Thanks to the Peyton Manning feeding frenzy, the news of New Orleans’ bounty program and a few other things, this NFL offseason has been plenty busy already, but it’s about to get even crazier, because free agency kicks off at 1 p.m. PT.
As you will recall, NFL free agency was delayed last year by the lockout, leading to one of the wildest weeks of transactions we’ll ever see, and while this year won’t play out like that, there will still be plenty of excitement over the next few days and weeks as teams hope to change their futures with big-name signings, or simply fill a few needs with lesser-known players.
The Seahawks have $29.8 million in cap space according to ProFootballTalk.com, one of the highest numbers in the league, meaning they’ll likely be players in free agency again this year after signing big-name free agents last year like Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery.
Of course some of that money will go towards signing some of their own free agents. Seattle’s top in-house target is defensive end Red Bryant, who in the last two years has gone from backup defensive tackle to one of the most important parts of Seattle’s defense as an end. Bryant will have other suitors to be sure, but his role in the Seahawks defense is unique enough that he is worth more to Seattle than most other teams. That doesn’t mean the Seahawks can lowball Bryant, but it probably does mean he won’t get a monstrous offer from another team that Seattle won’t be able to match.
Fullback Michael Robinson might be the next priority behind Bryant. While Marshawn Lynch, who re-signed with Seattle already, avoiding free agency, is the face of the team’s improved running game, Robinson was also a huge part of a turnaround. After making a Pro Bowl in just his second year as a full-time fullback, Robinson will draw interest from other teams, but the Seahawks will no doubt try to lock him up and continue to build on the progress they showed in the second half of last season.
Two of Seattle’s starting linebackers from last season David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill are free agents, and both fall into the category of players Seattle wouldn’t mind keeping at the right price, but won’t break the bank for. Hawthorne, who came to the team as an undrafted free agent out of TCU, became one of the team’s best defensive players over the past three seasons and led the team in tackles over that span, but the Seahawks also like K.J. Wright as a potential middle linebacker, which will keep them from spending big to keep Hawthorne. Hill had a nice bounce-back season last year, and my hunch is he’ll get a better offer somewhere else than Seattle. If there is no market for him, however, the Seahawks wouldn’t mind having him back.
Now what about free agents from other teams?
By all accounts the Seahawks are out of the running for Manning, the biggest-name free agent on the market (and for that matter, one of the highest-profile free agents in league history). Seattle could be a player on some of the other big-name free agents, however.
Potential targets:
DE Mario Williams, Houston Texans
The No. 1 overall pick in 2006, Williams is an elite pass rusher who fills one of the few needs on a very good Seattle defense. The 27-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler, and would be a huge addition for any team, but he will also be expensive. Very expensive. Many believe, in fact, that Williams’ contract could be the biggest ever for a defensive player. Williams is also coming off of a torn pectoral muscle that ended his 2011 season early, but before that he had missed only three games in his first five seasons.
The good news for the Seahawks is that, if they want Williams, they do have money to spend. One of the biggest reasons why a high-priced signing like Williams wouldn’t be crippling for Seattle is the number of young (read: cheap) talent on the team’s defense. Nowhere is that more evident than at cornerback, which is normally one of the highest-paid positions in the sport. Thanks to the emergence of Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman last season, the Seahawks were able to part ways with Marcus Trufant, and now have two very promising corners who are scheduled to make only $2.04 million combined over the next two seasons.
And for what it’s worth, ESPN’s John Clayton listed Seattle and Atlanta as the favorites to land Flynn.
QB Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers
After Manning, Flynn is the top free agent quarterback after showing flashes of good play as Aaron Rodgers’ backup. Flynn has started only two games in his four-year career, and while his play in both games was impressive, that’s an awfully small sample size. Even so, there are enough quarterback-needy teams that Flynn stands to command a pretty good chunk of change.
The Seahawks have been brought up repeatedly as a potential landing spot for Flynn not just because of their need at the position, but also because general manager John Schneider was in Green Bay’s front office when the team drafted Flynn. That means Seattle will have more information on Flynn than do most teams, so how hard Seattle does or doesn’t go after him will be telling.
Seattle does indeed need to find a long-term solution at the most important position in the game, but Schneider and Pete Carroll won’t spend huge on Flynn unless they’re really sold on him. Schneider has said multiple times that he won’t panic and grab a quarterback just for the sake of getting one.
OT Frank Omiyale, Chicago
Not a big name, but a player the Seahawks have already shown interest in having brought the veteran in for a visit after he was released by Chicago. Omiyale has played in Tom Cable’s system before, and would be a nice addition to add depth, particularly if Paul McQuistan signs elsewhere.
QB Matt Leinart
Yes, we’re going there. Normally it drives me nuts when every former USC player is connected with Carroll and the Seahawks, but Leinart, who was released by Houston Monday, likely is on Seattle’s radar to some extent. The Seahawks took a look at Leinart last year, but he got a better offer from the Texans. The Seahawks certainly won’t break the bank on Leinart, but if there isn’t much of a market for him and the price is right, and if they don’t sign Flynn, Leinart could fill the roster spot vacated by Charlie Whitehurst, who Seattle is extremely likely to re-sign.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
