Seahawks Sign Four Draft Picks
The Seahawks have started signing a handful of their 11 draft picks to contracts. According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter), Seattle signed four of their rookies today:
- 2-47: Marquise Blair, S (Utah)
- 4-124: Phil Haynes, G (Wake Forest)
- 4-132: Ugo Amadi, S (Oregon)
- 5-142: Ben Burr-Kirven, LB (Washington)
Blair is the most notable name on the list, as the Seahawks used one of their two second-rounders on the Utah product. Following a solid 2017 season, the safety had a breakout campaign in 2018, finishing the season with 44 tackles, two passes defended, and two picks.
The Seahawks watched as both Earl Thomas and Mo Alexander left via free agency, leaving some open spots on the depth chart. Tedric Thompson and Bradley McDougald are currently slotted in as the team’s starting safeties, but Blair should be able to supplant one of the two. The team also inked another rookie safety, Amadi, to his contract, providing the team with even more depth at the position.
Haynes may have a difficult time cracking the lineup, as both Mike Iupati and D.J. Fluker are standing in his way. However, the rookie has a chance to become a useful reserve lineman. The same goes for Burr-Kirven, who should compete with Barkevious Mingo, Shaquem Griffin, and Austin Calitro for backup reps at linebacker.
Following today’s signings, seven of the Seahawks’ draft picks remain unsigned.
Bobby Wagner Won't Take Hometown Discount
We learned yesterday that the Seahawks and linebacker Bobby Wagner may not have held serious discussions regarding a new contract just yet, and we speculated that if Wagner pushes for a top-of-the-market deal (i.e. $17MM per season), he may be playing elsewhere in 2020. And as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets, Wagner will indeed be looking to meet or exceed C.J. Mosley‘s new contract with the Jets, and he will not be taking a hometown discount. If that’s the case, it will be difficult for Seattle to retain him.
Seahawks Rookie QBs Off To Slow Start
- It looks like the Seahawks‘ search for backup-quarterback candidates may continue. Paxton Lynch resides on Seattle’s roster, but considering his career thus far, it’s no lock the former first-rounder will be Russell Wilson‘s primary backup. The three players who took part in the Seahawks’ rookie camp this weekend — UDFA Taryn Christion (South Dakota State) and tryout arms Troy Williams (Utah) and Michael O’Connor (University of British Columbia) — did not fare well. “I thought the quarterbacks had a hard time,” Pete Carroll said (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, on Twitter). “I thought they struggled with the system and play-calling.”
No Contract Talks Between Bobby Wagner, Seahawks?
We heard at the end of March that linebacker Bobby Wagner and the Seahawks had started negotiations on a new contract. Wagner’s long-term future in Seattle was complicated by whether the team would have to commit significant cap room to Frank Clark, but now that Clark has been traded to Kansas City, the thought was that the Seahawks would shift their focus to getting a deal done with Wagner, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2019 season.
However, contrary to those earlier reports, Wagner himself says that he and the Seahawks have not yet started contract talks (Twitter link via Omar Ruiz of the NFL Network). There is still plenty of time to work something out, even if substantive discussions haven’t yet taken place, but if what Wagner is saying is true, that could mean that Seattle is not going to break its budget to keep Wagner in the fold.
After all, the Seahawks are now paying Russell Wilson at a historical rate, so GM John Schneider, who ended up with 11 picks in the 2019 draft when he was originally slated to have just four, needs to focus on acquiring as much cheap labor as possible. Paying a top-of-the-market price for a middle linebacker who turns 29 in June may not be the best allocation of resources, no matter how good that middle linebacker is.
And the free agent contract that C.J. Mosley recently signed with the Jets could have dashed Seattle’s hopes to keep Wagner. Mosley is now getting paid $17MM per year, and he is only two years younger than Wagner. Plus, Wagner is generally a better player, so it stands to reason that Wagner, who is handling the negotiations himself, would aim to match or exceed Mosley’s new pact.
If the Seahawks can keep Wagner for something that more closely resembles Luke Kuechly‘s $12.4MM-per-year deal, then perhaps the two sides can reach an accord. But if Wagner is determined to be paid Mosley money, then he could find himself on a new team in 2020.
Wagner told Ruiz, “I want to retire a Seahawk, but I understand it’s a business. I’m preparing like this is my last year as a Seahawk. If it is, I want to make sure I go out with a bang and make sure I give the city something to remember.”
Seahawks Interested In Long-Term Deal With Germain Ifedi
The Seahawks may have declined Germain Ifedi‘s fifth-year option earlier this week, but that doesn’t mean the organization is ready to move on from the lineman following the 2019 campaign. Head coach Pete Carroll told Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree that he’d still be interested in re-signing Ifedi to a long-term deal.
“Well, there’s a lot of factors,” Carroll said (via PFT’s Charean Williams). “We’re in the midst of trying to continue to fit the roster together and all that and the big demands, sometimes we can jump on it; sometimes we can’t. We love Germain. He’s grown with us. He’s become a solid football player and done a great job, started a ton of games for us and hanging in there and being tough about it. We’d love to have him. This is not an indication of anything. We like the guy and hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Had the Seahawks picked up the former first-rounder’s fifth-year option, Ifedi would have been due $10.35MM in 2020. Instead, the offensive lineman will now have an opportunity to test unrestricted free agency following the 2019 campaign.
Ifedi was the 31st overall pick of the 2016 draft, and he played 13 games (all starts) at right guard during his rookie campaign. He switched to right tackle for each of the last two years, and he started 31 of a possible 32 games regular season games during that span. However, his play has been underwhelming, and he barely graded out as an average tackle in 2018, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He may even end up losing his starting job this year, as former undrafted free agent George Fant may push him for playing time.
Seahawks Sign 12 UDFAs
The busiest day of 2019 to date for undrafted free agent agreements, Friday also doubled as the Seahawks’ unveiling date for their post-draft rookie contingent. Here is Seattle’s list:
- Adam Choice, RB (Clemson)
- Taryn Christion, QB (South Dakota State)
- Davante Davis, CB (Texas)
- Mik’Quan Deane, TE (Western Kentucky)
- Jazz Ferguson, WR (Northwestern State)
- Jalen Harvey, S (Arizona State)
- Justin Johnson, TE (Mississippi State)
- Demetrius Knox, G (Ohio State)
- Bryan Mone, DT (Michigan)
- Derrek Thomas, CB (Baylor)
- Jay-Tee Tiuli, DT (Eastern Washington)
- Terry Wright, WR (Purdue)
When combined with the Seahawks’ draft class, Ferguson and Wright represent the fourth and fifth rookie wideouts added to the roster. D.K. Metcalf obviously arrives as the highest-profile target, but Seattle also used a fourth-round pick on Wake Forest’s Gary Jennings. Wright averaged 16.7 yards per catch last season, hauling in five touchdowns with the 2018 Boilermakers. Ferguson put up better stats at the Division I-FCS level, becoming the Southland Conferece’s offensive player of the year after a 1,117-yard, 13-touchdown season.
The Seahawks did not use any of their 11 draft choices on cornerbacks, nor did they sign any this offseason. That may increase the Big 12-produced corners’ chances of making the team. However, seven corners already reside on Seattle’s roster.
While Choice was not Clemson’s lead back last season, he was the national champions’ second-leading rusher with 548 yards. En route to seven rushing touchdowns, Choice averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Christion finished as the Jackrabbits’ all-time leader in all notable passing categories. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at South Dakota State’s pro day and may have a decent chance to make the Seahawks’ roster. Paxton Lynch represents Seattle’s only backup quarterback option, and Chad Kelly quickly beat him out for the Broncos’ QB2 job last year.
Shane Ray To Visit Seahawks
Now that the draft is over, the Shane Ray free agency tour can resume. The free agent edge rusher will meet with the Seahawks tomorrow, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (via Twitter).
Seattle is clearly on the lookout for pass rushing help after trading Frank Clark prior to the draft. The Seahawks hosted Ziggy Ansah earlier this week, and although they added TCU defensive end L.J. Collier in the first round, they are still a bit undermanned on the edge.
Ray, whom Denver selected in the first round of the 2015 draft, hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft pedigree, but he has shown flashes of promise. The 25-year-old (26 in May) amassed four sacks as a reserve in his rookie season and tallied a career-high eight sacks in 2016. Injuries have derailed him somewhat, however, as he has just two sacks in the last two years combined.
But he would have a good chance to get his career back on track in Seattle. He has also met with the Colts and Raiders, so teams are obviously interested in seeing what he can do.
Seahawks To Decline Germain Ifedi’s Fifth-Year Option
The Seahawks will decline the fifth-year option for 2016 first-rounder Germain Ifedi, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Ifedi will now be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2019 season.
Ifedi was the 31st overall pick of the 2016 draft, and he played 13 games (all starts) at right guard during his rookie campaign. He kicked out to right tackle for each of the last two years, and he started 31 of a possible 32 games regular season games during that time.
But his play has not been particularly great, and he graded out as an average tackle in 2018, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He may even end up losing his starting job this year, as George Fant could push him for playing time.
On the other hand, Ifedi does represent a known commodity at a position that can be tricky to fill, so Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times suggests that the Seahawks could look to sign Ifedi to an extension that would allow them to carry the Texas A&M product at a lower cost than the $10.3MM 2020 option for tackles.
As our handy tracker shows, every team that is rostering a 2016 first-round pick has now made a decision on the fifth-year option for those players.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G David Bright
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB D.J. Alexander
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: T Darrell Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney, QB Luke Falk, DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: LB Asantay Brown, G Kaleb Johnson, CB Chandon Sullivan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S P.J. Locke (undrafted college free agent)
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: OL Marcus Henry
Ansah Signing Unlikely Until May 8 Deadline
- Ziggy Ansah visited a fourth team this week, with the suddenly edge rusher-needy Seahawks taking a look at the former Lions sack artist. But as could be expected, a signing will have to wait a week, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). Teams are not expected to sign the former Pro Bowl defensive end until after May 8, when free agents no longer count against the compensatory pick formula. Ansah joins the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry, Michael Crabtree, Jamie Collins, Muhammad Wilkerson and other veterans in this boat. Next week figures to reignite free agency, to a degree, for teams looking to fill specific post-draft needs.