Niner Noise
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NFL power rankings: Stacking up the quarterbacks heading into 2018 offseason

By Peter Panacy

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks away from Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after shaking hands following the NFL game at Lambeau Field on November 30, 2014 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Patriots 26-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks away from Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after shaking hands following the NFL game at Lambeau Field on November 30, 2014 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Patriots 26-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field during the first half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field during the first half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) /

5. . Quarterback. Seattle Seahawks. RUSSELL WILSON

It was a little tough to put the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson into the top five of a 49ers-based site’s NFL power rankings for quarterbacks. But there’s a good enough reason why.

At this point, Wilson is the Seahawks. With Seattle overhauling the coaching staff after 2017, it’s becoming apparent this team is nothing like the vaunted adversary that dominated the NFC West the past few years. There are cracks showing.

Defensively, the team is getting older and will likely lose some talent to free agency and salary cap cuts. Same goes with offense too, especially with tight end Jimmy Graham likely to hit the open market.

If there’s one player keeping the Seahawks in contention, it’s Wilson.

Wilson led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2017 (34). And despite tying a career high in interceptions (11), he’s still one of the toughest quarterbacks in the NFL to game plan against. His elusiveness and big-play capabilities make him a true X-factor for whatever transpires in the Pacific Northwest in 2018.