Sorry to say it but this time comes for every team: Offseason talk. Among the most important things to talk about every offseason is of course the Seattle Seahawks’ list of pending free agents. The Seahawks signed tackle Duane Brown and receiver Tyler Lockett to extensions last year, but could not come to long term agreements with some other key players.
Here’s who is set to become a free agent in March if they don’t sign before then:
- Frank Clark, DE
- K.J. Wright, OLB
- Earl Thomas, FS
- Justin Coleman, CB
- Shamar Stephen, DT
- Dion Jordan, DE
- Sebastian Janikowski, K
- D.J. Fluker, G
- J.R. Sweezy, G
- Mike Davis, RB
- Neiko Thorpe, ST
- Mychal Kendricks, OLB
- Maurice Alexander, S
- Brett Hundley, QB
Those are just the unrestricted free agents, and as you can see, Seattle has a lot of work to do. If you excluded Thomas as a “starter” on the defense, since he did miss 12 games and many do not expect to return anyhow, that still includes six starters on offense and defense, plus the starting kicker.
The Seahawks are currently projected at $63 million in cap space and $54 million in “effective cap space” by OvertheCap.com. That’s the third-most in the NFC after the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. Seattle is also expected to release safety Kam Chancellor, which will save them another $8 million against the cap, even without a post-June 1 designation. They’ll need plenty of space to start bringing back their own players, which I assume will again be a top priority over bringing in outside “big name” free agents.
The Seahawks first concern will be Clark, who had 14 sacks this season. He’s likely looking to top the five-year, $72 million deal signed by Minnesota Vikings DE Danielle Hunter. A four-year, $68 million deal would make Clark the highest-paid 4-3 DE in the NFL at $17 million per year. If Seattle can’t come to an agreement, then a franchise tag would likely be applied and cost the Seahawks over $17 million for one season.
Beyond that, they must decide which of their starting guards they want to/can afford to keep, if either; if they see a third contract as a viable option for Wright; if they see Stephen as a long-term option at defensive tackle; and what it’s worth to them to keep Coleman as the nickel cornerback. I would also see it as likely that Seattle starts searching for a new kicker.
That still leaves the questions about Thomas, Davis, Jordan, Thorpe, Kendricks, and Hundley.
Here are the restricted free agents (per Spotrac, could be errors):
- Tyler Ott, LS
- Quinton Jefferson, DE
- Branden Jackson, DE
- Akeem King, DB
- George Fant, T
- Tre Madden, FB
And Exclusive Rights Free Agents (per spotrac):
- David Moore, WR
- J.D. McKissic, RB/WR
- Joey Hunt, C
- Austin Calitro, LB
- Emmanuel Ellerbe, LB
- Jordan Simmons, G
- Shalom Luani, S
As of this morning, OvertheCap seems to be partially down and Spotrac lists Trevone Boykin as a Seahawk, so pardon any corrections that need to be made. There may also be a free agent or restricted free agent note to be applied to safety T.J. Mutcherson, DE Ricky Ali’Fua, or maybe cornerback Jeremy Boykins. Will update as necessary but whatever the case, Seattle is in no danger of losing a ERFA that they’d want to keep, including Moore, Calitro, Luani, and Simmons.
// from Field Gulls - All Posts http://bit.ly/2AyONzL
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