Category Archives: Free agency

Schneider should tag Sheldon today

March 6, 2018 cc 3 Comments

John Schneider has been a gambling man plenty of times in the past, and here’s a gamble he really needs to make today: Use the franchise tag on Sheldon Richardson.

Schneider has a base 75 percent chance of winning a tag gamble. The only negative would come if Richardson insisted on signing and playing on the $13.9 million tender. That seems very unlikely, which leaves three winning scenarios for Schneider: (1) Strike a long-term deal, (2) trade him for a Day 2 pick (and something else), (3) rescind the tag, let Richardson leave in free agency and end up with a high comp pick in 2019.

At the Combine last Friday, Schneider said he needed to “figure out how to compensate” for Seattle’s gaping hole on Day 2 of the draft. Trading 32-year-old Michael Bennett won’t do it. But tagging Richardson likely would — whether he stays or goes.

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Free agency, NFL Combine

Carroll talks Thomas, trades, tag and more

March 1, 2018 cc Leave a comment

“Everybody’s talking to everybody” — Pete Carroll

That about sums up the state of affairs at the Combine, although Carroll was talking specifically about Earl Thomas there.

Carroll revealed very little about Seattle’s direction with contracts, trades and free agents, but he offered a few little nuggets.

Among the tidbits: He has talked to Thomas; John Schneider is talking to other teams about possible deals; the franchise tag is still an option for Sheldon Richardson; the team has talked to DeShawn Shead about playing safety again; Carroll has not talked to Michael Bennett; and Carroll would love to keep Jimmy Graham (and every free agent).

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Free agency, The roster

Latest on all of Seattle’s Riches & more

February 23, 2018 cc 1 Comment

It’s looking more and more like the Richardsons will indeed join Jimmy Graham in departing Seattle next month and Legion of Boomers Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas will not be going anywhere.

Here’s the latest on those guys and more free agency scuttlebutt:

A report from NFL Network confirmed what we have said all offseason: It doesn’t look like either Sherman or Thomas will be traded. Sherman has no value while rehabbing his torn Achilles and the Seahawks would prefer a long-term deal with Thomas, unless they get a great offer.

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Free agency

Correction: Transition tag not as great as we thought

February 20, 2018 cc 5 Comments

It turns out that idea about using the transition tag on Sheldon Richardson is not quite as good as we thought it was.

We recently posited the idea that John Schneider might prefer the transition tender to the franchise marker because (1) it is cheaper, (2) Richardson could shop himself, (3) Schneider still could match and (4) Seattle still could get a third-round comp pick in 2019 if Richardson left.

That all still applies, except No. 4. It turns out the NFL recently changed the rule and transition players no longer qualify for comp picks. This was discovered by Nick Korte of Over The Cap in 2016, as related to Miami rescinding the transition tag for Olivier Vernon. (We usually do the right research to get facts straight before posting anything, but we missed this change.)

It takes away some of the leverage we thought Schneider might have if he chose the cheaper tag.

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Free agency, NFL Combine

To tag or not to tag? We’ll soon find out

February 20, 2018 cc 1 Comment

Pic -- Schneider at Combine In the next week or two, we’re going to find out a whole lot (OK, at least a little) about the Seahawks’ offseason plans.

Today is the first day of the two-week “tag” window, which may or may not be pertinent to the Seahawks.

A lot of people expect John Schneider to franchise Sheldon Richardson. We think the transition tag would be better (unless Schneider plans to trade Sheldon). And it’s still most likely that Schneider won’t use a tag at all.

Continue reading To tag or not to tag? We’ll soon find out →

Free agency

After purge, Schneider will bargain shop

February 15, 2018 cc 4 Comments

Any day now, NFL teams will begin the Purge — the annual pre-league-year dump of overpaid and/or underperforming players.

The Seahawks haven’t been a part of the Purge since 2014, when they cut Red Bryant, Sidney Rice and Chris Clemons. But they will be part of this one, expected to at least release Jeremy Lane and Cliff Avril.

And then John Schneider will play the comp game, bargain shopping among other street free agents.

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Contracts, Free agency

Best move on Sheldon may be transition tag

February 13, 2018 cc 2 Comments

In December, we suggested the concept of Seattle using the franchise tag on Sheldon Richardson in order to then possibly trade him. John Clayton and Joel Corry recently talked about the move as an option, too.

But, the more we think about it, the more the transition tag seems like the better option for John Schneider and the Seahawks.

Yeah, we know, the last time the Seahawks used the transition tag, it was a disaster. But there are no more poison pills. And Schneider obviously would be fine with losing Richardson if he did use the transition tender.

Here’s why it might be better:

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Contracts, Free agency

Latest free agency rumors & tidbits

February 12, 2018 cc 7 Comments

The NFL year begins in a month, and the rumors and speculation are heating up across the league as free agency and the trading period approach.

In addition to the usual free agency chatter, there is a lot of speculation about what the Seahawks are going to do with veterans Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett — all signed for 2018.

Barring value trade offers, we expect all three to be back — Thomas with a new deal and Sherman and Bennett likely playing their final seasons in Seattle.

Here’s the latest scuttlebutt on Seattle’s top pending free agents and some players who have been mentioned in connection with the Seahawks:

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Contracts, Free agency, The roster

12-step program for Schneider’s offseason

February 7, 2018 cc 9 Comments

The third bird was a charm.

The Eagles managed to do what their feathered NFC friends the Falcons and Seahawks could not — finish off the Patriots in yet another high-flying Super Bowl. And now we are officially on to the NFL offseason (which has started with a bang thanks to Josh McDaniels).

The Seahawks, of course, have been finished for a month — enough time for Pete Carroll to perform a major shakeup of his staff (eight coaches gone, five arrived). Now it is John Schneider’s turn.

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Contracts, Free agency

P-Rich about to get paid by some other team

January 19, 2018 cc 1 Comment

Paul Richardson’s name came up all over the place Thursday, with a lot of chatter about his situation as he prepares to hit free agency.

Richardson was on the radio in his hometown of L.A., talking to the loudmouth with the goofiest name in broadcasting. Asked about possibly leaving Seattle for a passing offense, P-Rich said, “I do think about it. I think about it a lot, especially with my situation coming up with free agency.”

Richardson probably senses he will be leaving. The Seahawks apparently are willing to pay $5.5 million a year, per John Clayton, but Richardson seems likely to get at least $7 million from another team.

Continue reading P-Rich about to get paid by some other team →