RENTON — The Seahawks re-signed one of their key free agents Tuesday, and took a step towards retaining another as the clock winds down on the league’s current collective bargaining agreement.
Just two days before the current CBA is set to expire—and two days before a lockout ma
y begin, which would prevent teams from signing free agents—Seattle signed running back/kick returner Leon Washington to a multi-year extension and placed an original-round free-agency tender on defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. The tender means that, should Mebane, a restricted free agent under the current CBA, receive an offer from another team, the Seahawks could match the offer or let Mebane go with a third-round pick as compensation.
The terms of Washington’s contract were not announced, but his agent, Alvin Keels, said on Twitter that it was a four-year deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the deal is worth $12.5 million, and could be worth as much as $16 million if Washington hits certain incentives. The size of the deal would seem to indicate that the Seahawks plan to make Washington a bigger part of the offense than he was last year when he carried just 27 times and had nine catches.
Less than a year removed from a gruesome leg injury, Washington proved to be one of Seattle’s best offseason additions. The Seahawks acquired him in a draft-day trade with the New York Jets, and Washington returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and also served as the team’s primary punt returner. In Seattle’s win over San Diego, Washington was the difference, returning kicks 101 and 99 yards for a pair of second-half scores. Washington was named a second-team All-Pro as a returner, making him the only Seahawk to earn All-Pro or Pro-Bowl honors.
As for Mebane, the defensive tackle’s agent, Chuck Price, confirmed the team using the original-round tender, which would be worth $1.275 million should Mebane sign it. Mebane has been a starter since his rookie season, and has perhaps the most upside of anyone on Seattle’s defensive line, so should he hit free agency, another team could be willing to give up a third-round pick to sign him, but Seattle’s decision to tender Mebane provides Seattle with compensation should he leave.
What isn’t known is if that tender will end up meaning anything. Under a new CBA, Mebane could still be a restricted free agent–he just completed his fourth season–or it is entirely possible a new CBA would make players with four years experience unrestricted free agents, meaning the tender is meaningless.
At the very least, the move is another sign that the Seahawks want to keep Mebane around, which is in line with what GM John Schneider told reporters at the scouting combine last week. And this doesn’t close the door to a long-term deal getting done either this week or whenever a new CBA is reached.
“I do really believe that Brandon wants to remain a Seahawk and I believe that the Seahawks want to retain Brandon,” said Mebane’s agent, Chuck Price. “I don’ think when we get back from a lockout or when there’s a new CBA, that will do a lot to change where both sides are at.”
Asked if the hope is to get a deal done this week, before a potential lockout, Price said, “That’s clearly the intention of both sides.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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