Ziggy Ansah Visiting Seahawks
The latest Ziggy Ansah visit involves a team that suddenly has a need on the edge. Ansah is in Seattle on Monday meeting with the Seahawks, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Although the Seahawks selected TCU defensive end L.J. Collier in the first round, their draft-week trade of Frank Clark still leaves them a bit undermanned at their edge defender spot. None of the Seahawks’ other 10 draft choices addressed this spot, and John Schneider hinted Saturday the team was not done in its pursuit of defensive ends post-Clark.
Ansah already visited the Bills, Saints and Ravens this offseason. A decision may be imminent for the injury-prone pass rusher. However, any team that signs the former top-five pick will do so with the understanding he is not expected to be cleared until after training camps begin. Ansah underwent surgery after another injury-limited season, and although his shoulder is structurally sound, mid-August is the clearance target date.
The Seahawks signed Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard this offseason but have a need up front. Collier should be expected to play a key role this season, but the team traded its top edge rusher and the only edge player to record more than three sacks for last year’s squad. Rasheem Green, a 2018 third-round pick, and Quinton Jefferson, a three-sack player last year, remain in the group as well. But it’s clear the Seahawks are interested in augmenting the group after Clark’s departure.
Patriots Trade Jacob Hollister To Seahawks
The Patriots have agreed to trade third-year tight end Jacob Hollister to the Seahawks pending a physical, league sources tell Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Patriots will receive a 2020 conditional seventh-round pick in return. 
The Seahawks had four tight ends on their 90-man roster, plus incoming undrafted free agent Justin Johnson. But, with Will Dissly coming off a knee injury, the Seahawks felt the need for some reinforcement.
Enter Hollister, who has just eight catches to his credit across two injury-filled seasons in New England. The Seahawks aren’t necessarily expecting a ton out of Hollister, but could provide valuable depth support if he manages to stay healthy.
Latest On Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin
After undergoing three offseason surgeries, it’s unlikely that Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin will take the field again. However, we should not expect to hear an official announcement from Baldwin anytime soon, as NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link) explains. 
If Baldwin were to formally retire today, he could potentially forfeit the signing bonus allocation in his deal over the final two years of his contract. Also, if he waits until the Seahawks release him, he could collect on $1MM in injury protection.
In short, it seems likely that Baldwin will retire from football this offseason. However, he won’t make any of this official until the remainder of the cash on his deal is secure.
If this is the end of the line for Baldwin, he’ll leave the game with 493 catches for 6,593 yards and 49 touchdowns – all with the Seahawks. He’ll also walk away with two Pro Bowl nods (2016 and 2017) plus a Super Bowl XLVIII ring.
Sebastian Janikowski Announces Retirement
Longtime NFL kicker Sebastian Janikowski has announced his retirement after 19 seasons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Janikowski, 41, was selected 17th overall by the Raiders in the 2000 draft and spent the subsequent 18 campaigns in Oakland. Only one other kicker (Steve Little in 1978) has ever been chosen in the first round of the draft, and only three kickers have been selected in the first three rounds since Janinkowski went in the first (Nate Kaeding, Mike Nugent, Roberto Aguayo).
Clearly, it would have been difficult for any kicker to live up to Janikowski’s draft billing, but he did accrue statistics simply by being available. He’ll finish his career with the ninth-most field goal attempts (563) in league history, although his conversion rate (80.4%) ranks just 37th. Pro Football Reference’s approximate value metric, which attempts to boil down a player’s contributions to a single number, ranks Janikowski as the 13th-most valuable kicker in NFL history.
A Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro member in 2011, Janikowski left the Raiders in 2018, signing a contract with the Seahwaks after spending the previous season on injured reserve. He made 22-of-27 attempts for Seattle, and his 81.5% conversion rate ranked just 23rd among all kickers. Janikowski wasn’t expected to be re-signed by the Seahawks, who have since added free agent Jason Myers.
Janikowksi will hang up his cleats as the NFL’s all-time highest-paid kicker with more than $53MM in career earnings. PFR extends its best wishes to “Seabass” as he enters retirement.
Jaguars Trade No. 236 To Seahawks
Finishing up their trade-heavy draft, the Seahawks moved back into the seventh round via a deal with the Jaguars.
The Jags sent the Seahawks pick No. 236 and will receive a sixth-round pick in 2020 in doing so. With their new selection, the Seahawks took wide receiver John Ursua.
A 5-foot-10 wideout out of Hawaii, Ursua enjoyed a productive career. He totaled more than 2,600 yards in three seasons at Hawaii, peaking with an 89-reception, 1,343-yard, 16-touchdown 2018 season. Interestingly, Ursua left school early to turn pro.
The Seahawks have now drafted three wide receivers — Ursua, D.K. Metcalf and Wake Forest’s Gary Jennings — after it became known Doug Baldwin may not be able to continue his career. Additionally, the Seahawks drafted 11 players despite coming into the weekend with four picks.
Seahawks Trade No. 114 To Vikings
The Seahawks have pulled off another trade. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Seattle is sending No. 114 to the Vikings. In exchange, Minnesota will send No. 120 and No. 204.
The Vikings will use the pick on Oklahoma offensive guard Dru Samia. The six-foot-five, 302-pound lineman primarily played offensive guard throughout his collegiate career. He started all 14 games in 2018, earning him a second-team All-American nod from the Associated Press.
The Vikings have added a pair of key offensive linemen this offseason. They signed offensive guard Josh Kline before drafting center Garrett Bradbury in the first round.
Seahawks Land No. 88 Pick From Vikings
For the second time in an hour, the Vikings have traded down. This time, they will send the No. 88 overall pick to the Seahawks.
Minnesota previously dealt its No. 81 choice to Detroit. Seattle selected Utah linebacker Cody Barton. This was a four-pick swap, with the Vikings also dealing a sixth-round pick (No. 209) and the Seahawks sending back a fifth-rounder (No. 159).
The Vikings have now acquired fourth- and sixth-round picks Friday night. Their next selection window will open at pick No. 92.
Barton joins what is now by far the Seahawks’ most experienced defensive position group, with Bobby Wagner and the recently re-signed K.J. Wright anchoring the linebacking corps. Barton registered four sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Utes.
Injuries May Force Doug Baldwin To Retire?
The Seahawks’ anchor at wide receiver this decade, Doug Baldwin may be unable to continue his career. The Pro Bowl wideout’s injuries could force an early retirement.
The overall effect of the injuries Baldwin has sustained may well force him to end his career after eight seasons, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Baldwin dealt with a knee injury throughout last season. It frequently limited the usually dominant slot target. In the offseason alone, Baldwin has undergone knee, groin and shoulder operations. These may have taken their toll to the point Baldwin will have to shut it down, though Schefter adds the popular Seahawk wants to keep playing.
Baldwin’s injury concerns did not blindside the Seahawks, per Schefter. Their trade-up decision to select D.K. Metcalf certainly points to the team possibly knowing it needs immediate help at receiver. While nothing has come out from Baldwin just yet, it’s obviously in play the 30-year-old NFL success story will not return for the 2019 season.
Russell Wilson‘s ascent into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks involved plenty of Baldwin help. The former undrafted receiver made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and ’17; those seasons came after Baldwin’s 14-touchdown 2015. He played all 16 games in each of those seasons. Saddled with maladies last year, Baldwin still managed to suit up for 13 games and help Seattle back to the playoffs.
This would mark another substantial exit of a Super Bowls-era Seahawk. There are not many left, with Baldwin being the last skill-position link to those rosters. Tyler Lockett joined the team as a 2015 draft choice. More will certainly be expected of him, whether Baldwin returns or not, this coming season.
The Seahawks gave Baldwin a second extension in 2016, a four-year deal worth $46MM. Two years remain on Baldwin’s deal. He’s slated to make $9.25MM in 2019.
Fortunately for Seattle, the club should have some resolution on this issue soon. Per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com, the Seahawks expect to know whether Baldwin will be playing or retiring in a matter of weeks, not months.
Seahawks Trade Up For D.K. Metcalf
After trading down multiple times in this draft, the Seahawks made a move up. They acquired the No. 64 overall pick from the Patriots.
Seattle moved down in both the first and second rounds. They have been the most fluid team in this draft, which featured them having an extra first-round pick because of the Frank Clark trade.
The move will result in the Seahawks ending D.K. Metcalf‘s slide. The workout phenom will be a second-round pick. Metcalf will attempt to prove what turned out to be a litany of doubters wrong in Seattle. He joins a Doug Baldwin– and Tyler Lockett-fronted receiving corps. Although, Baldwin’s status is now up in the air.
Metcalf’s skill set became a hotly debated topic, with his college production and agility numbers paling in comparison to his physique and speed-strength combination. Many mocked Metcalf as a first-rounder, but the late reports of teams doubting him turned out to be accurate. He became this year’s ninth receiver taken.
The 6-foot-3 wideout declared after his sophomore season. As a freshman, Metcalf caught 39 passes for 646 yards and seven touchdowns. All turned out to be career-best marks, with A.J. Brown having led the Rebels in receiving last season. Metcalf finished as Ole Miss’ third-leading receiver in 2018.
Seahawks Send No. 37 Pick To Panthers
John Schneider gave notice he was on the lookout for additional picks, with the Seahawks entering the draft with a league-low four. He is achieving this goal.
The Seahawks again traded down, giving the Panthers the No. 37 pick. Carolina used it on tackle Greg Little. In return for moving down to No. 47, the Seahawks will add an extra third-rounder — No. 77.
Little adds to the Panthers’ key offensive line transactions this offseason. They re-signed Daryl Williams and added Matt Paradis. Little profiles as a possible left tackle starter. Former second-round pick Taylor Moton held that job down last season.
This marks the third time the Seahawks have moved down thus far in this draft, having made multiple deals on Thursday night.