With the 2020 NFL Draft just over a week away the Seahawks made two moves that could have tipped their hand. According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Hawks have withdrawn their exclusive right tender on wideout Malik Turner. Last month the Seahawks made Turner the qualifying tender by the March 18th deadline. The offer meant that Turner was not permitted to negotiate with any other team in the league and could either play out the 2020 season with the Seahawks for a minimum salary or sit out the year.
POSSIBLE RELEASE AND RE-SIGN
The move by the Seahawks makes Turner an unrestricted free agent. Mostly likely Turner will re-sign with the Seahawks on a split contract similar to Jordan Simmon’s. It’s a cap hit insurance policy for the team if the player goes on injured reserve.
Turner signed with Seattle in 2018 as an undrafted free from Illinois. In the two years with Seattle Turner started three games in 2019 and saw action in 21 games. While he had a reliable catch percentage of 68% Turner is remembered for dropping a critical pass in last year’s NFC Divisional Playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The move may also mean the Seahawks are looking to draft a wide receiver in the upcoming draft. This year’s draft class is deep at the receiver position so the team could pull the trigger on one of its later picks. The Seahawks have seven picks going into the draft.
ANOTHER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
The Seahawks added another offensive lineman with the re-signing of guard Mike Iupati. The Hawks now have 17 offensive linemen on their current roster. The move to re-sign Iupati was expected. Iupati started 15 games last year but missed the playoff game at Green Bay with a stinger. 2020 will be Iupati’s 11th year in the league. The Seahawks have added four linemen this offseason, Center B.J. Finney tackles, Cedric Ogbuehi, Brandon Shell, and guard Chance Warmack.
