Which Seahawks position group will have the roughest 2019?

Free agency is in the distant past, the draft was more than a month ago, and teams rosters are largely set for the upcoming 2019 NFL season. Thus, with the Seattle Seahawks set to roll into the year with multiple position groups having seen the departure of veteran leadership, it could make for an interesting season.

On the defensive line, the team’s most productive pass rusher, Frank Clark, was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, and while the Hawks drafted L.J. Collier to play on the line, there could still be some growing pains. Al Woods and Ziggy Ansah should help provide experience and guidance on the line, but what happens if they don’t? Could the defensive line have a rough season if injuries or age catch up to both of those players, leaving Jarran Reed as the experienced leader of the unit on the field?

Likewise, what if the youth in the secondary proves to be a problem. Fans hope that Shaquill Griffin will make the third year leap, and that Tre Flowers will continue to show the prowess that he flashed during the second half of 2018. Add in the young talent the team added through the draft, and there’s certainly reason for optimism. On the flip side, the youth at these positions could also result in exactly the opposite, and lead to seasons fans consider subpar.

Obviously, the Seahawks are set at quarterback as long as Russell Wilson remains upright and healthy, but could the offensive line face obstacles if injuries strike older players like Mike Iupati and Duane Brown? What if the receiving corps blossoms into the most dangerous unit in the league, but takes some time to do so and 2019 sees a lot of learning experiences? What if age and injuries combine with the the legal system to derail the linebacking corps?

Yes, it’s a time for optimism among fans, but there are risks and dangers lurking just around the corner. Thus, the question becomes which position group worries fans the most in terms of the potential for underperformance in 2019, whether because of age, injury or anything else.