This defense is about 5+ Pro Bowlers down since the LOB days. Let me count the ways... Sherman, Avril, Bennett, Earl, Kam, BWags, KJ, Irvin... oops, that's 7 already. Then you add in the guys who were near-Pro-Bowl level guys or at least average-plus, guys who held up their end... Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Jeremy Lane, Byron Maxwell, Tony McDaniel, Clinton McDonald, Walter Thurmond, Malcolm Smith, and
The Talent+Football IQ comparison is just a joke when we look at the 2022 Seahawks compared to the 2013 Defensive roster. Who on the 2022 Seahawks Defense even holds up their end? Let's count them... Pro Bowlers: Nwosu, Diggs. Diggs has not actually played at a Pro Bowl level this year, am I wrong? After that, there are a few above-averages, Woolen, maybe Brooks, maybe Neal, after that, it's all JAGs, Poona Ford, Shelby Harris, Quenton Jefferson, Al Woods, Irvin, MJackson, Bryant, Taylor, Mafe, and after that, it's below-replacement-level stiffs, Barton, Collier, Adams, and the rest.
Someone please correct/improve my lists if you feel I've gotten it wrong and some 2022 players should be classified higher, above JAG. A bunch are so invisible it's hard to recall if they've even been on the field other than special teams. For sure Rooks like Bryant and Mafe and younger guys like Brooks still have potential upside, and Woolen looks like a future Pro Bowler. The point is the contrast between the 2013 defense and the 2022 edition, and the massively lower level of overall talent + Football IQ on the 2022 squad. Hawks would need to pick up 3-ish "Thumpers" (Chuck Knox term) in the draft and 2 more in Free Agency to even be within shouting distance of the 2013 or 2014 LOB defensive rosters.
I've not really addressed the "how" and "who is to blame" for the defensive talent dropoff here; that's a huge and somewhat speculative topic maybe someone else can tackle. I'll just say that 2013 Russell Wilson at $1M/Year vs 2021 Russell Wilson at $30M/Year is a factor. (and is it $26M dead cap in 2022?)