Seattle Seahawks fans have seen a year they would much rather forget.
The 2022 NFL offseason started with their team trading away Russell Wilson, the beloved quarterback of the team.
After taking the team to two Super Bowls, and winning one, the Seahawks parted ways with him in favor of new talent.
However, the nightmare for fans in Seattle didn’t end there.
Seattle Has Yet To Extend The Contract Of DK Metcalf
In Seattle, the team has two solid receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
However, they are still in contract talks with Metcalf, something that saw him skipping mandatory minicamp.
#Seahawks Today
– DK Metcalf Skips Minicamp
– Jordyn Brooks Extension Options
– Sleeper Rookie To WatchWATCH: https://t.co/XLZI2768VD@ChatSports pic.twitter.com/d4iEDYUPiF
— Tyler Jones (@TylerJonesLive) June 8, 2022
These talks might drag out because of the Seahawks and a low contract extension offer based on Metcalf’s performance last season.
If this is the problem, it would seem like Seattle wants to tank the contract talks, along with their 2022 season.
But some might believe Seattle isn’t on a road towards tanking in 2022 with the latest rumors about their QB situation.
Rumors Of Seattle Trading For Baker Mayfield Gives Fans Hope In 2022
While it isn’t much hope, getting Mayfield would help the team win some games.
I’m told the #Seahawks still have a high-level of interest in acquiring QB Baker Mayfield and behind-the-scenes are open to contractually extending him, per league source. I also know that the process of collecting information and insights into Mayfield is still ongoing.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) June 22, 2022
However, he would need both Metcalf and Lockett to help Seattle in 2022.
With Mayfield having experience with taking a team to the playoffs, the same might happen here.
But the reason he took Cleveland to the playoffs was because they had both a great defense and plenty of offensive weapons for him.
Seattle has some of the offensive weapons for him if he comes there.
However, their defense is a shell of its former self.
They are no longer the Legion of Boom, one of the best defensive units in Seahawks history.
Seahawks Let Bobby Wagner Go, The Last Member Of A Once Feared Defense In Seattle
During the best years in Seattle, several names stood out with their defense.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner was one of those defensive players, and one of the best linebackers during the Seahawks’ playoff seasons.
However, the Seahawks declined to re-sign the star linebacker.
That mistake now has him on the Los Angeles Rams defense, the NFC West rival of the Seahawks.
It’s hard to win games without a defensive presence to stop some of the best players in the NFC West.
Instead of rebuilding the defense, the Seahawks focused on other areas after failing to keep Wagner.
However, they used that focus on much-needed offensive line players.
So without the stars of their playoff years, is the team really tanking in 2022?
Trades And Contract Talks Will Reveal If Seattle Tanks In 2022
Everything comes down to two things in Seattle with a tanking season.
The first is getting Metcalf a new contract.
If they cannot do this, and trade him, then tanking could be on the menu in Seattle.
However, if they give him an extension, and make that trade for Mayfield, they might have some hope in 2022.
But that hope isn’t much with the Seahawks in a tough NFC West where every other team is highly competitive.
NEXT: NFL Insider Reveals What The Seahawks Think About Baker Mayfield