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RENTON — As the Seattle Seahawks head into the offseason, one of the biggest questions is which of their 14 unrestricted free agents will the team be able to retain.
Here is a look at all of the team’s unrestricted free agents as well as a list of restricted and exclusive-rights free agents.
Unrestricted free agents are players whose contracts expire when the new league year begins March 13. Players can re-sign with their own teams at any time before then.
The two most important unrestricted free agents would appear to be on the defensive side with linebacker K.J. Wright coming off an injured-filled season and pass rusher Frank Clark looking to cash in on the best season of his young career.
“This time of year, we always cite that it’s a really difficult time,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “There’s a lot of stuff that has to take place, there’s a lot of business. (General manager) John (Schneider) has a master plan of carrying this thing out. He’s got a schedule and calendar of all kinds of stuff that he’s working. Already, we’re well into it. There’s a strategy and a plan to carry this out and our guys know. We’ve communicated with everybody.”
Restricted free agents are players whom a team can retain with a qualifying offer, which would also allow the team to get a draft pick as compensation if the player signs with another team.
Exclusive-rights free agents are those whom a team can retain simply by making a qualifying offer.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (listed alphabetically)
— Maurice Alexander, safety: Alexander didn’t play any snaps on defense this season in regular season, but saw 133 on special teams. The Seahawks may look for some younger options to bolster their secondary.
— Frank Clark, defensive end: Carroll has already said the Seahawks will do what it takes to keep Clark. That could mean putting the franchise tag on him for next season. The franchise tag period begins Feb. 19 and ends March 5. The Seahawks could still negotiate with Clark after putting a tag on him, but the tag would assure he is under contract with the Seahawks in 2019.
— Justin Coleman, cornerback: Coleman had a serviceable season as the team’s primary nickelback. But after being retained as a restricted free agent last year he might want to test the market unless Seattle gets him re-signed first.
— Mike Davis, running back: Davis was Seattle’s highest-paid running back this year at $1.35 million. He tested the market last season before re-signing and may do so again. He has been valuable, but Seattle has some depth at tailback and might think it can find some cheaper options for competition. Much could depend on what Seattle thinks it might realistically be able to get out of C.J. Prosise, who will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2019.
— D.J. Fluker, guard: Fluker has said often he hopes to stay with the Seahawks. But he’s probably going to want more than a one-year deal paying him $1.4 million and the Seahawks may have to weigh that against his durability — he played just 10 games this season and nine in 2017 with the Giants.
— Brett Hundley, quarterback: The Seahawks gave up a sixth-round pick in 2019 for him and then he never played a down. But he fits Seattle’s style and now has a year practicing the system under his belt, and is only 25, so you’d think Seattle will want to keep him around.
— Sebastian Janikowski, kicker: He had an erratic year at age 40 and also suffered a hamstring injury in the playoff game. Seattle figures to want to try some younger options and find a kicker who can be part of its long-range future.
— Dion Jordan, defensive end: Jordan might have been one of the bigger disappointments this season after being retained via a restricted free-agent tender that paid him $1.9 million. Seattle may still be enamored by his potential, but also might not want to pay that much after Jordan battled injuries all season and made just 1.5 sacks.
— Mychal Kendricks, linebacker: One of the big wild cards of the offseason. Kendricks will reportedly be sentenced on Jan. 24 in an insider trading case. If the sentence is short enough that he’s going to be available for the 2019 season, then it’s expected he will re-sign with the Seahawks and that could impact other decisions Seattle makes at linebacker.
— Shamar Stephen, defensive tackle: Stephen was serviceable enough in his first season with the Seahawks and he’ll be 28 next season, so he’s still in his prime. Seattle could look to bring in some new bodies up front.
— J.R. Sweezy, guard: Like Fluker, Sweezy revived his career on a one-year deal and now could be looking for something more substantial. But he also seems a perfect fit for what Seattle does so you’d think there’s a good chance he stays around.
— Earl Thomas, safety: The forgotten man, Thomas is widely expected to hit free agency. If Seattle had wanted to do the kind of deal Thomas wants, the Seahawks would have done it a long time ago and avoided all that happened this season.
— Neiko Thorpe, cornerback: The special-teams captain played just 29 snaps on defense this year and Seattle could look to some younger, cheaper options to add depth in the secondary.
— K.J. Wright, linebacker: One of the biggest mysteries is what happens with Wright. He showed Saturday how well he can still play and what he means to the team. But the Seahawks have also made an obvious shift in how they handle veterans over the past year, more willing than ever to move on from aging players and not wanting to pay for what a player has done in the past. Seattle could let Wright hit the market and see what kind of offers he gets and then try to match or better those, as happened with wide receiver Jermaine Kearse a few years ago.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
— Ricky Ali’fua, defensive end: Ali’fua was on injured reserve all season after training camp injury, so it’s hard to know if team wants him back.
— Branden Jackson, defensive end: Jackson played 258 snaps in rotational role in nine games this season. He’s just 26, so Seattle may want him back.
— J.D. McKissic, running back: McKissic could be viewed as the replacement for Davis, saving Seattle a little money.
— Joey Hunt, offensive lineman: A trusted reserve who played well in his one start at center this year against Dallas and would seem likely to return.
— Kalan Reed, cornerback: Reed didn’t play a snap this season after being activated from the practice squad Nov. 6, but Seattle does like corners who have some knowledge of their way of doing things.
— Quinton Jefferson, defensive end: Jefferson revived his career in his third year in NFL — his 558 snaps were third most of any Seattle defensive lineman after Clark and Jarran Reed. It would seem like Seattle would make it a priority to retain him.
— Akeem King, cornerback: King showed some flashes in late-season playing time and looks like a player Seattle would like back, especially if Coleman gets away.
— George Fant, offensive lineman: Fant is undoubtedly part of team’s offensive-line future.
— Tre Madden, fullback: Madden played 86 snaps in 14 games while battling a couple of injuries. Seattle might look for other fullback options in 2019.
EXCLUSIVE-RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: Linebacker Austin Calitro, linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee, safety T.J. Green, safety Shalom Luani, receiver David Moore, safety T.J. Mutcherson, tackle Elijah Nkansah, snapper Tyler Ott, offensive lineman Jordan Simmons.
Source: Overthecap.com and other published reports of player contracts.
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