Seahawks Free Agent Targets at DT: 6 Names to Watch
Though the Seattle Seahawks surprised everyone by making the playoffs last season after jettisoning Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, they endured their fair share of struggles on the defensive side of the ball in 2022.
In particular, opponents gashed Seattle on the ground on a weekly basis, rushing for at least 140 yards in 11 out of 17 regular season games. Performing well below expectations, coach Pete Carroll's defense finished a dismal 30th overall in rushing defense, including allowing a 300-yard performance to Raiders star running back Josh Jacobs in a Week 11 home loss.
Playing a major role in those persistent issues stopping opposing ball carriers, the Seahawks dealt with inconsistent play from an interior defensive line featuring several players who may not have been good fits for a new 3-4 scheme. While Shelby Harris impressed in his first season with the team, fellow veteran Poona Ford wasn't his usual disruptive self, Al Woods dealt with a nagging injury, and L.J. Collier remained a non-factor to close out his rookie deal.
With scheme and personnel concerns abound, Seattle will have to make several difficult decisions while aiming to bolster its interior defensive line. Harris and Quinton Jefferson will be entering the final year of their respective deals carrying hefty cap hits and could be candidates to extend or cut, while Ford will become an unrestricted free agent in March with his future hanging in the balance.
Desperately needing upgrades up front defensively that better match their system, who could the Seahawks target in free agency? Here's a list of six veterans who would be great scheme fits at different price ranges estimated by Spotrac.
Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Market Value: $20.1 million/year
2022 Stats: 51 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss
Anchoring an elite Eagles defensive line, Hargrave has evolved into one of the best all-around defensive tackles in the NFL. After seeing extensive snaps as a nose tackle in Pittsburgh early in his career, he has become a pass rushing force as a 3-tech defensive tackle, producing at least 60 quarterback pressures each of the past two seasons for Philadelphia.
If there's a reason for concern, he has received lackluster run defense grades from Pro Football Focus each of the past three seasons, but he had a good track record as a run defender during his time with the Steelers. An athletic 305-pound menace in the trenches who can wreak havoc in multiple alignments, he would be an absolute game changer for the Seahawks if he becomes available and the team finds a way to pay the price for his services.
Da'Ron Payne, Washington Commanders
Projected Market Value: $19.4 million/year
2022 Stats: 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, five pass deflections
Proving to be a pain for opposing quarterbacks, Da'Ron Payne swatted down five passes in addition to his first double-digit sack season in 2022.
A former first round pick heralding from powerhouse Alabama, Payne gradually improved as a pass rusher in his first four NFL seasons before exploding with a career-high in sacks and quarterback pressures in 2022. Weighing 320 pounds, like Hargrave, he offers extensive experience lined up over the A-gap as a nose tackle as well as a 3 or 4i-tech defensive tackle and has played in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes.
While he has been stout against the run most of his career, he did miss 12 tackles last season and wasn't near as effective in that capacity. With that said, he should have a big pay day coming his way due to his reliability as an interior pass rusher and given his positional flexibility, his addition would be a major upgrade for Seattle if Washington doesn't franchise tag him and he hits the market.
Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
Projected Market Value: $8.5 million/year
2022 Stats: 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 30 quarterback pressures
Unlike Hargrave and Payne, Tomlinson has yet to enjoy a breakthrough season in the sack department and has never topped 3.5 sacks in six NFL seasons. But those numbers understate the massive 325-pound defender's ability to collapse pockets and turn up the heat on quarterbacks. Over the past three seasons, while primarily being used as an early down run stuffer, he has generated at least 21 quarterback pressures each season and earned stellar grades north of 72.8 from PFF. A superior run defender to the two aforementioned options with underrated pass rushing ability and the size to handle a 3-4 scheme, Tomlinson would be a more affordable reinforcement for Seattle's defensive line that would still pay dividends.
Dre'Mont Jones, Denver Broncos
Projected Market Value: $7.2 million/year
2022 Stats: 47 tackles, 6.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss
A pure 3-tech defensive tackle at 281 pounds, Jones has been a consistent pass rushing presence for the Broncos stellar defense over the past three seasons. Though he only became a full-time starter in 2022, he produced at least 5.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in each of those seasons. Unfortunately, run defense hasn't been his strong suit, as he has only received a grade above 50.0 from PFF once in four NFL seasons. That will scare some teams off, but his pass rushing upside and youth coupled with experience playing in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense could make him an enticing free agent option for Seattle to consider.
Zach Allen, Arizona Cardinals
Projected Market Value: $6.3 million/year
2022 Stats: 47 tackles, 5.5 sacks, eight pass deflections
Playing for the rival Cardinals, Zach Allen has been a thorn in the Seahawks side, including returning a fumble for a touchdown against them in 2021.
Drafted in the third round out of Boston College in 2019, Allen started slow out of the gate, recording only eight tackles as a rookie. However, he has come into his own over the past two years as a starter for the Cardinals, recording 95 tackles, 10.0 sacks, and 29 quarterback hits in 28 games. Built with a similar frame to Jones at 280-plus pounds, he plays bigger than his size, particularly against the run. Last season, per PFF, he finished fourth for Arizona in run stops (14) and only missed one tackle on run plays. Best suited to play 3-tech or 5-tech alignments, his versatility would allow Seattle to play even and odd fronts interchangeably without a hitch and assuming Arizona doesn't re-sign him before free agency, he shouldn't be overly expensive to pluck away from a division rival.
Greg Gaines, Los Angeles Rams
Projected Market Value: $7.7 million/year
2022 Stats: 36 tackles, 4.0 sacks, six tackles for loss
Staying in the division, Gaines has been a steady contributor for the Rams while seeing most of his snaps lined up as a nose tackle over the A-gap or head up on the center. The former Washington standout didn't see much action in his first two seasons, but since then, he has amassed 91 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 19 quarterback hits over his previous 30 games. That's quality pass rushing production from a nose tackle and Gaines has been a rock solid run defender dating back to his time in the Pac 12 conference. Only 26 years old, bringing him back to the Pacific Northwest would make a lot of sense from a personnel standpoint and in the process, Seattle would hurt an NFC West rival by stealing a starter-caliber defender.
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