Category Archives: Free agency

Contracts, Free agency

No surprises: Rubin’s back; Irvin, Sweezy in high demand

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As the free agency negotiating period began Monday, two days ahead of the new league year, the Seahawks were at the center of a lot of expected news.

As expected, they managed to re-sign Ahtyba Rubin, one of their excellent veteran defensive tackles. As expected, Bruce Irvin and J.R. Sweezy received a lot of interest. And, as expected, former Seahawk Byron Maxwell did not last long in Philadelphia.

Rubin agreed on a three-year deal. The value was unknown Monday, but expect it to be around $4 million a year. Also expect the Seahawks to keep Brandon Mebane on a cheaper deal.

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Contracts, Free agency

Lewis valued enough for lowest tender

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Patrick LewisOver the past couple of years, the Seahawks have used second-round tenders on three restricted free agents (RFAs) — valuing Doug Baldwin, Jeron Johnson and Jermaine Kearse at over $2 million each.

This year they have no RFAs worth that, so it’s no surprise the Seahawks didn’t use a second-round tender.

It wouldn’t have been a surprise if they hadn’t used any tenders, but they apparently want Patrick Lewis back enough that they gave him the lowest offer — $1.67 million. That means the Hawks can match an offer he might sign with another team by the April 22 deadline, but it also means they would get no draft compensation for not matching (he was undrafted when he entered the NFL with Green Bay in 2013).

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Contracts, Free agency

As league year nears, UFA picture clears

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UFA projectionsAs the start of the league year fast approaches, we are starting to get an idea of how it is going to play out for Seattle’s top free agents.

Reports over the past two days indicate that Bruce Irvin and Jermaine Kearse aren’t going to be back. Irvin is expected to get around $10 million a year, with Jacksonville and Atlanta among the expected top suitors.

On Wednesday, Irvin told 710 ESPN, “If the money was close, I would definitely consider” signing with the Seahawks. But it won’t be close — Seattle can’t afford more than perhaps $6 million a year.

Meanwhile, Kearse reportedly is planning to sign elsewhere — a sign that the Seahawks have told him their limit (likely $3 million a year) and he knows he can get more elsewhere (maybe $6 million). Speculation has him replacing Roddy White in Atlanta, where former Seattle DC Dan Quinn is entering his second year as coach.

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CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine
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chawk lines -- Combine

You know that meeting between the Seahawks and Doug Hendrickson? It wasn’t really about Michael Bennett’s contract, per Gregg Bell.

Brandon Mebane, the longest-tenured Seahawk at nine seasons, would love to finish his career in Seattle. Seems like it should get done.

At the Combine, Pete Carroll talked about the process of learning about draft prospects.

Hilarious: Marshawn Lynch was rappin’ while “ghost-ridin'” a camel in Egypt.

Russell Wilson debuted his new clothing line at Nordstrom.
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CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine
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chawk lines -- Combine

Combine logoAsked about Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor, Pete Carroll said, “Really, the guys who are under contract can’t be the first-priority guys right now, in any order. We are really digging in, trying to keep our team together. And that will always be the way we go about it. We love Kam and Mike … and we are going to do all we can to make sure they can stay with us.”

Hiring Doug Hendrickson shows Bennett’s Lynch-like strategy.

Carroll said Jimmy Graham might not be ready until the end of training camp. That shadows our thought that the Seahawks will take it slow with him.

John Schneider talked about Marshawn Lynch and other topics.

Lynch is headed to Egypt for American Football Without Barriers — a group co-created by former Seahawk Breno Giacomini.

The offensive line is a major point of emphasis this offseason, although Carroll and Schneider don’t seem to concerned.

Russell Okung says, “It’s very possible that I could stay here. But I know my value, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that.”

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Contracts, Free agency

Okung, Schneider have talked, but expect LT to hit free agency

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Russell Okung talks with GM John Schneider during minicamp in June (AP)Russell Okung and John Schneider already have had contract talks, and it is no surprise that the talented but injury-prone left tackle is going to hit free agency March 9.

“We’ve had some conversations. We’ve been going back and forth,” Okung told ESPN.com. “It’s going to come down to when free agency starts. So we may figure something out; we may not. It’s up in the air for now for us to come to terms.”

The Seahawks probably are not willing to pay Okung much more than they did on his rookie deal: $8 million a year. And he surely wants to hit the $10 million mark. The only way to find out whether some team will pay him is to become a free agent.

Actually, he should have a good idea even a couple of days before the league year begins, as prospective free agents officially can talk to teams ahead of the day.

We already addressed the idea of Okung possibly returning on a one-year deal if his market is not what he expects due to his shoulder injury (he won’t be ready for workouts until June).

“It’s very possible that I could stay here,” he said. “But I know my value, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that. If it works out, great. And if it doesn’t, that’s great as well.”

Continue reading Okung, Schneider have talked, but expect LT to hit free agency →

Free agency, NFL Combine, State of the team

Schneider concedes Irvin is likely gone

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Pic -- Schneider at CombineJohn Schneider all but admitted that Bruce Irvin will not be back with the Seahawks.

At the Combine on Wednesday, Schneider compared Irvin to Byron Maxwell, who received $10 million a year from Philadelphia last year. Irvin, valued as a linebacker and pass rusher, is expected to get a similar deal from some team.

“I’m sure you get tired of me talking about it,” Schneider said, per The Seattle Times, “but it really, truly is a big puzzle that we have to work through. I have met with Bruce individually and he knows how we feel about him as an organization and he knows that we are either going to be able to make it work or give him a big hug and congratulate him.

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CHAWK LINES, Free agency
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CHAWK LINES -- Week in review

Michael Bennett dropped hard-nosed agent Drew Rosenhaus, and nobody knows exactly what that means.

Jeremy Lane, perhaps Seattle’s most enigmatic free agent from a market standpoint, would love to stay in Seattle “if the situation was right.”

Russell Okung told 710 ESPN his shoulder surgery was precautionary and he is still intent on representing himself in free agency.

Jermaine Kearse’s agent has been talking to the Seahawks, and he is not sure whether he will return to Seattle.

J.R. Sweezy is expected to get lots of interest in free agency.

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Free agency, NFL draft

Will Schneider use any of top options to fix OL?

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OsemeleAs the Seahawks plot to rebuild their offensive line this offseason, they appear to face a steep and slippery uphill climb — one where it could be easy to backslide and end up right back where they started.

If the Hawks were forced to play a game today, they could barely field a line with the guys they have under contract. Garry Gilliam likely would move to left tackle, Drew Nowak would return to center, Justin Britt would move back to right tackle, Mark Glowinski would step in at right guard (J.R. Sweezy reportedly is expected to have a hot market in free agency) and Kristjan Sokoli probably would be the de facto left guard.

What an underwhelming, overmatched line that would be, eh?

The offensive line is the one spot where the Seahawks simply have not “competed” well in personnel. In six years, John Schneider has signed just eight free agents — and none have lasted more than a year. He also has drafted just four linemen in the first three rounds — and Britt (a major reach in the second round) is the only one from the past four drafts.

Will Schneider change that this year to get the Seahawks back atop the NFC? Will he be willing to spend resources — money and draft picks — to fix it?

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Contracts, Franchise history, Free agency

Hawks will continue to avoid franchise tag

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Seahawks franchise tagThe franchise tag period runs today through March 1, and the Seahawks will skip it for the sixth straight year.

They have not used the tag since 2010 — the first year of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider regime — when they used it on Olindo Mare.

Schneider has stayed ahead of the curve, avoiding any need for the tag by getting early extensions done with potential franchise players Marshawn Lynch (2012), Kam Chancellor (2013), Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman (2014) and Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner (2015).

They gambled on Michael Bennett in 2014 and ended up re-signing him a day before free agency started — a week after the tag deadline.

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