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Seattle Seahawks have their franchise quarterback in Russell Wilson and no glaring needs this offseason.

(Photo by AP)

TALENT OVERVIEW

After three years, hundreds of roster moves and one of the best drafts in franchise history, the

are rebuilt. They have their quarterback in

, a defense that allowed the fewest points in the National Football League and only two of the team's 22 starters not under contract for 2013.

Seattle doesn't have needs this offseason so much as desires. It wants to improve its pass rush. It would like to add a home-run threat at receiver. It could use depth at linebacker.

Just don't expect the team to be spending big in free agency to address that wish list. While the Seahawks have plenty of salary-cap room right now, they must look to the next few years when their nucleus of young talent like Wilson, safety

and cornerback

near free agency.

KEY DEPATURES

Free-agent attrition isn't a huge concern. Linebacker

and defensive tackle

are the only starters who will become unrestricted free agents on March 12. Kicker

is headed to the market, too, and while he has been efficient, he made two of four field goal tries from 50 or more yards.

Defensive tackle

finished up his one-year deal on injured reserve with a knee injury. He is a promising pass rusher the team could bring back on another short-term deal.

NEEDS/TARGETS

1.

Improve the pass rush

. The Seahawks had 36 sacks last season, three more than the previous year.

reached double-digit sacks for the third successive season and first-round choice

had eight sacks, most of any rookie. So why is pass rush such a concern?

Well, Clemons and Irvin combined for 19.5 sacks; no other player had more than three. Clemons will be coming back from reconstructive knee surgery. Under general manager John Schneider, the team has stayed away from giving big contracts to free agents in their 30s. Could this year be an exception by going after

of the

or

of the

?

2.

Catch a rising star

.

played a full 16-game schedule for the second time in his six-year career.

took a major step forward with seven touchdowns. The team is a run-first offense so why would the Seahawks need more help on the outside?

The offense will continue to evolve around Wilson, whose arm will allow it to stretch the field. Receiver is one of the 2013 NFL Draft's deeper positions with lots of variations. Coach Pete Carroll loves big, physical receivers; Cal's

is 6-3, 195 pounds and fits that description. The team could also use speed; West Virginia's

is a burner.

3.

Deepen the pool at linebacker

. The team drafted well at this position as second-round pick

was the runner-up to the Carolina Panthers'

for the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year. And yet, Hill is scheduled to be a free agent.

is poised to step in as a starter, but he has been oft-injured.

Team officials must continue deepening the pool of talent at this position, which they can be expected to do with six picks over the final three rounds of April's draft.

4.

Find a pass-catching complement at tight end

. For two successive seasons, Carroll tried to create a formidable tight end tandem only to have those plans evaporate before the season began.

In 2011, John Carlson had a season-ending shoulder injury in August. Last year, it was Kellen Winslow's stubbornness as he was released after refusing to renegotiate his contract. If the team is going to find a receiving specialist to pair with

, it might have to draft someone like Stanford's

.

5.

Find a taker for Matt Flynn

. He didn't lose the starting job nearly so much as Wilson won it. While Flynn provides insurance as a backup, another team — the

or

, for example — could see Flynn as someone who could compete for the starting job. General manager John Schneider is listening to offers, and if a team was willing to pony up the equivalent of a third-round pick, it's hard to think the Seahawks would turn it down.

O'NEIL'S TAKE

The Seahawks could enter the 2013 season without making a single addition and they would still be expected to make the playoffs. That is a testament to how well this franchise has been rebuilt under Schneider and Carroll.

To make the final leap from being a contender to being a champion, the Seahawks must improve the pass rush. While they allowed the fewest points in the league last season, the defense was a decidedly mediocre on third down, which spoke to its inability to pressure the passer.

The Seahawks were 30 seconds away from playing for the NFC championship, and they have 10 picks in the upcoming draft and millions of dollars in salary-cap space to improve a team that returns almost intact and will be a preseason favorite to reach the Super Bowl.

-- Danny O'Neil, Sporting News. This article originally appeared on SportingNews.com

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