The Seahawks have expressed interest in former Falcons defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link).
Hageman is a former second-round pick and is still just 27 years old, but he hasn’t been heard from since being cut by Atlanta last September. After being arrested on domestic violence charges in 2016, Hageman was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list prior to the 2017 campaign. The Falcons subsequently waived Hageman, and he was then handed a six-week suspension by the NFL, a ban which he fulfilled as a free agent.
Based on talent alone, it’s perhaps not surprising that Hageman would be given a second chance. The Falcons clearly had high hopes for Hageman after using the 37th overall selection in the 2014 draft on the ex-Minnesota standout, and the club’s coaching staff was reportedly enamored with his progress as recently as last offseason.
All told, Hageman appeared in 44 of Atlanta’s 48 regular-season games and combined for 15 starts during his three-year tenure with the club. The majority of his work came in 2015, when he tallied career highs in starts (11), defensive snaps (419) and tackles (27).
The Seahawks, for their part, have been open to rostering players with off-field concerns, so a Hageman addition wouldn’t be a leap. Seattle’s interior defensive line is set to undergo a makeover this offseason, as Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson, and — in the near future — Malik McDowell are leaving the club while veterans Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen were added.