Seahawks a live longshot to win Super Bowl LV

When the odds to win Super Bowl LV were released late Sunday night, the Seattle Seahawks were tabbed as a +2000 longshot, tied for just the eighth-lowest odds in the market with the Dallas Cowboys.

Four teams in their own conference apparently have a better chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium in 2021—the 49ers (+900), Saints (+1200), Eagles (+1700) and Packers (+1800). Here’s why bettors should not overlook the Seahawks next season.

In Russ we trust

Seattle still has one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, Russell Wilson. The six-time Pro Bowler was sixth in passing yards in 2019 (4,110) and third in touchdowns (31). Were it not for the exploits of second-year signal caller Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, Wilson might have won his first league MVP award.

The emergence of rookie wideout D.K. Metcalf, paired alongside Tyler Lockett, helps the Seahawks offense immensely. If Seattle’s running backs can stay healthy in 2020 (Chris Carson and his two backups all hit injured reserve late last year, prompting a reunion with retired tailback Marshawn Lynch), this will be a high-octane unit.

Seattle has gobs of cap space

The Seahawks are projected to have more than $61 million in cap space this offseason. Among the key free agents Seattle will want to re-sign is defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who played admirably in 13 regular-season games and two postseason games, despite suffering a core-muscle injury in Week 10. It’s easy to picture a reunion, after Clowney rushed back off that injury to help his team, which earned the admiration of his fellow players.

“We have a lot of respect for him—the whole organization,” linebacker Bobby Wagner told ESPN. “I know it’s tough playing through an injury. … We appreciate him coming out there and giving everything he’s got.”

Seattle could use their remaining cap space to go after another offensive lineman to protect Wilson, as that has been an area of need for some time.

The Seahawks may be in good position to win the NFC West next season, as the defending division champion 49ers appear due for regression. San Francisco’s salary cap situation is tight, so pending free agent Arik Armstead (10 sacks in 2019) may have to be let go, and the 49ers have only one pick in the first four rounds of this year’s draft. Seattle played the Niners very well in 2019 and split the season series. 

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