In 2014, Jared Allen chose money over a Super Bowl chance with the Seahawks as he left the Minnesota Vikings.
Three years later, Adrian Peterson appears interested in making the opposite choice as he prepares to depart Minnesota.
Peterson reportedly favors Oakland, Seattle and New England — places where he could contend for an NFL title. But consider the Seahawks a distant second in that possible free-agent pursuit.
The Seahawks’ decisions on restricted free agents DeShawn Shead and Garry Gilliam were really the biggest questions among Seattle’s own free agents, and the Hawks have made savvy business decisions based on extenuating circumstances.
Because Shead is dealing with a torn ACL that could sideline him for half of the 2017 season, the Seahawks made the smart decision to forgo a tender and try to bring back the homegrown starting cornerback on a cheaper contract. Gilliam, meanwhile, reportedly has received the low tender of $1.8 million, which gives the Hawks the right to match any offer for their incumbent starting right tackle.
Before he was injured, Shead seemed likely to get at least a second-round tender ($2.75 million) or even a first ($3.9 million) — and possibly an extension later in the offseason (a la Doug Baldwin in 2014). But, due to his very unfortunate injury suffered in the playoff loss to Atlanta, Shead is not expected to be available until midseason. It would have been a waste of money to pay him even the low tender.
The Seahawks have made a lot of errors regarding their offensive line in the last two years, and John Schneider admitted another one Wednesday at the Combine.
“We probably got a little bit too young,” he said of the 2016 starting crew that included neophyte George Fant, fellow first-year starters Mark Glowinski and Germain Ifedi, first-year center Justin Britt and undrafted right tackle Garry Gilliam.
Schneider told reporters he regretted not keeping veteran guard Jahri Evans — that probably would have been smarter than keeping J’Marcus Webb, who ended up starting three games at right guard (when Ifedi was hurt) and was later released.
The youth mistake of 2016 follows on the heels of trying to use untested Drew Nowak at center for too long in 2015 — an error Pete Carroll later lamented.
Schneider surely will try to do better with veteran linemen this offseason. He is expected to contact Russell Okung next week about a possible return. Okung reportedly is going to remain his own agent — that netted him a one-year deal worth $5 million with Denver last year. Schneider probably won’t be interested in paying anything more than $7 million a year on a short, incentivized contract.
Schneider officially can talk to Okung on March 7. Free agency begins March 9.
Continue reading Schneider admits O-line error, expected to contact Okung
Some fans still can’t get past the idea that fantasy football is not real football. So you get goofballs thinking the Seahawks need to spend a lot of money to hire a big-name running back — forgetting that the rusher has to have a line that can block for him and he has to stay healthy.
So, no, the Seahawks should not — and almost certainly will not — pursue one-time stars Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles. Just like they didn’t pursue DeMarco Murray last year.
The topic is relevant today because the Vikings declined to pick up Peterson’s 2017 option, and the Chiefs are cutting Charles — meaning two of the more productive backs of the last decade will now be available.
But Seattle would be stupid to pursue either.
Continue reading Don’t expect Hawks to pursue Peterson or Charles
Russell Okung was ripped by everyone in NFL circles last year for the deal he did with the Denver Broncos — a contract that ended up being for one year and $5 million and will put him back on the free-agent market in a couple of weeks.
But the Seahawks had to love the deal, which netted them a third-round comp pick Friday. The Seahawks ended up with two third-round picks — the other for losing Bruce Irvin. That doubled the number of thirds they had received in the two decades of the compensatory program.
The Hawks had been projected to receive a third and fifth, with J.R. Sweezy’s deal ($6.5 million a year with Tampa Bay) netting the fifth. But it turned out that the NFL counted Okung’s full contract, including the option the Broncos just declined, for an average of $10.6 million that made Okung’s deal No. 6 among value in the 2016-17 comp equation.
The Hawks have seven picks for now, with five of the top 106. Their overall picks are 26, 58 (second round), 90 (third), 102 (third), 106 (third), 210 (sixth) and 226 (seventh, via Carolina).
The Seahawks really could use a couple of new tackles, but how about a couple of old ones?
In a neat little coincidence Thursday, former Seahawks tackles Russell Okung and Breno Giacomini both learned they will not return to their teams — the Broncos told Okung they will not pick up his option and the Jets released Giacomini.
The natural question: Will the Seahawks be interested in a reunion with either?
Continue reading Will Hawks be interested in Okung or Giacomini?
The NFL offseason is about to ramp up big time, with the Combine next week and the league year (and free agency) beginning the following week.
We’ve already broken down Seattle’s ideal priorities. Here’s a primer for the rest of the offseason:
The Combine schedule. John Schneider and Pete Carroll are likely to speak Thursday and/or Friday.
The complete NFL calendar. Free agency begins March 9 and the draft is April 27-29.
The Seahawks’ offseason tracker. Keep up with the Seahawks’ moves (signings, departures, visits) throughout free agency.
Contract status of Seattle’s key players. All of the starters and key backups through 2020.
Seahawks’ offseason stories. Need to catch up? We have all of the top stories on this page.
Seahawks Draft Blog. Rob Staton is the best Seahawks-focused draft analyst. Check him out all the way through April.
A year ago, the Seahawks needed a new left tackle to replace the departing Russell Okung. Most people (probably even George Fant) would say they didn’t find one, which is why there is a lot of speculation about them checking into the several veteran tackles being let go.
But, unless one of those guys wants to come to Seattle on a cheap deal, don’t expect the Seahawks to add one. They had the chance last year to pursue Kelvin Beachum or Ryan Clady, but neither has been very healthy — which explains why both are available once again and why the Hawks wouldn’t pay either one much money.
Perhaps more intriguing is Branden Albert, if the Jaguars don’t acquire the 32-year-old from Miami to replace Beachum. But, even if Miami were to release him, he probably would end up with a richer deal than the Hawks would want to offer.
Okung also is expected to be free again — Denver not exercising the option in his contract March 8 — but it’s hard to see him returning to Seattle after the Hawks didn’t make much effort to keep him last year.
Continue reading Don’t expect Hawks to spend much on a tackle
There’s a lot of chatter from fans wanting the Seahawks to pursue Calais Campbell in free agency to improve their interior pass rush.
On first blush, it seems like a lot of wishful thinking — John Schneider usually goes younger and cheaper on veteran defensive linemen — but there are increasing signs the Hawks could indeed make a play for the 30-year-old Arizona tackle.
Seattle’s hiring of his former college position coach, Clint Hurtt, adds to the intrigue created by Russell Wilson, who appeared to be recruiting Campbell after their December game.
Michael Bennett’s new deal is the first of several extensions John Schneider figures to consummate in the coming months as he presumably focuses on keeping the core of this Seattle team intact.
With no major free agents — Steven Hauschka and RFA DeShawn Shead will be the biggest — Schneider’s 2017 offseason will be more about setting up 2018 and beyond. And, if we’re lucky, he might do something about Seattle’s biggest weakness.
Some fans are giddy about the apparent salary cap boon of up to $38 million, thinking the Hawks can go hog wild on offensive linemen in free agency. But Schneider and contract specialist Matt Thomas know their 2017 offseason is really based on the 2018 salary cap — and they don’t have the flexibility fans think they do, assuming they plan to stick with their MO of keeping their own stars.
With Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham and Justin Britt also due for extensions in 2017 and a bevy of star defenders, plus Tyler Lockett, signed only through 2018, every move Schneider makes now has to be made with those players (or replacements) in mind.
Continue reading 2017 moves will be based on 2018 salary cap
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 