Jared Allen apparently needed more than just the weekend to come to a decision.
The Seahawks are still waiting to hear from the free agent defensive end, who visited twice with the team last week. Allen’s agent told reporters Friday that his client was going to consider the Seattle Seahawks’ offer over the weekend, but Allen still hadn’t made up his mind — or at least made his decision known — as of Monday night.
Earlier in the day, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was on SiriusXM, and said there was nothing new to report.
“It’s a big business decision for him, so there’s really not much to comment about right now,” Carroll said. “We’re very restricted on what we can do. We have a lot of work to get done on our roster, and a lot of guys we’ve got to work with and we’re excited about extending and stuff like that. So we have concerns and not everything is easy and can’t move as swiftly as everyone would like.”
Carroll’s mention of “a lot of work to get done on our roster” and players “we’re excited about extending” is perhaps the most telling part of that quote.
Yes the Seahawks would love to add Allen to their pass rush, and by all accounts there is an offer on the table, but priority No. 1 is still extending players like free safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman, and making sure enough money is available next offseason to do the same with Russell Wilson when the quarterback is eligible to negotiate an extension. Whatever the Seahawks are offering Allen, they’re doing it with an eye on retaining their young nucleus, and if that offer isn’t enough for Allen after a weekend of deliberation, don’t expect the Seahawks to up said offer by a significant amount.
McQuistan to Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns announced Monday that they have agreed to terms with former Seahawks offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, a player Seattle wasn’t expected to re-sign.
McQuistan started 40 games in three seasons with Seattle, and was most valuable for the versatility that allowed him to start at three different positions — right and left guard as well as left tackle when Russell Okung was injured. McQuistan started 14 games last season, eight for Okung at left tackle, and six at guard. He spent much of the season sharing time at left guard with James Carpenter.
The Seahawks also lost right tackle Breno Giacomini earlier in free agency, and in both cases it was expected that the Seahawks weren’t going to be willing to pay the price to keep veterans who would command a higher salary.
The Seahawks signed Stephen Schilling last week, an offensive lineman who doesn’t have the experience of McQuistan, but who like McQuistan can play multiple positions. Seattle also added former Packers guard Greg Van Roten earlier in the offseason.
No compensatory picks
The NFL announced 2014 compensatory draft picks, and as expected, the Seahawks were not one of the 13 teams awarded picks. Compensatory picks are given to teams determined to have lost more or better free agents than it acquired the previous year, and seeing as the Seahawks made some big additions in free agency, most notably Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, it hardly comes as a surprise that they didn’t receive picks.
Per a press release from the NFL, the league determines picks “By a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.”
The Baltimore Ravens received four picks after losing several key free agents following a Super Bowl run. Considering the amount of players the Seahawks have lost compared to signed this offseason, most notably leading receiver Golden Tate, the Seahawks will likely receive multiple compensatory picks a year from now.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.
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