After sitting out the first day of free agency the Seattle Seahawks dove into the deep end and got busy Tuesday afternoon. Hours after losing Shaquill Griffin to the Jacksonville Jaguars the Hawks replaced him with ex-49er CB Ahkello Witherspoon. Reports are the Seahawks tried to re-sign the 2017 3rd round draft pick and perennial starter but were unable to match the Jaguar’s three-year, $44.5 million offer.
WHY WITHERSPOON CAN WORK
The 6-foot-3 Witherspoon has all the physical attributes the Seahawks like in a cornerback. Tall, athletic, long arms, and good ball-hawking skills. The tipping point for the Seahawks was his familiarity with the Seahawks defense. The 49ers ran a defense similar to the Seahawk under former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh who is now the Jets head coach. Witherspoon will challenge Tre Flowers for one spot with D.J. Reed looking like he has claimed the other side.
Durability has been an issue for Witherspoon, who has played in 47 of a possible 64 regular-season games. For the Seahawks signing the 26-year-old Witherspoon to a one-year contract is a minimal risk.
COMMITMENT TO POONA FORD
Ford was a restricted free agent and would have most likely returned to the team. By rolling his contract to a two-year deal the 25-year-old Ford will not hit the free-agent market until he turns 27 years old. Ford’s numbers have been trending after going undrafted in 2018. Last year Ford set career-highs in tackles with eight for loss, two sacks, and nine QB hits.
CARLOS HYDE WAS LONG SHOT
The chances of Carlos Hyde resigning with the Seahawks were slim from the beginning. Hyde was signed as an insurance policy for Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. If Hyde performed he would spell Carson and battle it out with Penny for playing time behind. A rash of injuries to Carson, Hyde, D.J. Dallas, and Penny who struggled after returning from surgery left plenty of questions. The running back marked in the NFL is the most unpredictable of all the positions in the league. The Seahawks will be playing a wait-and-see game with Carson. A move that could backfire.
Discover more from Cascadiasports.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
