Free agent defensive back T.J. Carrie will visit with the Seahawks this week, per NFL insider Adam Caplan (via Twitter). The Browns released Carrie as part of a roster purge last month.
Carrie, who will turn 30 in July, joined the Browns on a four-year deal in 2018 after turning in a strong contract year as the Raiders’ slot cornerback. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in every possible game and started in 14 of those contests. Last year, he notched 52 tackles and one interception, but he was unable to get into a rhythm, and his coverage was nowhere near his best work in Oakland.
But he was strong in coverage in his first year in Cleveland, and he may be able to return to form with a new club. Seattle typically used three linebackers in nickel packages last season, with LB Mychal Kendricks serving as the de facto nickel corner. So adding Carrie — who also has some experience on the outside and at safety — to serve as the primary slot defender would likely be a boost to the entire secondary.
By the end of the season, 2019 fifth-rounder Ugo Amadi had usurped Kendricks at nickel, and head coach Pete Carroll recently said that the job was Amadi’s to lose (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). However, Carroll did couch his statement by saying that the team would continue to add competition for the role, and Carrie would be a well-established competitor.