Report: Seahawks visit with DT Tony McDaniel

The Seahawks gave themselves some bargaining power with free agent defensive tackle Alan Branch (99) by visiting with another free agent DT, Tony McDaniel, on Thursday. (AP)

By 710Sports.com staff

The NFL’s whirlwind offseason took another turn Thursday, as ESPN reported that the Seahawks met with free-agent defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, most recently of the Miami Dolphins. The visit with the 28-year-old McDaniel throws a wrench into plans for Alan Branch, a free agent DT who has started all 31 games for Seattle since 2011.

As ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando reported, Branch made $3.25 million per year as a Seahawk before becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and McDaniel would give the team a cheaper alternative that provides insurance heading into the NFL Draft and some bargaining power against Branch’s demands.

The 6-foot-7 McDaniel has started just five games in seven NFL seasons, and last year played between 25 and 40 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps in 11 games. He previously played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.