Clayton: Seahawks’ winners and losers from the first two weeks of free agency
Mar 24, 2017, 6:01 AM | Updated: 11:43 am
(AP)
No one expected the Seahawks to be this active in free agency.
A team that believes in building through the draft, the Seahawks have eaten up close to $17 million of cap room by signing seven players to one-year deals as of Thursday afternoon. They were also able to re-sign tight end Luke Willson and cornerbacks Neiko Thorpe and DeShawn Shead.
Expect for maybe Eddie Lacy, a halfback who went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, none of the additions are considered difference makers. But clearly the Seahawks’ mission in free agency was creating competition and building depth.
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And it doesn’t appear that the Seahawks are done. They’ve been looking at linebackers, they checked out wide receivers and they might try to make an addition along the defensive line.
So let’s review the Seahawks’ winners and losers through the first two weeks of free agency.
Winners
LT George Fant. Even though the Seahawks signed Luke Joeckel, who was the second player selected in the 2013 draft and started as a left tackle, Fant dodged the free-agent bullet and still can hang onto that job. Joeckel might compete at left guard at first. He could also compete at left tackle, but coming off his major knee injury, it might be easier for him to play guard initially. Fant was a surprise as a rookie in 2016, ending up in the starting lineup in a year he was considered a developmental player.
LG Mark Glowinski. Glowinski’s big break was T.J. Lang’s decision to sign with the Lions instead of taking an offer from the Seahawks that was close to Detroit’s. It’s not out of the question for Glowinski to move from left guard to right guard if Joeckel wins the job at left guard. That would put Germain Ifedi at right tackle.
CB Neiko Thorpe. Thorpe was able to get a two-year deal at $3.5 million and he got assurance he will have a valuable role on the team. He’s very good on special teams. He could also compete for playing time at cornerback.
S Bradley McDougald. After starting for two seasons in Tampa Bay, he gets a chance to play for a Super Bowl contender in Seattle. He appears to be an upgrade as a third safety. It’s not out of the question that McDougald, listed at 6 feet 1 and 209 pounds, could get a little work at cornerback. Though he didn’t get big money, the situation was better than going to a rebuilding team like Cleveland.
RB Eddie Lacy. Lacy didn’t get the big money he had hoped for in free agency, but he found a coach in Pete Carroll who appreciated having a big running back. Weight problems held him back in Green Bay the past two seasons. Carroll has made it easy for him. He wants Lacy at 250 or 255 pounds before the season and 245 during the season. That’s manageable. Plus, he’s on a team that plans to run the ball a lot.
Losers
RB Alex Collins. With the addition of Lacy, Collins is now Seattle’s fourth running back. It’s not certain the Seahawks will keep that many. Lacy and Thomas Rawls will compete for the early-down carries while C.J. Prosise will be on the field on passing downs. That doesn’t leave much for Collins.
S Steven Terrell and S Kelcie McCray. Terrell and McCray got valuable playing time last year because of injuries to Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. Now, you wonder if they are going to be back on the team. McCray is an unrestricted free agent. Terrell could have been a restricted free agent but the Seahawks elected not to tender him. So they wait.
TE Nick Vannett and TE Brandon Williams. Willson’s returns doesn’t give Vannett, a 2016 third-round pick, the chance to claim playing time as the No. 2 tight end behind Jimmy Graham. As soon as Willson signed his one-year, $1.8 million deal, Williams took a one-year minimum deal with Indianapolis.
LB Michael Morgan. Morgan was the Seahawks’ starting strong-side linebacker last season. Seattle has been looking hard at linebackers over the first two weeks of free agency. Morgan’s best hope is to get another one-year offer. Last year, he played on a one-year deal worth $1 million.
OL Garry Gilliam and OL Rees Odhiambo. With two free-agent additions along the offensive line and the team having eight starting options, Gilliam and Odhiambo aren’t assured of starting jobs. If Joeckel wins a starting job, Ifedi could knock out Gilliam at right tackle. Odhiambo is expected to compete against Fant at left tackle.
Want more John Clayton? Listen on-demand to his weekday and Saturday shows as well as his “Cold Hard Facts” and “Clayton’s Morning Drive” segments on 710 ESPN Seattle. Also, check out his all-new “Schooled” podcast and look for his columns twice a week on 710Sports.com.