Reports: Seahawks, Tony McDaniel agree to deal
Mar 28, 2013, 1:37 PM | Updated: 1:57 pm
By Brady Henderson
The Seahawks and free-agent defensive tackle Tony McDaniel have agreed to a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and ProFootballTalk.com.
McDaniel, 28, spent the last four seasons in Miami, recording 82 tackles and seven sacks in 57 games. He began his career in Jacksonville as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2006.
McDaniel visited the Seahawks last week. Seattle’s interest was understandable given the uncertain future of Alan Branch, who’s also an unrestricted free agent. Branch has been a productive starter for Seattle the past two seasons, but he hasn’t so much as taken a known visit to another team more than two weeks into the signing period.
Branch reportedly changed agents Wednesday, which is sometimes a precursor for a contract agreement. But with McDaniel joining the Seahawks, whatever deal Branch signs will likely be with another team.
McDaniel becomes the third defensive lineman the Seahawks have added this offseason, along with pass rushers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. He’s started just five games in seven NFL seasons, so the Seahawks would be taking a bit of a leap of faith if their intention is for McDaniel to replace Branch in the starting lineup. Then again, Branch was a part-time player in Arizona before coming to Seattle.
