First Look at Seahawks Pending 2023 Free Agents
While the Seatle Seahawks' 2022 season just ended with a 41-23 wild card round loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, there's no such thing as time off in the NFL and offseason roster planning is already well under way.
At the moment, Seattle has only 36 players under contract for 2023, leaving a ton of work for general manager John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll, and the front office to do addressing the 90-man roster between now and the start of rookie minicamp in May. With holes galore on the roster, the team will have 26 players set to become unrestricted free agents in March and a host of other restricted and exclusive rights free agents.
Here's a quick peek at each of the Seahawks pending free agents:
Unrestricted Free Agents
Players whose contract will expire and will be free to sign with any team when free agency opens on March 15.
QB Geno Smith
Coming off a storybook Pro Bowl season in which he threw 30 touchdown passes and led the NFL in completion percentage, Smith will be seeking a lucrative multi-year deal worth at least $30 million per year. But the veteran quarterback made it clear after Saturday's loss he wants to finish his career in Seattle and coach Pete Carroll indicated he hopes to see him back in the fold in 2023. The franchise tag should be on the table if the two sides can strike an agreement before free agency starts.
DT Poona Ford
Carrying the largest cap hit on the Seahawks roster in 2023, Ford had a somewhat quiet season by his standards adapting to Clint Hurtt's hybrid 3-4 defense, posting 35 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and six tackles for loss in 17 games. The team will have to decide whether he fits their scheme moving forward, but he's only 27 years old and should be fairly affordable to re-sign if they wish to do so.
OG Austin Blythe
Bringing stability to Seattle's offensive line and a quality mentorship presence for rookie tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, Blythe started all 17 regular season games and held up well in pass protection allowing only three sacks and seven quarterback hits. However, even with his knowledge of coordinator Shane Waldron's offense, his lack of size hinders him in the run game and the Seahawks may want to upgrade the pivot position this spring in free agency or the draft.
LB Cody Barton
Making stark improvements as a run defender in the second half of the season, Barton finished second on the team with 136 tackles while excelling in coverage, adding a pair of interceptions and four pass breakups. With Jordyn Brooks likely out for part of 2023 recovering from an ACL injury, re-signing him may take higher priority than originally intended, though Seattle could opt to go a different direction at linebacker altogether after he struggled in their playoff loss.
OG Phil Haynes
Splitting reps with veteran Gabe Jackson throughout the season, Haynes produced mixed results in pass protection and as a run blocker. On one hand, he had flashes where he looked like a viable starter. But at other points, he gave up quarterback pressures in bunches and didn't consistently create push in the run game. Just 27 years old, he could be brought back on a cheap one-year deal, especially if Jackson becomes a cap casualty.
RB Rashaad Penny
Once again battling injuries after returning on a one-year deal, a promising start for Penny was derailed by a broken ankle that led to him missing the final 12 games of the season. He won't cost much to re-sign, but with Ken Walker III's emergence and his lengthy injury history, the Seahawks may choose to move on this time around.
WR Marquise Goodwin
Reviving his career as a quality third receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the speedy Goodwin finished fourth on the team in receptions (37) and tied for third with four touchdown catches. Though he ended the season on injured reserve, the Seahawks likely will explore re-signing him to another one-year deal near veteran minimum.
LB Bruce Irvin
Jumping off the couch and playing far more snaps (400) than anyone could have anticipated while starting 10 games, Irvin produced 3.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits, his highest totals since 2019. Set to turn 36 years old in November, it's not impossible he could return as a rotational reserve, but the Seahawks will be aiming to overhaul their edge rush with younger, more dynamic talent.
K Jason Myers
Receiving First-Team All-Pro recognition from the NFLPA, Myers enjoyed the best season of his career in 2022, splitting the uprights on 34 out of 37 field goals and hitting all six of his attempts beyond 50 yards. The Seahawks obviously will want him back, but cost will be the one factor to watch as he will likely look for a pay bump from the $3.86 million per year he received on his previous four-year contract.
FB Nick Bellore
Still a valuable core special teams player, Bellore recorded a team-high 14 tackles on kick and punt coverage units and received All-Pro votes. But he isn't much of a factor on offense and will turn 34 in April, so it's not guaranteed he will be back for a fifth season with the franchise.
DE L.J. Collier
Making seven tackles with just one lone quarterback hit in eight games, Collier didn't do anything to help shed the bust label or improve his chances of returning to Seattle beyond 2022. The former first round pick will be cheap to re-sign if the team desires and offers a bit of positional flexibility as a reserve, but it's likely best for both parties to move on.
RB Travis Homer
Injuries have been a problem for Homer, who landed on injured reserve twice in 2022 and has missed 17 games over the past three seasons. Due to his pass protection skills and special teams talents, he may be back on a one-year deal, but Seattle could easily choose to bring in a rookie or another veteran to compete against DeeJay Dallas for third down duties instead.
QB Drew Lock
As stated by Carroll multiple times in recent weeks, the Seahawks remain enamored by Lock, who didn't play a single regular season snap with Smith starting all 17 games. Seattle will likely to try to re-sign him as a backup, but the 26-year old may seek a better opportunity to compete for a starting job elsewhere.
CB Justin Coleman
Brought back for a second tour in the Pacific Northwest in free agency, the emergence of rookie Coby Bryant kept Coleman on the sidelines after the season opener as he played just 51 defensive snaps. Set to turn 30 in March, Seattle should look for younger, cheaper depth alternatives.
S Josh Jones
Following an excellent training camp, Jones replaced an injured Jamal Adams as a starter for four games at strong safety and struggled, giving way to Ryan Neal in Week 5. He eventually landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, further clouding his future with the franchise.
S Johnathan Abram
Joining the Seahawks late in the season as a waiver claim, Abram wound up starting two games and made a few plays along the way, producing 10 tackles and two pass breakups. The former first round pick did enough in limited action to potentially be brought back on a one-year deal, especially with Adams coming back from a severe quad injury.
CB Artie Burns
At one point in training camp, Burns looked poised to start for the Seahawks, only to suffer a significant groin injury that kept him out for several weeks. This opened the door for Tariq Woolen and Mike Jackson to carve out starting roles and while his experience would be valued in a backup role, after playing 16 snaps all season, he will likely be looking for employment elsewhere.
C Kyle Fuller
A versatile lineman who has experience at center, both guard spots, and even tackle in NFL regular season games, the Seahawks have held Fuller in high regard as a backup for the past three seasons. While he could be back on a veteran minimum deal, the team may choose to start from scratch at center this offseason.
LS Tyler Ott
A former Pro Bowler, Ott will be coming off of shoulder surgery that cost him the entire 2022 season. If healthy, it wouldn't be surprising to see Seattle bring him back, but cost could lead to a split as well.
S Teez Tabor
Capable of playing safety or cornerback as well as special teams, Tabor's versatility may warrant another look in training camp after logging 102 defensive snaps in 10 games.
WR Laquon Treadwell
Signed off the free agent scrap heap in the middle of the season, Treadwell played over 100 snaps in back-to-back games against the Chiefs and Jets. But he caught only six passes for 42 yards and Cade Johnson passed him on the depth chart in the final two games, so the team looks poised to go a different direction.
CB Xavier Crawford
Seeing action in six games on special teams for the Seahawks, Crawford recorded a trio of tackles. A reserve/future deal could be in the cards to keep him around for offseason activities and training camp.
DE Darryl Johnson
Claimed off waivers from the Panthers, Johnson played well enough out the gate to earn a start over Darrell Taylor, only to break his foot and miss the remainder of the season. He could be brought back to compete for a reserve role on a veteran minimum deal.
LS Carson Tinker
Nobody noticed Ott was out with Tinker handling long snapping duties without a hitch. If Ott isn't coming back, then he could be retained on a one-year deal as a replacement.
LB Cullen Gillaspia
The former seventh round pick out of Texas A&M impressed on special teams in six games, earning a promotion to the active roster midway through the season. Unfortunately, a significant knee injury ended his season and his health will determine whether or not the team decides to bring him back.
LB Ben Burr-Kirven
Now two years removed from his last NFL regular season snap, Burr-Kirven missed all of the 2022 season dealing with complications from reconstructive knee surgery. Considering the long layoff and uncertainty about his health, it remains unclear if Seattle will bring him back or not.
Restricted Free Agents
Players who can be retained with a free agent tender, allowing teams flexibility to match offers from other suitors or receive draft compensation if they sign elsewhere
S Ryan Neal
Earning All-Pro votes for his efforts with 66 tackles and seven passes defensed, Neal emerged as a viable starting strong safety in Adams' absence and the Seahawks will offer him a tender at minimum. Given how well he played last season and his value as a leader on the field and in the locker room, it's possible they could try to negotiate a much-deserved multi-year deal with him as well.
LB Tanner Muse
Finally receiving a chance to play when Brooks went down with a torn ACL, Muse did some nice things in the final two games, showing off his athleticism and coverage skills at linebacker. With Brooks' status in doubt for the beginning of next season, offering him a tender seems like a guarantee.
WR Penny Hart
While a valued special teams asset, Hart saw greatly diminished playing time with only 34 snaps on offense in 2022. He could be a candidate to bring back without a tender at a cheaper price down the line.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Players who simply need to be given a qualifying offer; only become free agents if team opts not to retain them
DT Myles Adams
Though he's undersized to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, Adams held up surprisingly well in the role down the stretch and offers the versatility to play multiple spots along the line. Bringing him back to compete for a reserve spot in the trenches should be a given.
RB Godwin Igwebuike
A revelation on special teams in the final month of the season, Igwebuike brought a missing spark to Seattle's kick return game, returning 11 kicks for 308 yards and a healthy 28 yards per return average. He should be back in training camp as the favorite to maintain that role in 2023.
CB Mike Jackson
Starting all 17 games opposite of Woolen, Jackson turned in a fine season with 75 tackles, an interception, and 11 passes defensed. Only 26 years old, he may have to fend off Tre Brown to retain his starting job next season, but offering him an ERFA tender is a slam dunk.
LB Jon Rhattigan
Coming back successfully from a torn ACL, Rhattigan made ample contributions on special teams in the second half with six tackles. The former Army standout could be a surprise candidate to replace Brooks next spring and may carry the torch from Bellore on special teams moving forward, so expect him to be back.
WR Cody Thompson
Missing the entire season with an injury, Thompson finds himself in a similar situation to Hart. There may not be a spot for him at this point, but he could always be brought back at a later time for depth purposes if he isn't tendered initially.
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