Seahawks Sign OG Phil Haynes to Contract Extension
The Seattle Seahawks announced Tuesday that they are signing veteran guard Phil Haynes to a contract extension, as he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next month.
Seattle announced it has agreed to terms with the 27-year old Haynes on a one-year contract extension, ensuring he will return for a fifth season with the franchise. Financial terms have yet to be disclosed.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest, Haynes struggled to stay healthy in his first two seasons, playing a grand total of one offensive snap in two games. His most extensive action came in a Divisional Round loss to the Packers as a rookie when he subbed in for starter Jamarco Jones and played 42 snaps at Lambeau Field.
But after playing well in two spot starts late in the 2021 season, the Seahawks re-signed Haynes on a restricted free agent tender last March and he wound up serving as a de facto co-starter rotating in at right guard with Gabe Jackson, keeping the veteran fresh all season long. Logging a career-high 485 snaps, he surrendered four sacks and 18 pressures in pass protection while giving the team some juice in the run game.
Starting a trio of games, Seattle averaged 117 rushing yards on the ground with Haynes in the lineup and won all three of those contests. In consecutive victories over the Cardinals and Chargers in Week 6 and Week 7, rookie running back Ken Walker III exploded for 264 yards and three touchdowns in part due to the stellar blocking in front of him.
"We like him," Coach Pete Carroll said of Haynes in his end of season press conference. "He's physical. Consistent is a good word for him because he's there. He's there for you. He's a great kid. It worked out well to put him and Gabe in. It helped Gabe with his knee, and it gave Phil a chance to be a comfortable starter. We had three guys. If anybody went down, we could rotate our guys around and get it taken care of. I've got high hopes that Phil could be a real factor for us."
While Haynes performed inconsistently last season and saw his pass blocking efficiency dip nearly three full percent in 2022 according to Pro Football Focus, the Seahawks clearly believe he can be a factor in the interior of their offensive line. The decision to re-sign him creates more questions about Jackson's future, as releasing the veteran blocker would open up more than $6 million in instant cap space to use on an extension for quarterback Geno Smith or other roster moves.
With Jackson's future with the franchise in limbo, Haynes will likely compete against third-year lineman Jake Curhan and an incoming rookie or free agent signing to start for Seattle at right guard in 2023. If he can stay healthy and turn flashes from recent seasons into more consistent performance, it would be his best opportunity yet to carve out a role in the lineup and potentially play his way back into long term plans on a rebuilt line.
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