Seahawks Analysis: Grading Free Agent Signings in Seattle
With the new league year set to kick off on March 15 at 1 p.m. PST, NFL free agency is officially in full swing as the Seattle Seahawks and all 31 other teams work to improve their rosters for the upcoming 2023 season.
After re-signing quarterback Geno Smith to a three-year contract along with a trio of other moves retaining their own free agents, the Seahawks will open free agency with somewhat limited salary cap space. While the team ranks 12th in overall cap room, when accounting for rookie contracts and the top 51 players on the roster, they rank 19th with less than $10 million in effective cap space according to OverTheCap.com.
Despite not having a ton of money to throw around, however, Seattle has options to create quick space and Smith agreeing to a deal with just a $10.4 million cap hit in 2023 does add a bit more flexibility to sign veteran talent. Following a surprise playoff berth in a perceived rebuild season, the franchise will be looking to make cap-friendly moves that also improve the roster around the veteran quarterback.
As Seattle aims to take the next step towards Super Bowl contention this offseason, 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.
Jason Myers
Contract: Four years, $21.1 million
Grade: B+
On the surface, paying $5.25 million annually to a kicker may seem like too steep of a price for a specialty position. But Myers certainly earned that cash with a phenomenal 2022 season, as he received First-Team All-Pro recognition from the NFLPA after splitting the uprights on 34 out of 37 field goal attempts and finished a perfect 6-for-6 on 50-plus yard field goals. In two of the past three seasons, he has made at least 91 percent of his field goals and he has been money from long distance, missing only two out of 11 field goals surpassing 50 yards.
Phil Haynes
Contract: One year, $4 million
Grade: B
With Gabe Jackson eventually being released as a cap casualty, the Seahawks needed to ensure they had a capable starter waiting in the wings and re-signing Haynes checks off that box, at least potential-wise. However, injuries have been a problem for him in four NFL seasons and he has only started five games in his career to this point, so projecting him as a starter next season carries significant risk.
Still, the organization remains high on the former fourth round pick's upside and Haynes did perform well in a rotation with Jackson last season. After seeing Seattle go 3-0 and average almost 120 rushing yards per game in his three starts a year ago, the team is holding out hope he may finally be ready to take the next step in his progression to full-time starter in the trenches.
Nick Bellore
Contract: Two years, $6.6 million
Grade: C+
Beloved in the locker room and a fan favorite for his sense of humor, Bellore has served as a team captain each of the past two years and remains one of the best special teams players in the NFL. His ability to play fullback or linebacker in a pinch still adds value few other players can offer, so the decision to bring him back seems like a wise one for the Seahawks.
At the same time, Bellore has barely played on offense or defense dating back to his arrival in Seattle in 2019. While special teams are rightfully prioritized in the Pacific Northwest and he has certainly earned a pay bump with his stellar play in kick and punt coverage, offering north of $3 million per year for a player who will turn 34 years old in May on a multi-year deal may be a bit more expensive than anticipated for someone who doesn't contribute much away from the third phase of the game.
Geno Smith
Contract: Three years, $105 million
Grade: A
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While Smith could earn up to $35 million per year over the span of his new contract, the Seahawks masterfully baked the deal full of incentives with $30 million worth of performance-based escalators and only $40 million in guarantees. Coming off a stunning breakout season in which he threw 30 touchdown passes, led the league in completion percentage, and earned his first Pro Bowl nod, the franchise rewarded him and provided an outlet for him to make top-10 quarterback money while also protecting themselves in case the veteran regresses moving forward.
As things stand, Seattle managed to lock up one of the top potential free agents on the market before the start of the league year with a team-friendly $10.4 million cap hit in 2023. This will allow the organization much greater flexibility pursuing outside free agents and re-signing its own players in coming weeks to help build around the signal caller with hopes of pushing for championships moving forward and if he reaches most or all of his escalators, he may still be the long-term franchise quarterback. It's a win-win for all parties.
Dre'Mont Jones
Contract: Three years, $51.53 million
Grade: A-
In the past, Seattle has often sat idle during the opening stages of free agency while other teams threw big bucks at players. But as evidenced by the stunning signing of Jones, an ascending 26-year old interior pass rusher coming off a strong 2022 season in Denver, it's a new day in the Pacific Northwest and Schneider is going all in to build a championship caliber roster around Smith and company.
Reportedly paying him more than $17 million per year, Jones makes sense for the Seahawks on numerous fronts. He's been quite productive hunting down opposing quarterbacks, registering at least 5.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in each of the past three seasons for the Broncos. He also has ample experience playing in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense and at 282 pounds, he can effectively play multiple alignments along the defensive front and use his quick first step to disrupt the pocket. This should be a natural fit schematically and believing his best football lies ahead of him, he could be a transformational addition for Clint Hurtt's defense.
Jarran Reed
Contract: Two years, $10.8 million
Grade: B
Originally a second round pick for the Seahawks in 2016, Reed left the Pacific Northwest on bad terms two years ago after the team released him following a failed attempt to get him to accept a pay cut. But before that divorce, he proved to be a reliable all-around defensive tackle in the middle of the team's front line, registering 194 tackles, 22 sacks and 58 quarterback hits in five seasons with the franchise.
Since departing, though Reed hasn't produced the sack numbers he did at times earlier in his career, he remained productive as a starter on one-year deals with the Chiefs and Packers. Last season, per Pro Football Focus, he recorded 33 quarterback pressures, which would have ranked third on the Seahawks behind only Uchenna Nwosu and Quinton Jefferson. Offering prior experience playing multiple alignments in odd fronts, he should be an upgrade in the run department for a defensive line that has missed his presence the last two years.
Evan Brown
Contract: One year, $2.25 million
Grade: A
Making an unexpected move to further fortify their offensive line, the Seahawks moved quickly to sign the 320-pound Brown, an ascending blocker with extensive starting experience at center and guard. As a former undrafted free agent out of SMU that not only carved out a role in the NFL, but found his way into the Lions starting lineup and played well at multiple positions, he possesses the competitiveness and grit that Carroll and Schneider covet.
Filling in for injured starter Frank Ragnow in 2021, Brown surrendered only one sack and eight quarterback pressures at center, positioning himself to start next to Ragnow last season. While his pass protection regressed at guard, he emerged as a quality run blocker with good movement skills and plenty of physicality to knock defenders off the ball, helping Detroit finish 11th in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns. Only 26 years old, his arrival gives the Seahawks immense flexibility to draft either a center or guard in the first three rounds in April while also being a potential long-term starter at either spot.
Drew Lock
Contract: One year, $4 million
Grade: C+
© Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
After losing the quarterback competition to Geno Smith last fall, Lock didn't play a single snap for the Seahawks after coming over as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade with the Broncos. Still, even though he didn't see any action, he left a positive impression on the coaching staff with his work ethic and growth on the practice field, leaving the door open for his return as a backup.
All along, Lock was looking for a better opportunity to start elsewhere. But with the Buccaneers rolling with Baker Mayfield to work with former quarterback coach Dave Canales and the Raiders signing veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, that opportunity simply wasn't there for him. Though the price point is more expensive than some may have envisioned for a backup, Seattle clearly valued him more than other teams and his return provides experienced insurance behind Smith. Right or wrong, it's also possible that his return could prevent the team from using an early pick on a quarterback in April's draft.
Devin Bush
Contract: One year
Grade: B-
A textbook instance of taking a flier on a former first round pick that didn't pan out with his original team, the 24 year old Bush has flashed at times in Pittsburgh, but he's also battled through numerous injuries, including tearing his ACL two years ago. That knee injury seems to have sapped him of some of the elite speed and explosiveness that he showcased at the 2019 NFL combine, making this a potentially risky signing for Seattle after a bunch of quality linebackers were plucked up earlier this week.
But the Seahawks will be counting on another full offseason being healthy allowing Bush to rediscover his athletic gifts, particularly in coverage where he will be asked to cover quite a bit of ground in the NFC West. Likely a low-risk, high reward signing for the franchise, if Bush is able to elevate his game back to what it was pre injury, he has a chance to be a free agency steal. At the same time, given his uninspiring track record, this move shouldn't stop Seattle from continuing to try to sign Bobby Wagner or another veteran linebacker to pair with him.
Julian Love
Contract: Two years, $12 million
Grade: B-
In a surprising move given the money already invested by Seattle at the safety position, the front office wasted little time striking a multi-year deal with Love worth up to $6 million per year. At first glance, it looks like a luxury signing with Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Ryan Neal expected to be back in 2023. But Adams may not be ready for training camp after suffering a torn quad tendon last September and Neal could be signed by another team as a restricted free agent.
Keeping those two situations in mind, adding another quality player as insurance makes a ton of sense, especially since Love has more than 550 career snaps in the slot and has similar testing numbers to Justin Coleman. He could compete with Coby Bryant for Seattle's nickel role or vie for significant safety snaps if Adams isn't ready to open the season. Based on what they paid him, they must have an important role ready for him to fill.
Bobby Wagner
Contract: One year, $7 million
Grade: A-
Only one year after Seattle parted ways with the future Hall of Famer in a cost cutting maneuver, Wagner will return to the Pacific Northwest to plug a massive hole in the middle of the defense at the perfect time. Though he isn't quite the same athlete with 11 NFL seasons now under his belt, he proved he's still an elite talent in a dominant 2022 season with the Rams in which he amassed 140 tackles, a career-high six sacks, and two interceptions, garnering Second-Team All-Pro honors. With Jordyn Brooks recovering from at torn ACL and Cody Barton departing in free agency, bringing him back on a team-friendly deal was a no-brainer.
Entering his second stint with the Seahawks, fans should expect to see Wagner continue to make plays in bunches, albeit with a little different style at this stage of his career. While he won't excel defending large areas of space in coverage as he did four or five years ago, moving into a 3-4 defense with an emphasis on three-safety looks in nickel and dime packages should help mitigate that concern and allow more blitzing opportunities for him after he finished in the top five among off-ball linebackers in pressures and sacks last year. Remaining stout against the run as well, he should provide immediate punch on the field and invaluable leadership off of it for a young, ascending team.
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