Category Archives: Free agency

Offseason primer: Combine, free agency, draft info

February 23, 2017 cc Leave a comment

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.

Free agency, The roster

Don’t expect Hawks to spend much on a tackle

February 17, 2017 cc Leave a comment

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 →

Free agency

Are Hawks prepping to court Campbell?

January 21, 2017 cc Leave a comment

campbell-wilson 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.

Continue reading Are Hawks prepping to court Campbell? →

Contracts, Free agency

2017 moves will be based on 2018 salary cap

December 31, 2016 cc Leave a comment

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 →

Free agency, The roster

Monroe query is natural, but Carroll says Hawks ‘in good shape’ at LT

June 15, 2016 cc Leave a comment

As the Seahawks work to reconstruct their offensive line this year, it was natural to ask whether they might have any interest in Eugene Monroe after Baltimore cut him Wednesday.

The answer: Sure, if he’s cheap. But he won’t be — he was due $6.5 million next season. Of course, he also might not be healthy: He has missed 15 games the past two seasons.

Continue reading Monroe query is natural, but Carroll says Hawks ‘in good shape’ at LT →

Contracts, Free agency, State of the team, The roster

Forget the Lynch drama; check out the cap space

May 4, 2016 cc Leave a comment

For some reason, there has been a lot of concern about Marshawn Lynch’s retirement status: Is he really retiring? Why hasn’t he submitted his papers? Is he trying to screw the Seahawks? Will they make him a June 1 cut?

So many conspiracy theories.

Some people have wondered whether the Seahawks would designate Lynch as a post-June 1 move, thereby allowing the team an extra $2.5 million in 2016 cap space (but removing $2.5 million from the 2017 cap).

But anyone who has followed John Schneider’s moves with the Hawks understands he likes to take his lumps now, not later. He confirmed that once again Tuesday in an interview with KJR 950, saying the team will place Lynch on the reserve-retired list by June 1 so all of his $5 million in dead money (the unamortized portion of his signing bonus) hits this year’s cap.

Schneider clearly just wants to wipe that slate clean for 2017 and feels no need for an extra $2.5 million this offseason.

“It’s basically like a credit card, like you want to pay off your credit card as you go,’’ Schneider said. “So, like with us, if we place him on reserve/retired (by June 1) then we accept that cap hit this year, and we would rather do that than do it after June 1.’’

Continue reading Forget the Lynch drama; check out the cap space →

Free agency, The roster

Browner faces uphill battle to make team

April 17, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have never been afraid to bring back former players, so it’s not a big surprise that they have reclaimed a couple of veterans from their Super Bowl-winning team.

Of course, it’s no guarantee that either Chris Clemons or newly reacquired Brandon Browner will make the team.

Clemons, 34, seems to have the better chance, offering some help in the pass rush and as an extra veteran voice for Frank Clark and other young linemen.

But Browner would seem to have an uphill battle to make the team.

Continue reading Browner faces uphill battle to make team →

Free agency, Schedule

Pre-draft look at 2016 opponents

April 3, 2016 cc 2 Comments

2016 opponents In the NFL, April is draft month. But it also has become schedule month.

Word is the NFL will release the schedule April 19-21, a week before the April 28-30 draft.

We already know their opponents, of course. Based on 2015 results, the Seahawks have the fifth-toughest schedule next season. There’s nothing new about that, though: Their 2015 schedule ranked fourth and their 2014 slate was sixth.

But those preseason rankings don’t reflect changes teams have made since the last season ended.

As we transition from free agency month into draft month, let’s see how Seattle’s opponents have changed since last season.

Continue reading Pre-draft look at 2016 opponents →

Free agency, State of the team

Still ‘tinkering,’ GM thinks Hawks are ‘very close’ to Super again

March 30, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Wilson and Schneider In the aftermath of the Seahawks’ stunning 43-8 demolition of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, it sure seemed like the foundation of a dynasty had been laid.

A year later, sitting on the goal line at the end of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks were poised to finish off the second floor of the three-story dynastic castle. But coaching mistakes ruined their first shot at that rare achievement.

First, Pete Carroll allowed Darrell Bevell to make the worst play call in Super Bowl history, and then Carroll followed it up by fielding a ridiculously overmatched offensive line in a stunningly underachieving 2015 season.

When you raise expectations the way Carroll and John Schneider have over the past four years, anything short of winning it all is total failure. The Seahawks were primed to become one of the league’s rare dynasties, and they screwed it up.

Now, as they begin Part III of the PJ Era, they think they can quickly recapture the spirit of 2013 and return to the Super Bowl.

Continue reading Still ‘tinkering,’ GM thinks Hawks are ‘very close’ to Super again →

Free agency, State of the team

Linebackers a focus, too; plus other FA notes

March 19, 2016 cc 1 Comment

While Russell Okung stole the free-agent spotlight over the last week, culminating in his deal with Denver on Thursday, the Seahawks continued to go about their other business.

While they still need major help on the offensive line and figure to keep hunting for big gamers, they also need to sign at least one linebacker before the draft. Bringing back Mike Morgan for a sixth year replenishes the depth and gives the Seahawks a fallback option if they don’t come up with a better replacement for Bruce Irvin.

Continue reading Linebackers a focus, too; plus other FA notes →