Analysis: Grading Seahawks Free Agent Signings
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With the new league year set to kick off on March 16 at 1 PM PST, NFL free agency is officially in full swing as the Seahawks and all 31 other teams work to improve their rosters for the upcoming 2022 season.
Unlike most recent offseasons, Seattle has ample cap space at its disposal compared to most of the league. As of March 15, OverTheCap.com estimates the team has $39.6 million in cap room. But major holes must be addressed on both sides of the football, including replacing legendary quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, who each were jettisoned last week after a decade with the franchise.
It remains to be seen how aggressive the Seahawks will be pursuing outside free agents entering a new era without any players remaining from their two previous Super Bowl squads. But as expected based on prior comments from coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, they have been proactive attempting to sign as many of their own players as possible, suggesting they aren't entering a full-scale rebuild.
As Seattle begins building its roster for next season while ushering in a new era, I'll be breaking down each of the team's signings with contract length, key financial details, and an overall grade. Make sure to check back often as moves continue to trickle in throughout free agency and leading up to April's NFL draft.
Quandre Diggs
Contract: Three years, $40 million
Grade: A
After undergoing surgery to repair a broken fibula in January, some teams may be been hesitant to shell out a big contract for the 29-year old Diggs despite earning All-Pro votes last season and being named a Pro Bowler each of the past two seasons. But with the ball-hawking safety avoided ligament damage and already has made great strides in his recovery, putting the Seahawks at ease as they made him one of the 10 highest-paid players at his position.
Though $13.3 million per year isn't cheap for a non-quarterback position, few defenders have been as reliable or consistent as Diggs for the past half decade. His 19 interceptions since 2017 rank fifth among all players and he's the only player in the entire NFL to register at least three picks in each of the previous five seasons. He's also an underrated tackler, throwing his 197-pound frame around and dishing out big hits to running backs, receivers, and even tight ends.
Following the departure of Bobby Wagner, Seattle could afford to lose Diggs' leadership either. Well respected by coaches and teammates alike, coupled with his dynamic all-around skill set, the cost to re-sign an elite safety of his caliber should wind up looking like a bargain to keep him manning center field in Pete Carroll's defense.
Sidney Jones
Contract: One year, $3.6 million
Grade: A-
Rectifying his career where he previously starred for the Washington Huskies, Jones joined the Seahawks in early September after being acquired from the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick and proved to be a steal back in his old stomping grounds. Avoiding the injury issues that plagued him during his first four NFL seasons, he produced eight pass breakups while playing more than 700 defensive snaps in 12 games.
While he struggled in his first pair of starts after supplanting Tre Flowers in Seattle's lineup in Week 4, Jones found his groove as a full-time starter in the final seven weeks, allowing only a 58.3 completion percentage, less than 8.5 yards per reception, and no touchdowns in coverage. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished with the 10th best coverage grade (79.2) among qualified cornerbacks during that span. He also showed marked improvements as a run defender, finishing with a career-best 66 tackles and only six missed tackles on the year.
Only 26 years old, Jones' injury history likely prevented the Seahawks or another team from committing to him beyond 2022. But he played well down the stretch and if he picks up where he left off in January while staying healthy, his contract will be one of the league's biggest bargains at the position and he could play himself into a far more lucrative contract next March.
Al Woods
Contract: Two years, $9 million
Grade: B
Returning to action after opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Woods came back stronger than ever while providing a stout anchor in the middle of Seattle's defensive line and proving to be unblockable at times. Still, with him set to turn 35 years old in May, some questioned how much the team would pay to re-sign him as one of the older interior defenders in the NFL.
But after choosing not to bring him back two years earlier, the Seahawks weren't about to let Woods walk this time around. Rewarding the blue collar defender for his stellar efforts as one of their most consistent players a year ago, the team handed the veteran nose tackle a well-deserved raise of nearly $2 million per year with more than $4 million in guaranteed money after he set career-highs in tackles, pass deflections, and quarterback pressures last season.
Given his age and somewhat one-dimensional skill set, it's a bit surprising Seattle signed Woods to a multi-year deal with more than double the guaranteed money of the one year contract he signed a year ago. But the team has a steady history of receiving good production from older defensive tackles and like Diggs, the veteran's ability to lead by example will be important to have around ushering in the post-Wagner era, making the contract a solid one overall.
Will Dissly
Contract: Three years, $24 million
Grade: C-
One of the most respected players in Seattle's locker room, Dissly earned his stripes by bouncing back beautifully from not one, but two severe injuries to open his career. Considering his popularity with coaches and teammates for his grit and willingness to do the dirty work in the trenches, his return was a predictable one, but not necessarily at the price the team wound up paying.
Production-wise, Dissly has not been a significant contributor for the Seahawks as a receiver over the past two seasons despite playing in 31 out of 33 regular season games. Though he has caught more than 80 percent of his targets since 2020, he's been a relative non-factor in the red zone with three total touchdowns and been limited to 482 receiving yards. On the plus side, he has remained one of the best blocking tight ends in the game, grading out as Pro Football Focus' ninth-best run blocker a year ago after finishing 15th the year before.
Playing in a tight end-friendly scheme coordinated by Shane Waldron featuring plenty of 12 personnel groupings, Dissly could be a greater focal point in the passing game as he was in his first two seasons prior to injury. If that happens, this contract may look far more favorable a year from now. But the Seahawks better hope his numbers improve dramatically considering he's now earning more money per year than Darren Waller and Tyler Higbee and carries an expensive cap hit north of $9 million on each of the final two years of his new deal.
Artie Burns
Contract: One year, $2 million
Grade: B-
Surrendering 15 touchdown passes and yielding more than 1,600 receiving yards in coverage during his first four seasons with the Steelers, Burns failed to meet expectations as a former first-round pick out of Miami. He then missed the entire 2020 season with a torn ACL, putting his future in limbo.
But once Burns returned to action midway through the 2021 season, he thrived in Sean Desai's defense, playing 219 of his 314 defensive snaps from the slot according to Pro Football Focus. He broke up five passes and allowed only one touchdown and a 54 percent completion rate against him in coverage in six games, including playing well with two pass breakups in a Week 16 win over Seattle.
With Desai now on the Seahawks staff as an associate head coach, Burns will have a chance to pick up where he left off last season. On an affordable "prove it" deal, he likely will compete with Marquise Blair and Ugo Amadi for the starting nickel role but also offers the versatility and length to play outside in a pinch if needed. This is a good depth addition at worst with starter upside.
Uchenna Nwosu
Contract: Two years, $20 million
Grade: A-
Entering the offseason, the Seahawks made no secret about their ambitions for improving one of the NFL's worst pass rushes. While Nwosu isn't a household name by any means, he's an ascending 25-year old talent who hasn't yet hit his prime, which makes him a fascinating addition in new coordinator Clint Hurtt's defense as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end.
Following three seasons stuck in the shadows of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, Nwosu took on a far more significant role for the Chargers in 2021, setting career-highs with 40 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and 17 quarterback hits. Per Pro Football Focus, he generated 40 quarterback pressures, more than any player on Seattle's roster a year ago. He also forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass, showing a penchant for creating turnovers.
At 6-foot-2, 251 pounds, Nwosu's flexibility as a pass rusher and dropping back into coverage projects him to see action at strongside linebacker for the Seahawks. He may also be used some as a defensive end in passing situations. Either way, his speed and quickness off the edge should substantially help the team's efforts to harass opposing quarterbacks and if he can build off a career year, paying him $10 million per year could be a steal.
Austin Blythe
Contract: One year, $4 million
Grade: C+
Deservedly, the Seahawks were put on blast last year for not selecting Oklahoma's Creed Humphrey in the 2021 NFL Draft or investing money in a free agent upgrade at the center position. Among those who could have been signed, Blythe wound up with the Chiefs, where he ironically played just 12 offensive snaps with Humphrey emerging as the immediate starter.
Putting aside a lost 2021 season in which he appeared in a grand total of four games, Blythe looked like a promising option to supplant Ethan Pocic last spring. Starting all 16 games for the Rams at the pivot position in 2020, he earned a respectable 69.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a stellar 73.2 run blocking grade. While he did allow four sacks in pass protection, he cut down his pressures from 38 to 29 compared the prior season.
A lighter, more athletic center at 298 pounds who is best suited for zone blocking, Blythe's signing makes obvious sense for Seattle due to his previous ties with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who served as an assistant coach under Sean McVay in Los Angeles. But after Pocic played well down the stretch and Blythe barely played in Kansas City, this move doesn't move the needle like it might have a year ago. This has a chance to be a good signing if he bounces back, but there's no guarantee he starts either.
Quinton Jefferson
Contract: Two years, $9.5 million
Grade: B
A familiar name in the Pacific Northwest after playing for the Seahawks from 2016 to 2019, Jefferson has always been held in high regard by coach Pete Carroll and newly-promoted defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt, who served as his defensive line coach for three seasons. For that reason alone coupled with his versatility playing multiple spots along the defensive line, coming back for a third stint with the team isn't a surprise at all.
Since departing Seattle two years ago, Jefferson has bounced around a bit but remained productive regardless of where he has been, playing for the Bills in 2019 and starting all 17 games for the Raiders last season. He enjoyed arguably the best season of his career in Las Vegas, setting new career-bests with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 50 quarterback pressures per Pro Football Focus. He also played well in the postseason, registering a sack in a wild card loss to Cincinnati.
At 291 pounds, Jefferson has enough athleticism to go with his size to be a scheme-flexible asset. Even as the Seahawks transition towards running more 3-4 looks, he will be in the mix to start at one of the defensive end spots and also could see action reduced inside as a defensive tackle in pass rushing situations. While paying him up to $11 million for two years may seem pricey, he has at least 30 quarterback pressures each season since 2018 and should provide sneaky value for Hurtt's revamped line.
Kyle Fuller
Contract: TBD
Grade: C-
A versatile linemen with starting experience at center and guard, the Seahawks continue to be high on Fuller despite his struggles when given the opportunity to play. While the team didn't tender him as a restricted free agent at $2.4 million for 2022, they apparently saw enough in nine starts last year to warrant bringing him back as a depth signing.
Thanks to Ethan Pocic's hamstring injury last August, Fuller won by the starting job by default and didn't exactly get off to a hot start. He allowed at least two pressures in four of his first five starts and despite turning in a solid effort against the 49ers in Week 4, that wasn't enough to maintain his job once Pocic got healthy. After being demoted in Week 8, he made one spot start at left guard and for the most part was limited to special teams for the remainder of the year, receiving a dreadful 31.3 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.
Still just 28 years old, re-signing Fuller to a veteran's minimum deal isn't going to impact Seattle's salary cap at all and his versatility does offer value as a reserve. But he shouldn't be in contention for starting next year either and should be viewed as a fringe roster player at this stage. If they draft a center, his days could be numbered.
Rashaad Penny
Contract: One year, $5.75 million
Grade: B
Perceived as a first-round bust, Penny couldn't stay healthy for most of his first four NFL seasons, missing a grand total of 31 regular season and playoff games. Entering last November, he had less than 900 career rushing yards and five touchdowns on his resume in large part due to his lack of durability.
But there's never been a question about Penny's talent and with him finally able to stay on the field for an extended period of time, the 235-pound back exploded during Seattle's final six games last year. Leading the league with 706 rushing yards and a 6.92 yards per carry average during that span, he rattled off four games with 130 or more rushing yards and tied Colts star Jonathan Taylor for the NFL league lead with eight carries of 25 or more yards on more than 200 fewer rush attempts. He also made obvious improvements in pass protection, transforming into the back Seattle thought it drafted four years ago.
Considering Penny's lengthy injury history and minimal production in his first three seasons, it seemed unlikely the former San Diego State star would receive any multi-year contracts despite his remarkable finish to last season. But as he exhibited in the final two months, he can be a top-five back with a rare blend of size, speed, and power, making him well worth another one-year investment for the Seahawks. Adding on incentives to push this deal to north of $6 million makes this a win/win for both the player and team.
Justin Coleman
Contract: One year, Financials unknown
Grade: B+
Back in 2017, Schneider made a shrewd under the radar move sending a seventh-round pick to the Patriots for Coleman shortly before the start of the regular season. He wound up being an incredibly productive nickel corner for the Seahawks over the next two seasons, picking off three passes, recovering two fumbles, amassing 19 passes defensed, and scoring two defensive touchdowns.
Rewarded for his efforts, Coleman signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Lions in 2019 and enjoyed a strong first season with the team, posting 54 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and an interception. 2020 did not go as well for him, however, as he missed time with a hamstring injury and saw a reduced role upon his return, leading to his release after the season. He wound up with the Dolphins last year and bounced back nicely, yielding no touchdowns against him in coverage on 39 targets while picking off two passes and allowing a 67.6 passer rating.
Set to turn 29 later this month, Coleman remains an effective slot corner, particularly in man coverage. His return to Seattle should give the team extra flexibility in nickel and dime sets, as defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt might mix-and-match him with Ugo Amadi, who has fared better as a zone coverage defender in his three NFL seasons. Assuming his contract comes in around the $2.25 million he made in 2021, this is a great value signing to further bolster the secondary.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Contract: One-year, $1.1875 million
Grade: B
A former fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky, the 235-pound Iyiegbuniwe immediately earned his keep on special teams with the Bears, playing 315 snaps and producing six tackles in 2018. Over the past four years, he's logged more than 1,200 special teams snaps and amassed 19 tackles, but he never carved out much of a role on defense with 47 combined snaps.
Looking at his athletic profile, Iyiegbuniwe ran the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds and produced a 35-inch vertical jump and 7.06-second 3-cone drill at the 2018 combine. With such physical tools, it's possible he could be a candidate to push Cody Barton for the starting MIKE linebacker role as a replacement for Bobby Wagner, especially considering new associate head coach Sean Desai likely played in an integral part in recruiting him to Seattle to begin with after coaching him the past few years in Chicago.
At worst, "Iggy" will give the Seahawks a proven special teams player who can be plugged right into the lineup on kick and punt coverage units. It's also possible the 26-year old could be an heir apparent for Nick Bellore, who will turn 33 in May and carries a cap hit north of $2 million in 2022. That would make him worth the small investment and if he somehow earns a spot on defense, his contract suddenly will be one of the team's best bargains.
