marks in his favor.

What is not a great mark in his favor is that his team has a 25-26 record over the past three seasons, has had one of the league's worst defenses over the past two seasons and has won just a single playoff game since the 2016 season. 

The new head coach is not going to be on the hot seat just yet. The long-standing general manager might be if things do not get better this season. 

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett

Lockett has been a big-time contributor in the Seahawks offense for the past nine seasons, but he is still facing a critical season in 2024 after re-working his contract in March.

Lockett will turn 32 early in the 2024 season and the Seahawks will be on the hook for a $30 million cap hit in 2025 without further restructuring. There is only a $4 million dead cap number if they cut him after this season. That could potentially be some huge savings if they decide to move on, and with D.K. Metcalf and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba already on the roster it is not a stretch to imagine that Lockett's time in Seattle could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

Restructuring his deal bought him at least one more season in Seattle. Unless he has a truly big year in 2024 there seems to be a very real chance he is playing somewhere else in the 2025 season.