Five things for the Seahawks to do this offseason

Zac Hereth, Sports Editor

The Seahawks have some big decisions to make this offseason, when 19 of their players will become unrestricted free agents.

Here are the five things Seattle needs to do this offseason:

Upgrade the offensive line

This one is obvious. Seattle’s offensive line this year was, quite frankly, offensive.

The Seahawks allowed 46 sacks this past season, tying them for sixth worst in the NFL. They did that while attempting the fifth least amount of passes, which was good for a sack about every 11 pass attempts.

To add to those terrible numbers, Seattle’s two best offensive linemen, left tackle Russell Okung and guard J.R. Sweezy, will be free agents this offseason.

Okung will be too expensive to re-sign, but hopefully they can bring Sweezy back.

Seattle needs to focus on its offensive line in the first round, no doubt, and then bring in some veterans to add depth.

There are plenty of offensive linemen on the market whom the Seahawks could bring in on a-low cost, one-year deal to help boost the weakest part of the team.

Sign Joique Bell

I know the name isn’t sexy, but the Hawks won’t have a lot of money this offseason and need to find a reliable third-down back that can take some carries away from Thomas Rawls while he’s working back from his ankle injury.

His 3.5 yards per carry in Detroit last year was pretty bad, but the Lions’ offense hasn’t proven to be the best for running backs to put up big numbers and their offensive line rivaled the ineptitude of Seattle’s.

Bell has soft hands. He is a decent pass blocker and he is a power back who could be used in goal-line situations as a halfback or fullback.

Re-sign Jeremy Lane

Lane had a rather quiet 2015 season after missing the majority of it recovering from a broken wrist and torn ACL, which he suffered during an interception in last year’s Super Bowl.

It took him a little bit of time to get back to game speed, but he improved steadily as the season went on.

We’ve seen before that bringing a veteran corner in probably isn’t the answer.

Cary Williams was god-awful. And when they signed Antoine Winfield a few years ago, many viewed it as a great signing. He ended up being cut in the preseason.

Seattle needs to retain one of its young corners who has grown up in the system, and they can do so with Lane at a reasonable price.

Find another one-year fill at defensive tackle

Kevin Williams and Ahtyba Rubin are the perfect example of what Seattle needs to keep doing in the middle of its defensive line: Sign a quality veteran to play alongside someone who has grown up in the system.

Brandon Mebane may be gone, but I’d expect Jordan Hill to have a bounce-back year after dealing with injuries for most of 2015.

A familiar face may be the answer. Williams Red Bryant and Tony McDaniel are all going to be free agents this offseason.

The name that intrigues me most on the list of free-agent defensive tackles is Terrance Knighton. At 6-foot-3 and 354 pounds, he would be perfect to clog up holes on the interior line.

Seattle would have to hope he is willing to sign for a little less than the $6 million he made last season with the Washington Redskins.

Let Bruce Irvin go

This has been a debate I’ve had with myself since the middle of the season.

I love the idea of having Irvin lined up at defensive end and switching Michael Bennett to defensive tackle on passing downs.

Irvin’s size and athleticism makes him a guy who can line up all over the field. He also has the ability to make big plays, but he’s just not consistent.

Twenty-two sacks over four years just isn’t quite enough.

He said that he would sign for less to stay in Seattle, but there are other places—the offensive line—where the Seahawks should use that money.