Let me start with an important caveat: this is not a very good free agent class.
There are very few players with an even a Pro Bowl ceiling that are available, and the best position groups available in this year’s market are two of the least valued in the league from a monetary standpoint (running back & off-ball linebacker). A lot of the best players that were supposed to hit free agency were either franchise tagged or already received extensions over the last year such as the 2019 WR class of non first rounders (AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel).
From a Seahawks perspective, I wouldn’t be expecting the team to find the next Cliff Avril or Michael Bennett or make a splashy addition like Sidney Rice. Those big impact players will come via the draft. It is more of a meat and potatoes class.
The team still has some cap space after doing the Geno Smith contract, but not a ton given how much needs to be allocated to their upcoming draft class. They still have some work to do if they want to make a big move.
With the tampering period getting underway on Monday, I decided to poll a lot of the same sources who provided good intel from the Sr. Bowl (Geno’s contract, Carr to New Orleans, Carolina moving up to first pick) to give you a summary of some things I am hearing entering the new league year:
- There is going to be some sticker shock with the price of the top-of-the-market right tackles, especially with the cap at $225 million. A few of league insiders are expecting former Jaguars RT Jawaan Taylor, hardly an All Pro player, to get a contract north of $16 million per year while solid players like Mike McGlinchey, and Kaleb McGary could come close to $15 million per year. It really emphasizes the surplus value the Seahawks have with Abraham Lucas, last year’s third round draft pick, having a cap hit of $1.22 million for this season.
- The Seahawks are not expected to be in the market for Javon Hargrave, a player Real Hawk Talk co-host Evan Hill strongly advocated to sign the last time he was on the market. With Daron Payne being franchise tagged, and this class being especially weak at edge rusher, Hargrave is in line to get one of the biggest contracts on the market. He could come close to $20 million per year APY.
- GM John Schneider will be prioritizing two-gapping defensive linemen who have 3-4 experience. I heard the Seahawks really like Zach Allen from Arizona, who would be a great fit as a 3-4 end for Seattle, but they could be priced out of his market. DreMont Jones is a player I really like in this DT class, but he’s going to be far too expensive. A more realistic option for the Seahawks will be A’Shawn Robinson from the Rams. He is a really big body that is primarily a run stuffer, which will keep his cost down. Another name I have heard in connection with the Seahawks is Greg Gaines, another former Rams DT that has a little more pass-rushing upside than Robinson, but has been a fairly productive in this defensive system.
- Pete Carroll’s team will be involved in the inside linebacker market, the strength and deepest position in available, so there will be good value opportunities. I don’t expect the Seahawks to shop at the top of the market there (Tremaine Edmunds, Bobby Okereke will do better than expected), but it is a buyers’ market with a lot of potential good value signings. This is a priority with Jordyn Brooks ACL injury. The names I have heard connected to Seattle include Drue Tranquill, who played in a similar scheme with Brandon Staley, Eric Kendricks, and I heard there is some buzz about Germaine Pratt. It is telling how long the list is below and Cody Barton isn’t even on there.
- As Schneider admitted earlier this week, there is mutual interest in bringing back franchise legend Bobby Wagner, but for Seattle, it simply comes down to his price point. The Cowboys could express interest if they lose Leighton Vander Esch.
- Another reason Geno Smith took such a unique contract is there didn’t seem to be a huge outside market for him. Tampa Bay, who was one of the teams I heard connected to Geno at the Senior Bowl, is taking a step back kind of season and there is a lot of buzz about Baker Mayfield and Drew Lock being their primary targets. Lock has a lot of support from new OC Dave Canales. I expect him to want to end up somewhere with a clearer path to playing time.
- Multiple executive sources emphasized this is the worst wide receiver crop of free agents they have seen since the league introduced free agency in the mid-90s. Jacobi Meyers and DJ Chark are the top names on the market, which is why the Bears were so adamant on getting back DJ Moore in the trade with Carolina. Meyers could pass $16 million APY because of the lack of supply. It isn’t a particularly good draft class for receivers either, so I wouldn’t expect the Seahawks to find too many intriguing options as free agents. Robert Woods got more money from the Houston Texans than they would have been willing to pay. It makes more sense to spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick at that spot.
- One of the weaker positions available is another premium position at EDGE. There are two names I have heard connected to the Seahawks as edge rushers, but I remain skeptical they make a move there. The two names were Bud Dupree, who has a lot of history in a 3-4 defense, and Leonard Floyd from the Rams. They are both very good scheme fits, and Dupree has a history with the Seahawks’ new pass rush coach, who is beloved according to league insiders. The Seahawks already have good numbers at the EDGE spot (Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Boye Mafe) and it is a very good EDGE draft class coming up.
- Adding to that, the possibility of Will Anderson, the draft’s top-rated EDGE player falling to Seattle became more realistic with the Bears’ trade down to No. 9. Anderson certainly remains an option or Arizona, but a lot of league sources are expecting the Cardinals to move off the No. 3 overall pick. They have a long way to go in their roster build, and there should be very high appeal in getting in front of Indianapolis. One team I keep hearing is the Las Vegas Raiders, who were in the mix to move up to the No. 1 spot. The Raiders could sign a vet QB like Jimmy Garoppolo and still move up for a QB. If the Raiders make that move, we could have four QBs with the first four picks in the draft.
- It remains unclear what the Seahawks plan to do at the center position following Austin Blythe’s retirement. I have heard the Seahawks do like a few different centers in this draft class, but likely will want another veteran option to not force them to chase the spot. They could explore what Ryan Kelly will cost in a trade from Indianapolis, who is reportedly available. He makes approx. $9 million in 2023 and $11 million in 2024. A draft pick would cost a lot less.
- Rashaad Penny is not expected to land a big contract. The position is loaded with different options (David Montgomery, Jamaal Williams, Devin Singletary, Alex Mattison, Kareem Hunt, Damien Harris, Miles Sanders among many others) and Penny’s durability will keep his price very modest. Penny appeared on the verge of a career breakout before suffering another injury this past season. His market could be a one-year, $3 million deal.
- I do not expect the Seahawks to bring back Shaquill Griffin as option to play across Tariq Woolen. Frank Clark feels like a long shot as well. He is an odd fit in a 3-4 defense and ideal as a 4-3 end.
- The Dolphins restructured a bunch of salaries earlier this week, a sign from other agents that they are looking to make a splashy move on defense to give Vic Fangio some more pieces to work with. As I was writing this, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported they are in deep talks for Jalen Ramsey. That makes a lot of sense. Vic Fangio will have a lot of pieces to work with with Ramsey, Bradley Chubb, Christian Wilkins, and Jevon Phillips. They also have Xavien Howard at cornerback.
- Speaking of cornerbacks, there will a lot of corners getting big-money deals this week. Among the names expected to really cash in include Byron Murphy, Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Rock Ya Sin, and Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN reported there will be a good deal for Cameron Sutton as well. This surprised me given the good class of cornerbacks in this draft, but the agents are insisting all these corners have a lot of interest.