Free Agency thread

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D-train
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Free Agency thread

Post by D-train » Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:21 pm

One thing I noticed was how many of our FAs were injured at some point last season. Brutal game.
By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
Here we go with the portion of the NFL offseason that some feel is as fun and interesting as the season itself — free agency.

Teams can begin negotiating with pending free agents Monday at 9 a.m. Unofficially, many of those talks began a few weeks ago at the combine in Indianapolis over steaks and drinks.

Teams can officially sign free agents Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Teams, of course, can re-sign their own players at any time, as the Seahawks did with Geno Smith last week, answering their biggest question of the offseason.

As the frenzied week of free agency begins, here’s a primer to get you, well, primed for what is to come.

Which Seahawks are free agents?
The Seahawks have 29 pending free agents: 20 unrestricted, four restricted and five exclusive rights. They have already re-signed four — Smith, fullback Nick Bellore, kicker Jason Myers and guard Phil Haynes.

UFAs are players whose contracts expire when the new league year begins March 15 and are free to sign with any other team.

DL Poona Ford: Ford had the highest cap hit on the team in 2022 at $10.075 million. But he didn’t make the same impact in 2022 while adjusting to a new role in a new defense, and his future with the team is unclear.

RB Rashaad Penny: Another devastating injury for Penny in October leaves his future in Seattle unclear.

S Johnathan Abram: A late-season waiver wire claim, the former first-round pick by the Raiders may have done enough to warrant sticking around.

DL L.J. Collier: The Seahawks’ first-round pick in 2019 hasn’t panned out, and they might move on.

QB Drew Lock: Despite re-signing Geno Smith, the Seahawks said they want to retain Lock. It’ll be interesting to see if he decides to test the market. Lock has played just six games in two years and at age 26, might not want to consign himself to backup status again.


CB Artie Burns: Veteran was a starter in training camp before being injured. Ended up playing only 16 snaps all season and the Seahawks might look to younger players for cornerback depth.

WR Marquise Goodwin: Goodwin had some good moments when healthy but missed four games because of injury.

OL Kyle Fuller: Fuller, a backup at guard and center, played just 51 snaps in his fourth season with the Seahawks, and they might want to add some competition to its interior offensive line.

LB Cody Barton: Started all 17 games this season and seemed to grow into his expanded role as the season wore on.

DB Teez Tabor: In-season pickup added depth in the secondary and made one start at safety.

RB Travis Homer: Homer again battled injuries, limited to 10 games, and the Seahawks might look elsewhere for depth at running back.

OLB Darryl Johnson: Seahawks were impressed with the play of Johnson after claiming him off waivers before he suffered a foot injury against Detroit.

CB Justin Coleman: Signed last March with the thought he’d be the starting nickel corner, he instead saw rookie Coby Bryant take over that role and played just 60 snaps

OLB Bruce Irvin: The 35-year-old said he hasn’t ruled out continuing to play, something Pete Carroll recently confirmed. The Seahawks are undoubtedly going to make some major additions to its edge-rushing group via the draft and free agency.


Snapper Tyler Ott: Ott missed the entire season with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Carson Tinker, also a free agent.

Snapper Carson Tinker: They need a snapper, so at least one of Tinker or Ott figures to be back.

S Josh Jones: Took over starting safety role in place of injured Jamal Adams in season opener but lost it when Ryan Neal got healthy. He suffered a hamstring injury against Rams in December that ended his season.

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WR Laquon Treadwell: Late-season signee played the third WR role for two games against Kansas City and the Jets in place of Goodwin, but lost it to Cade Johnson. Upgrading the WR depth seems a priority.

CB Xavier Crawford: Played 60 snaps on special teams and none on defense.

LB Cullen Gillaspia: Had become a core special teams player before suffering knee injury against Arizona on Nov. 6.

Restricted/exclusive rights free agents

The Seahawks have nine players who are restricted or exclusive-rights free agents. RFAs are players teams can retain by offering them a tender, which means the team can match any offer a player receives or get draft pick compensation if the player signs elsewhere. ERFAs are bound to the team as long as they get a tender.

S Ryan Neal: Neal is the biggest priority of the four on this list and possibly the only one who could get a tender. The Seahawks might look to sign him to a conventional, multiyear deal instead of a tender.

LB Tanner Muse: Solid special teamer showed some promise in two starts at weakside linebacker and would seem a player the Seahawks would want back.

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WR Penny Hart: Hart played just 34 offensive snaps this season and played just nine games in his fourth season with the team.

RB Tony Jones Jr.: Played in four games last year as a reserve running back.

Exclusive rights free agents: RB Godwin Igwebuike, CB Michael Jackson, LB Jon Rhattigan, WR Cody Thompson and DL Myles Adams. Any and all can be retained with a qualifying tender.

How much money do the Seahawks have to spend?
As of Friday afternoon, the Seahawks were listed with just over $20 million by OvertheCap.com. That number shrinks to just over $9 million in “effective” cap space, which accounts for the cap space they have to reserve for 10 draft picks, among other things.

The Seahawks figure to make moves to create more cap space through contract restructures or even releases of some players (one oft-mentioned possibility is veteran defensive lineman Shelby Harris, who has a $12.1 million cap hit for 2023.)

The Seahawks like to keep some flexibility for things that could happen during training camp or the season, such as being able makes trades as the team has in the past for the likes of Duane Brown, Sheldon Richardson and Jadeveon Clowney.

The Seahawks may keep to their usual M.O. of making some moves, but probably won’t be among the biggest spenders, and certainly not spending down to zero.

What positions are of the most need for the Seahawks?
The Seahawks’ biggest need for improvement is the front seven, and you can expect them to make a few signings to address that need.

The good news is that this is regarded as a good group of defensive tackles available in free agency. The bad is that it’s not regarded as deep in edge rushers (and which is opposite of how the draft is perceived).

From a practical standpoint, the Seahawks need to add depth at center (only one is on the roster, practice squadder Joey Hunt), linebacker (Jordyn Brooks is coming off a knee injury and Barton is a free agent) and maybe receiver and running back (especially if they don’t re-sign Penny or Homer).

The Seahawks will need more than just one QB (Smith) on the roster. If they can’t re-sign Lock, they will have to sign someone unless they just wait for the draft.

Are there any potential reunions at hand?
The Seahawks have never been shy about re-signing former players, and there are two big names out there — middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and edge rusher Frank Clark.

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General manager John Schneider said last week the team has talked with Wagner, who is serving as his own agent, and would keep in contact throughout free agency. That indicates there is interest, but not so much that the team was ready to make a “can’t refuse” offer.

A report from NFL reporter Jordan Schultz on Friday stated that Wagner’s market is “heating up,” and that the Chargers and Cowboys are interested.

Signing with the Chargers means Wagner would stay in Los Angeles, his hometown.

The Cowboys would mean a reunion with Dan Quinn, the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator during the Super Bowl seasons of 2013 and 2014.

Clark, 29, was released last week by the Chiefs and should have an active market.

Other former Seahawks include center Ethan Pocic, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and Clowney.

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Griffin and Clowney are the biggest names of that trio. With the Seahawks needing a center or two, Pocic would fill a real need. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best center available in free agency after giving him the third-highest grade of any center in 2022.

Who are some other good free-agent fits?
It can be tricky trying to guess what a team might do in free agency, especially a close-to-the-vest team such as the Seahawks. Here’s a random throw-a-dart-at-the-board list of five who could be targets.

WR Jarvis Landry: You wouldn’t expect the Seahawks to spend much on a veteran WR with so much invested in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. But the 30-year-old Landry might not cost a lot and might be worth a gamble as a slot receiver.

DT Greg Gaines: The former Husky is just 26 and could be a low-cost option to add depth inside and it’s known the Seahawks liked him coming out of the draft in 2019. PFF projects he could be signed for $3 million a year.

OL Graham Glasgow: The 30-year-old Glasgow started 13 games for Denver last season, mostly at center but some at guard. Denver cut him Friday to save $11 million against the cap. He won’t command the $9 million a year he got with Denver.

ILB Alex Singleton: Maybe we should have included Singleton among former Seahawks since he was on the practice squad in 2015. He never played a game with the Seahawks, and after reviving his career in the CFL, he started 31 games the last three years with the Eagles and Broncos (he made nine tackles against the Seahawks last year). If they don’t sign Wagner, Singleton could be a good, inexpensive get in what is a deep group of inside linebackers available.

RB Jerick McKinnon: Even if they re-sign Penny, the Seahawks could be in the market for a third-down back, especially if Homer isn’t back. McKinnon will be 31 next season, so they wouldn’t want to invest much. He showed he still has some tread in the tires with 56 catches for the Chiefs last year, as well as another 291 yards rushing.
dt

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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by SeattleAddict » Sun Mar 12, 2023 5:54 pm

not a free agent, but in the same vein - Jalen Ramsey getting traded to the Dolphins (not official yet). Rams seem to be cleaning house, leaving only the 49ers as a threat in the division.

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Donn Beach
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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by Donn Beach » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:01 pm

With the Seahawks needing a center or two, Pocic would fill a real need. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best center available in free agency after giving him the third-highest grade of any center in 2022

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D-train
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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by D-train » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:17 pm

Donn Beach wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:01 pm
With the Seahawks needing a center or two, Pocic would fill a real need. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best center available in free agency after giving him the third-highest grade of any center in 2022
Couldn't believe my eyes when I read that....How does a guy improve that much??
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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by SeattleAddict » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:35 pm

D-train wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:17 pm
Donn Beach wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:01 pm
With the Seahawks needing a center or two, Pocic would fill a real need. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best center available in free agency after giving him the third-highest grade of any center in 2022
Couldn't believe my eyes when I read that....How does a guy improve that much??
and isn't Jason Kelce a free agent??

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Sibelius Hindemith
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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by Sibelius Hindemith » Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:38 pm

Maybe playing in an offense where he knew what the fuck he was supposed to do was helpful?

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D-train
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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by D-train » Sun Mar 12, 2023 7:26 pm

Sibelius Hindemith wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:38 pm
Maybe playing in an offense where he knew what the fuck he was supposed to do was helpful?
:lol:
dt

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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by SeattleAddict » Sun Mar 12, 2023 10:14 pm

DT Daron Payne signed a 4-year, 90 million deal with 60m guaranteed. That's second highest in the NFL, behind Aaron Donald and sets the market for DTs like Hargrave. I would think that pretty much eliminates Seattle from contention.

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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by Seattle or Bust » Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:50 am

D-train wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:17 pm
Donn Beach wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 6:01 pm
With the Seahawks needing a center or two, Pocic would fill a real need. Pro Football Focus rates him as the best center available in free agency after giving him the third-highest grade of any center in 2022
Couldn't believe my eyes when I read that....How does a guy improve that much??
I don't think it's a mystery that OL coaching hasn't necessarily been a strength of the Pete Carroll era. That or the scheme doesn't do a great job protecting our centers and/or he was a better fit for a different scheme?

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Re: Free Agency thread

Post by Michael K. » Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:48 pm

SeattleAddict wrote:
Sun Mar 12, 2023 10:14 pm
DT Daron Payne signed a 4-year, 90 million deal with 60m guaranteed. That's second highest in the NFL, behind Aaron Donald and sets the market for DTs like Hargrave. I would think that pretty much eliminates Seattle from contention.
Seattle is basically eliminated from all big name fre agents. For some reason, we believe paying big money for our own guys, trading for big names and signing a ton of mediocrity is the only option. Again, only Bennett and Avril have ever big big name signings and the market dictated a very low price for them.

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