Three hottest seats on the Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks were the surprise team of 2022, finishing the regular season 9-8 and making the playoffs, but they won’t be sneaking up on anybody in 2023. Here are three people who are on the hottest seats for Seattle:

1. Tight end Noah Fant

The Seahawks have talented tight ends in Fant, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. Collectively, they accounted for 116 catches, 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns. Of the three, only Dissly is signed beyond 2023. 

Dissly’s 34 catches and 349 yards receiving were career highs, while Fant’s 486 yards receiving were a career worst. Dissly signed a three-year, $24 million contract last offseason, while Fant's base salary more than triples for 2023 ($6.85 million), per Spotrac.

A Week 16 knee injury ended Dissly’s season early, but he should be ready for the opener. If Fant doesn’t separate himself from the other tight ends, the Seahawks won’t have much reason to hang on to the former first-round pick.

2. Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt

Naming Hurtt as defensive coordinator may have been GM John Schneider’s worst move last offseason. After five years as defensive line coach, Hurtt took over in 2022, moving the team from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. It didn’t go well.

In 2021, only the Saints gave up fewer yards per carry than Seattle. In 2022, Seattle allowed 4.9 yards per carry, tying Chicago for the sixth most in the league. Things got a little better on defense toward the end of the season, but the Seahawks allowed 505 yards in a playoff loss to San Francisco.

Seattle’s passing defense played better in 2022, but rookie phenom Tariq Woolen, a corner, had a lot to do with that.

3. Quarterback Geno Smith

Sign a three-year, $105 million contract, and your seat automatically gets hot.