Seattle Seahawks’ NFL free-agent signings 2022 – NFL Nation

NFL free agency is off and operating, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with evaluation from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The brand new league 12 months begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which implies free-agent signings may be made official after that. The primary spherical of the 2022 NFL draft begins April 28 on ESPN.

The Seahawks enter 2022 free company in a a lot completely different state of affairs from the one they’ve recognized for a lot of the previous decade:

A lot of cash to spend. No Russell Wilson at quarterback.

Even with the fourth-most cap house of any workforce, in keeping with ESPN’s roster administration knowledge, final week’s Wilson commerce and no matter diploma of rebuild it alerts calls into query how energetic the Seahawks might be in free company. A real rebuild would prioritize youthful gamers within the draft versus high-priced veteran additions in March, which hasn’t been their MO in any case.

It is onerous to foretell with out realizing what the Seahawks’ plan is to interchange Wilson and thus how aggressive they suppose they are often in 2022.

What’s clear is that they’ve the funds to be gamers in free company in the event that they so select. The Wilson commerce was roughly a web wash when it comes to 2022 cap house, however Bobby Wagner‘s launch cleared $16.6 million, placing the Seahawks at round $48 million getting into the two-day negotiating window, in keeping with roster administration knowledge.

That additionally creates one other gap at center linebacker to go together with their different wants at cornerback, edge rusher, offensive line, operating again and, after all, quarterback.

This is a breakdown of each 2022 NFL free-agent signing by the Seattle Seahawks and the way every will affect the upcoming season:

Nwosu and the Seahawks have agreed to a two-year deal value $20 million, his brokers informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It contains $10.5 million assured.

What it means: The Seahawks are taking an enormous step — at what for them is an enormous worth — in the direction of beefing up considered one of their prime wants. Their go rush underperformed by any metric final season, together with a No. 29 rating in sacks per dropback. They wanted extra edge expertise, particularly outdoors linebackers (versus larger 4-3 defensive ends) as they proceed to maneuver in the direction of extra of a 3-4 construction up entrance. At 6-foot-2 and 251 kilos, Nwosu matches that description. The 2018 second-round choose does not have eye-popping sack manufacturing, with 15 in 4 seasons — together with a career-best 5 final 12 months. However he was sixteenth final 12 months in ESPN’s go rush win fee amongst edge defenders, proper between new teammate Darrell Taylor at 15 and outdated teammate Joey Bosa at 17. Nwosu, Taylor and Carlos Dunlap give Seattle a powerful edge-rush trio. Jamal Adams will issue in addition to a blitzer. That enables the Seahawks to go one other route with the ninth total choose, or wherever they find yourself making their first choice.

What is the danger: Until incentives/escalators are included within the $20 million worth of Nwosu’s deal, his $10 million per-year common is the biggest the Seahawks have given to a free agent from one other workforce underneath Carroll and common supervisor John Schneider. Both method, it is a massive deal by their requirements and one they may afford to make after getting into free company with the fourth-most cap house of any workforce following Bobby Wagner’s launch and the Russell Wilson commerce. There have been rather more completed (and doubtless dearer) choices like Chandler Jones and Von Miller. However they’re over 30. If the Seahawks imagine the 25-year-old Nwosu is ascending, then a youthful participant like him makes extra sense for a rebuilding workforce.

The Seahawks and Diggs have agreed to terms on a three-year, $40 million contract, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Diggs will get $28 million over the primary two years. The $13.33 million common is greater than what Diggs would have made in 2022 had Seattle utilized the $12.9 million franchise tag.

What it means: Re-signing a 29-year-old free agent on that massive of a deal suggests the Seahawks aren’t in full-fledged rebuild mode, as some assumed they’d be by buying and selling Wilson and releasing Wagner final week. It suggests they plan on being aggressive in 2022 and that they plan to make Diggs a focus of their revamped protection underneath new coordinator Clint Hurtt. The Seahawks struggled to take the ball away in 2021, so until they have been tearing all of it down, they could not afford to lose among the finest ball hawks within the NFL and the participant who was arguably their workforce MVP final 12 months. Diggs is among the extra revered gamers in Seattle’s locker room. His return on an enormous deal positions him to fill the management void on protection left by Wagner’s departure.

What is the danger: Diggs is 29 and coming off a critical damage, having suffered a damaged fibula and dislocated ankle within the season finale. Coach Pete Carroll stated on the scouting mix that he has little question that Diggs might be again on the sector in time for coaching camp. His damage apart, Diggs’ deal means two of the Seahawks’ highest-paid gamers are safeties, which the NFL typically does not think about a premium place. That gained’t be a problem if Diggs continues to play at a Professional Bowl stage and if Jamal Adams ($17.5 million common per 12 months) can get again to his pre-2021 type. Will they?

Jefferson informed NFL reporter Josina Anderson that he is agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million deal that may be value as much as $11 million.

What it means: The Seahawks are reuniting with Jefferson as they proceed to remake their defensive entrance. Information of his return after two years away got here shortly earlier than the workforce launched Carlos Dunlap II and Kerry Hyder Jr., 4-3 defensive ends who’re now not scheme matches. The Seahawks need athletic outdoors linebackers to play on the sting as they proceed to transition to extra of a 3-4 construction up entrance. That implies Jefferson — who has performed finish and deal with over his six NFL seasons — might be extra of an inside participant in his third stint with the Seahawks. And the dimensions of his deal suggests they view him as a big a part of their inside plan.

What is the danger: A $4.75 million per 12 months common will not be insignificant, but it surely’s in keeping with the sorts of second-wave offers Seattle sometimes prefers in free company. And it appears affordable given Jefferson’s profile. He is coming off a career-best 4.5 sacks in a beginning position final 12 months with the Las Vegas Raiders. He is solely missed two video games over the previous 4 seasons, so sturdiness should not be a priority. And the Seahawks, who drafted Jefferson within the fifth spherical in 2016, clearly know what sort of individual they’re bringing into their locker room. No danger in that regard.

Al Woods, defensive deal with

The NFL Community stories that Woods’ deal is for two years.

What it means: The Seahawks are bringing again what was quietly considered one of their higher defenders in 2021. Run-stuffing defensive tackles are sometimes onerous to note and do not stand out within the stat sheet, however Woods performed what Pete Carroll stated was his finest soccer final season at age 34. His job is to eat up house and occupy blockers, and also you want look no additional than Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner rating second and third, respectively, within the NFL in tackles final season for proof of how effectively Woods did that. For all the problems the Seahawks had on protection final 12 months, they allowed the second-fewest yards per rush within the NFL. Woods was an enormous motive why.

What is the danger: The plain danger is Woods’ age. He turns 35 later in March and performs one of many extra bodily positions in soccer. He is possible getting a increase from the one-year, $2.5 million deal he performed on in 2021. Woods took a COVID-19 opt-out in 2020, so his robust season got here after a 12 months off. Woods averaged about 37 snaps per recreation and the one recreation he missed in 2021 was resulting from COVID, so sturdiness wasn’t a problem final 12 months. However you’ll be able to’t essentially assume that can stay the case given his age.

Burns has agreed to a one-year deal value $2 million, his brokers informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

What it means: The Seahawks are lastly on the board. After re-signing 4 gamers and dropping two over the primary two days of the negotiating window, they made Burns their first addition of free company. He provides them an possibility to interchange D.J. Reed at one of many two beginning spots on the surface. And his modest price ticket strongly suggests they view him as simply that — an possibility, versus somebody they’re anticipating to win a beginning job. At 6 ft tall and 197 kilos, Burns is the kind of nook the Seahawks lengthy most popular earlier than they loosened their measurement necessities. The 2016 first-round choose has 38 profession begins. Six got here final 12 months with Chicago, the place Burns performed underneath new Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai.

What is the danger: At $2 million, there is not a lot of 1. Plus, the Seahawks’ monitor file with bringing in veteran corners to play on the surface is not as spotty because it was once. The Cary Williams catastrophe from 2015 was lengthy talked about as the apparent cautionary story of a veteran struggling to adapt to the Seahawks’ type of play at nook. That should not be as a lot of a priority after the robust season and a half Reed had in Seattle. And once more, it is $2 million. If Burns doesn’t beat out Tre Brown, Sidney Jones IV and some other corners Seattle brings in, he’d be an affordable backup.

Sidney Jones IV, cornerback

The NFL Community stories Jones’ deal is for one year.

What it means: The Seahawks have a strong choice to both begin reverse D.J. Reed once more in 2022 or substitute Reed if he leaves in free company. Jones has made 25 begins in 5 seasons, together with a career-high 11 final 12 months. He performed effectively — even when not spectacularly — after he changed a struggling Tre Flowers and later an injured Tre Brown within the beginning lineup. Most of his taking part in time got here on the left facet. The Seahawks are excessive on Brown, final 12 months’s fourth-round choose. Getting Jones again within the fold for 2022 does not make their cornerback group a energy, but it surely ought to reduce the stress to re-sign Reed if the value is not to their liking.

What is the danger: The Seahawks pressured solely 18 turnovers final season, eighth-fewest within the NFL. Whereas that was largely resulting from their underperforming go rush, it was additionally a perform of not having sufficient ball hawks outdoors of Quandre Diggs. As strong of a participant as Jones is, that is not been his energy. He has 4 interceptions in 47 profession video games, although he had 10 passes defensed final season. And that did embody an enormous interception in a loss to Arizona that was questionably overturned. Jones, who turns 26 in Might, remains to be younger sufficient to enhance his ball abilities. A revamped defensive teaching workers — Sean Desai and Karl Scott are newcomers who will work with the secondary — might assist in that regard.

The Seahawks are bringing Dissly again on a three-year, $24 million deal, a supply tells ESPN. The deal doesn’t embody incentives, per the supply, so the bottom worth is $8 million per season.

What it means: The Seahawks seem set at tight finish now that Dissly is returning to affix Noah Fant, who’s coming to Seattle from Denver within the Russell Wilson commerce. Which means they’re possible shifting on from Gerald Everett, who’s additionally a free agent. Fant is an athletic, pass-catching tight finish who can transfer across the formation, a la Everett. So if the Seahawks have been going to re-sign considered one of their prime two tight ends, Dissly’s blocking skill makes him a greater complement to Fant. Additionally they have 2020 fourth-round choose Colby Parkinson, whom they hope can get going after two unproductive seasons to start his profession.

What is the danger: An $8 million APY is hefty for a participant who has missed 24 profession video games and hasn’t topped 25 receptions in any of his 4 seasons. On the flip facet, Dissly has performed in all however two video games during the last two seasons after his first two have been lower quick by a torn patellar tendon after which a ruptured Achilles. His blocking skill has apparent enchantment to a workforce that wishes to run the ball and should wish to lean extra on its floor recreation within the post-Wilson period. However for the Seahawks to get correct worth out of the deal, Dissly may even have to provide as a receiver, one thing he is achieved in flashes. The Seahawks’ subsequent quarterback will not be nearly as good as Wilson however could throw extra over the center of the sector than Wilson did. That would translate to extra manufacturing for Dissly and their different tight ends.

After ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Seahawks have agreed to signal Blythe, the NFL Community reported that it is for one 12 months and $4 million.

What it means: The Seahawks have an alternate at middle to Ethan Pocic, their starter the previous two seasons. However the 29-year-old Blythe might not be the Professional Bowl-caliber improve that followers (to not point out former quarterback Russell Wilson) have needed. He was a seldom-used backup final 12 months with the Kansas City Chiefs after spending the earlier 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He began 47 video games from 2018-20 between proper guard and middle. His Rams ties led to a thought that the Seahawks might signal him final 12 months after they employed former Rams assistant Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator. That reunion comes a 12 months later. Andy Dickerson, who adopted Waldron from Los Angeles, has since taken over for Mike Solari as Seattle’s offensive line coach. Blythe’s familiarity with what Waldron and Dickerson wish to do up entrance ought to assist with that continued transition.

What is the danger: The reported $4 million worth of Blythe’s deal is $1 million greater than what they paid Pocic final 12 months and an enormous increase from the $990,000 Blythe made final season as an insurance coverage coverage in Kansas Metropolis. So it is a respectable amount of cash, and it is a danger within the sense that the Seahawks have not precisely crushed it with a lot of their free-agent additions to their O-line over time. Nevertheless it’s a brand new scheme with a brand new O-line coach, which is motive to suppose this might work out extra like Brandon Shell than Luke Joeckel.