The Seattle Seahawks made some expected and not so expected signings with the start of free agency last week. Credit the Seahawks for sticking to their plan. Of course, none of us know exactly what that plan is in detail but after a look at the moves made by the team, one can make an educated guess at what that strategy is.
The Seahawks are a young team and will no doubt get younger with multiple draft picks in the upcoming draft. In the meantime, the Seahawks are shedding old expensive players and replacing them with good players that can become great players who have experience but are not long on the tooth. The Seahawks are making the moves they had to make in retaining some of their quality on and off-the-field guys.
MOVES THEY HAD TO MAKE
Re-signed
QB Geno Smith
Contact details: Three-year $75 million contract that can reach $105 million with incentives. Guaranteed $40 million with annual base pay of $25 million. Cap hit $10 million.
The return of Smith to the Seahawks always seemed to be a foregone conclusion. It made sense for both sides to make the deal happen and they did. Smith received the biggest bag of his career, and the Seahawks manipulated a team-friendly salary cap deal.
LB/FB Nick Bellore
Contract details: Two-year $3.5 million contract. $2.3 million signing bonus. 2023 cap hit $2.6 million.
This was a deal everyone knew would happen and its really was about when the two sides would come together. Bellore is a through-back player who can play on both sides of the ball, a special teams specialist who can relate to the young and old players made him a locker-room room favorite.
K Jason Myers
Contract details: Four-year $13 million contract. Prorated $7.5 million signing bonus at $1.87 per year. 2023 Cap hit $3. million
Myers had a Pro- Bowl year in which he led the NFL in scoring. Enough said on this one.
G Phil Haynes
Contract details: One year for $1.3 million with a $2.1 signing bonus .2023 Cap hit $4 million.
He split time with Gabe Jackson who the team released at right guard. Jackson was waived. A sign the team believes in Haynes as a solid player but not necessarily a starter. This is the first one of many moves the Hawks will make on the offensive line.
QB Drew Lock
Contract details: One year $1.74 million with $1.75 signing bonus
Not sure how many other offers Lock had at age 27 but this was a smart move by him.If it were not for an unfortunate bout of COVID days before the game, he was supposed to start an exhibition game to compete with Geno who is to stay how his story would have ended. Staying with Seattle he knows the system and organization and he has shown that he is a loyal and capable debutant.
ADDITIONS
DE Dre’Mont Jones
Contract details: 3 year $30 million with prorated $20 million signing bonus $6.6 per year. 2023 Cap hit $10 million.
The Seahawks are hoping the versatile 26-year-old DE can be a disruptor on the line and get to the quarterback. Some have compared him to Michael Bennett.
DL Jarran Reed
Contract details: 2 year $5,1 million with prorated $3 million bonus $1.5 per year. 2023 cap hit $3 million in 2023 $5.9 million.
He is a good building block on the defensive line. A good but not great disruptor. Should work well with Jones and whomever the Seahawks draft.
Evan Brown
Contract details: One year $1.25 million per year $ 1 million signing bonus . 2023 Cap hit $2.2 million.
Austin Blythe replacement. He is versatile. He started at right guard for the Lions. Solid experienced. Look for the Seahawks to bring in the competition via the draft and or free agency.
DEVIN BUSH LB
Contract details: One year $1.7 million signing bonus $1.2. 2023 Cap hit $3.5 million
Bush, a former first-round pick out of Michigan, became an immediate starter with the Steelers in 2019. Unable to shake the injury bug while in Pittsburgh is the main reason for his departure.In 2020 he played just five games after tearing his ACL and missed three games with a foot injury in 2021. In 2022 Bush started the first 14 games but lost his starting job the rest of the way
Seahawks badly needed help at Line-backer and Bush gets a chance to prove he is capable of being a starter
Julian Love S
Contract details : Reported Two year $12 million . Details are not official.
Love, who spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants, started all 16 games at safety last season. He was voted team captain and led the Giants with 124 tackles. All good and well except the Seahawks have three safeties in Pro Bowler Quandre Diggs, Ryan Neal who the Seahawks just tendered and Jamal Adams. Where and how will Love fit in the Seahawks’ 3-4 defense? Love showed his versatility last year lining up in the box and dropping back in coverage formations. A player with so much talent is too valuable to sit on the sideline.
FREE AGENTS LOST
DL Al Woods
A bit of a surprise given Woods started 14 games last year. The move clears $3.67 million in salary cap and continues the Seahawk’s revamp of the Dline after releasing Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson.
Rashaad Penny signed with Philadelphia
A good move by Penny to cut bait and try his luck at another pond. Both sides were hoping there would be a happy ending. When the injury bug is consistently involved rarely does the story end ball .
Cody Barton signed with the Commanders.
Barton had his best season last year and one has to believe the Commanders offered some bigger dollars than the Seahawks were willing to shell out.
Travis Homer signed with the Bears
You can pretty much cut and paste the Rashaad Penny story into the Travis homer section.Too many injuries in an unfulfilled career that needs a new setting
One Reply to “After big splash signings in Week One, Seahawks are holding their cards close to the vest”