Free agency is almost upon us. In less than three weeks the NFL’s legal tamperiod period window will open and teams can begin negotiating with agents who represent free agents. The Seahawks have several key players who are about to hit the market, including seven on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 150 this year. Odds are they won’t be able to keep all of them and there are a few who they should allow to leave.
Let’s see if we can guess where they’re headed. Here are our predictions for 10 Seahawks free agents and where they will end up signing.
1
LB Bobby Wagner: Washington Commanders
Bobby Wagner should have the Seahawks’ starting middle linebacker job as long as he wants it. However, there is a case to move forward with the team’s youth movement and in any case Wagner will probably command a lot more on the open market than he will staying in Seattle. One team who can afford to throw money at him is Washington, which would reuinte Wagner with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who’s now the Commanders’ head coach.
2
LB Jordyn Brooks: Seattle Seahawks
This one is probably the most difficult call Seahawks general manager John Schneider will make this offseason. Jordyn Brooks is about to hit the market after having a career-best year which saw him take a huge leap forward, especially in coverage. Paying Brooks high-end linebacker money may not sound like a good investment, but if he continues to improve they’ll soon have a player on Patrick Queen’s level who likely won’t cost nearly as much.
3
LB Devin Bush: Seattle Seahawks
One of the team’s small but promising silver linings this past season was the performance of former first-round pick Devin Bush. After Jordyn Brooks suffered his late-season ankle injury Bush shined on the field. He only cost them a $3.5 million cap hit last year and for a similar amount it’s worth returning Bush to pair with Brooks as the new inside linebacker starters.
4
DL Leonard Williams: Las Vegas Raiders
The biggest priority for the Seahawks right now should be re-signing Leonard Williams. Unfortunately, he plays the game’s most premium position on this side of the ball and will be able to command a boatload of money if he hits the open market. Seattle’s effective cap space is 10 million over the limit right now, which means more cap-rich teams like the Raiders will be able to offer a lot more. We have a bad feeling that’s what will happen with Williams.
5
OLB Darrell Taylor: Seattle Seahawks
Darrell Taylor is one of the team’s restricted free agents, which makes him a special case. If he were to hit the open market he might be able to demand a decent salary, but as an RFA his ceiling is very low. Taylor’s issues setting the edge are a liability. However, at the pricetag his pass rushing production is worth it. He should see his role diminish but for a pittance there’s no reason not to bring him back another year.
6
QB Drew Lock: Carolina Panthers
No team has a bigger QB problem than the Panthers, who guessed wrong in the draft and took Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud. For now they have to hope Young can shed his burgeoning bust label, but they need to consider adding depth behind him. Drew Lock previously worked with head coach Dave Canales in Seattle and if nothing else would offer a look at what a far more aggressive QB could do with Carolina’s offense.
7
C Evan Brown: Chicago Bears
Former Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has moved onto Chicago to take the same position and they’ll likely want to bring a few players with them. Evan Brown did a decent job leading his offensive line last season and would at least qualify as an upgrade over Patrick Lucas, who’s about to become a free agent anyway.
8
G Damien Lewis: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks need to invest in their guard rotation, but starting over from scratch and drafting two potential starters in the draft is a gamble. It might be wiser to re-sign Damien Lewis than invest that much draft capital at a non-premium position. Lewis isn’t a great guard but he isn’t a scrub, either. At the right price, it’s worth bringing him back on a one-year deal.
9
RB/KR/PR DeeJay Dallas: Atlanta Falcons
The last thing the backfield-loaded Falcons need is another running back. However, they do desperately need an upgrade in their kick return game. Last season only one team averaged fewer yards per kickoff return and only two on punt returns. DeeJay Dallas is no Devin Hester, but he’s a respectable returner who consistently gets decent results, if not a threat to score. Atlanta could probably sign Dallas for peanuts and get a huge boost in this area.
10
TE Noah Fant: Seattle Seahawks
Another year for Noah Fant in a Shane Waldron offense probably wouldn’t have made any sense. Fant remains a highly-athletic tight end with well above average skills as a receiver – he just hasn’t gotten enough opportunities to show it over the last two seasons. You don’t have to squint too hard to see Fant thriving in Ryan Grubb’s system and odds are it wouldn’t be terribly expensive to re-sign him.
11
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