Seahawks’ biggest free agent failures
Jan 21, 2018, 10:19 AM | Updated: 1:06 pm
Eddie Lacy never quite took off in Seattle. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks have hit it out of the park with free agent signings in the past – Pro Bowl defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril are perhaps the best two free agent signings in franchise history – but dissapointing performances from kicker Blair Walsh and running back Eddie Lacy in 2017 had 710 ESPN Seattle’s Bob Stelton wondering which free agents rank among Seattle’s worst signings.
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Stelton joined Gee Scott to explain why he thinks Seattle’s misses with free agents, in addition to a struggling run game, contributed to the team’s failure to make the postseason for the first time since 2011.
“There’s not one single reason, but the biggest reason is probably the swing and miss on the big free agents,” Stelton said. “Eddie Lacy and Luke Joeckel, which are connected, and then the absolute failure of Eddie Lacy to be a presence on this team.”
Stelton pointed out the Seahawks spent $10 million combined on both Joeckel and Lacy.
Is Lacy’s signing Seattle’s worst? Here are a few of the Seahawks’ biggest free agent busts:
Matt Flynn
Flynn was Aaron Rodgers’ backup in Green Bay, and came to Seattle when John Schneider took over as general manager with the Seahawks. There was plenty of buzz surrounding Flynn in 2012, when he started in place of Rodgers for a Week 16 game and threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns.
Flynn signed a three-year, $20.5 million deal with Seattle in March 2012. This signing, in retrospect, isn’t so bad; Seattle wasn’t married to the deal and didn’t let his price tag influence their on-the-field judgement when they allowed Flynn and then-rookie Russell Wilson to compete for the starting gig. Wilson won out, and the rest is history.
Mike Williams
The former 10th-overall pick played under Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll at USC, where he finished with an incredible college career. He eventually reunited with Carroll in 2010. Williams had a solid first year with Seattle (65 catches, 751 yards, and two touchdowns) but had just 18 catches for less than 300 yards in 2011 before breaking his leg, and was eventaully released by the Seahawks in 2012.
Eddie Lacy
Seattle signed Lacy, 26, to a one-year, $4.2 million contract in 2017. The former Pro Bowler played just nine games, and had 69 carries for 179 yards and no touchdowns. The presumed starter was a healthy scratch for several games.
