Free agency remains pretty much a one-way street for the Seahawks.
Heading out of Seattle.
Could Earl Thomas possibly be next to exit?
On a day trade rumors continued to grow about Thomas, Sheldon Richardson left town Thursday to go visit Minnesota. That was after he didn’t get the numbers he’s seeking from the Seahawks. Yes, the defensive tackle’s fully into his first try at free agency. And that’s bad for Seattle’s bid to keep him.
Former University of Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins was waiting … waiting … waiting … for the offer he wanted from his hometown team. But it never came. So the native of Fox Island left, too, on a plane for Jacksonville. He confirmed Thursday afternoon he signed with the Jaguars instead of the Seahawks.
Jordy Nelson was scheduled to visit — but never got here. The former Green Bay Packers wide receiver signed with Oakland on Thursday, the day he had been scheduled to meet with the Seahawks. His two years with $13 million guaranteed from the Raiders was more than Seattle would have offered, had it gotten that far.
Ndamukong Suh, the defensive tackle whose last try in free agency netted him a $114 million jackpot from Miami a few years ago, waited and weighed the market that the Seahawks have yet to enter with an offer that may or may not come.
Seattle’s scorecard in the past eight days: seven former starters gone and one new addition: outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo.
It’s become clear two days into the NFL’s official free agency period that despite the $19 million they saved by shedding former mainstays Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane and DeShawn Shead in the past week, the Seahawks lack the buying — or even offering — power to sniff the top tier of the free-agent market.
So as usual, the Seahawks will shop the secondary tiers instead.
But will they trade Thomas?
Only if they can entice a king’s ransom in return.
True to his words at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis two weeks ago, general manager John Schneider doesn’t have any untouchables in Seahawks trade talks. Not even his three-time All-Pro safety who may someday be in the Hall of Fame.
Reports from Texas and elsewhere said the Dallas Cowboys are among multiple teams asking about Thomas. The Seahawks are asking, too — for at least a first-round plus a third-round draft choice, if not another player or asset on top of that.
And why not? Thomas, who turns 29 this spring, is Seattle’s lone, prime trade chip worthy of shooting for the moon in any discussions about moving him.
He is also entering the final year of his contract. He has hinted he will hold out to start the 2018 season if he doesn’t get the new contract he wants from the Seahawks. He’s mentioned the six-year, $78 million deal 2010 draft classmate Eric Berry got last summer in an extension with Kansas City. Berry’s bonanza included $40 million in guarantees with a $20 million signing bonus.
“There ain’t never enough of that,” Thomas said last summer when Berry got that windfall.
Seattle will either: a.) eventually meet or get near Thomas’ demand; b.) have him play out 2018 upset about not getting it, then watch him leave next year at this time in free agency for a third-round compensatory draft choice, or c.) trade him.
Back to that second free-agency tier: Carolina free-agent tight end Ed Dickson visited Seahawks headquarters into Thursday evening, after discarded veteran running back Demarco Murray visited Wednesday.
Hours after Richardson showed up at Vikings headquarters in Minnesota Thursday, Seferian-Jenkins signed in Florida with Jacksonville. The deal for the 25-year-old former University of Washington tight end from Gig Harbor High School — who first wanted to come home to play for Seattle — is two years. It’s worth up to $11 million, counting possible incentives.
Seferian-Jenkins visited with the Seahawks for much of the day Wednesday. He told The News Tribune Wednesday night he had a red-eye flight from SeaTac Airport to Jacksonville. He said then of a Seahawks deal, “hopefully we’ll get it done before I leave.”
But Seattle also wanted to host Dickson, more of a blocking tight end. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has vowed his top priority this year is getting his offensive back to the run. And Detroit had just released former first-round pick Eric Ebron, a tight end one year younger than Seferian-Jenkins.
Before free agency began, Seferian-Jenkins would have signed with the Seahawks for anywhere close to the two years and $8 million the New York Jets had offered him last month to stay with them.
They didn’t.
“It’s time for the next chapter of my journey,” Seferian-Jenkins wrote on his Instagram page after he signed with the Jaguars. “Jacksonville, I’m ready for you…”
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