The Seahawks went 3-3 with their top free agents in the first two days of free agency, and Russell Okung will be the tiebreaker — perhaps on Day 3.
The Hawks gave very good deals to Jeremy Lane ($23 million over four years) and Jermaine Kearse ($13.5 million over three years), which is in line with reports that the Hawks have made competitive offers to their free agents (Bruce Irvin and Brandon Mebane being exceptions). J.R. Sweezy, who signed for $6.5 million a year, said they were in the running, and Seattle reportedly has made a “strong” offer to Okung.
Of course, it might not be strong enough. Okung is off to visit the New York Giants and Detroit Lions. The Giants have spent heavily this week and still have around $20 million in salary cap space left. Detroit has $25 million (numbers via OTC).
The San Francisco 49ers also reportedly are interested, which would seem to indicate they are ready to move on from Joe Staley.
Continue reading Hawks at 3-3 in free agency, with Okung remaining
“It’s too early to tell” when Jimmy Graham will return from his torn patellar tendon, but we already know a few things: (1) The Seahawks are not going to get rid of the high-paid tight end this year; (2) they are probably going to take their time with his recovery; (3) he should be able to return to his previous standard of performance.
John Schneider all but admitted that Bruce Irvin will not be back with the Seahawks.
While a lot of people think the Seahawks face a daunting offseason — with 24 scheduled free agents and decisions to make on Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett — you can bet John Schneider and Pete Carroll see it for what it really is: A chance for them to reset their still-strong team for Part III of the Schneider/Carroll era so they can win a couple more Super Bowls.
The best center in franchise history says the Seahawks need veteran linemen, and he should know: He was the pivot on the best line in team history — the 2001-05 group that also included All-Pros Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson and savvy vet Chris Gray, a quartet that started 65 games together during that stretch (Hutch missed 12 in 2002, and Jones sat out three in holdouts).
As his turn in the spotlight begins, Seattle GM John Schneider made the radio rounds Friday and talked about the personnel issues facing him and the team this offseason.
As it turns out, the Seahawks’ 2015 season was an almost exact replica of the 2012 season — from the uneven start to the disastrous postseason finish.
It looks like our “Video Ode to Beast Mode” was a bit premature: Marshawn Lynch won’t be back for the playoff game in Minnesota after all.
