Advertisement

Predicting where 10 Seahawks players will land in free agency

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.

LB Bobby Wagner: Washington Commanders

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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.

LB Jordyn Brooks: Seattle Seahawks

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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.

LB Devin Bush: Seattle Seahawks

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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.

DL Leonard Williams: Las Vegas Raiders

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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.

OLB Darrell Taylor: Seattle Seahawks

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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.

QB Drew Lock: Carolina Panthers

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

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.

C Evan Brown: Chicago Bears

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

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.

G Damien Lewis: Seattle Seahawks

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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.

RB/KR/PR DeeJay Dallas: Atlanta Falcons

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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.

TE Noah Fant: Seattle Seahawks

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

8 offseason dates for Seahawks fans to know in 2024

6 NFL teams that should want to trade for Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks coaching staff hirings report tracker

9 potential bargains for Seahawks to target in free agency

7 Seahawks players make PFF’s top 150 free agents list

One free agent each team should want to sign in 2024

Seahawks supercharge edge rush in this 2024 mock draft

Seahawks fans trolling 49ers long snapper on Twitter

Bobby Wagner names biggest hater on the Seahawks

Tim Hasselbeck thinks Russell Wilson is out of football

Marshawn Lynch has a special message for 49ers fans

Story originally appeared on Seahawks Wire