Seahawks Host WR Jaron Brown On Visit
Cardinals free agent wide receiver Jaron Brown is traveling to Seattle today for a visit with the Seahawks, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brown was PFR’s No. 9 ranked wide receiver heading into free agency. 
Already, the Cardinals lost one Brown when John Brown inked a free agent deal with the Ravens. Jaron Brown could be the next to go he can agree to terms with Seattle. The Cardinals are a bit cash-strapped, particularly after signing quarterback Sam Bradford to a sizable free agent deal, but it would behoove them to retain Jaron Brown. At the moment, their wide receiver group has a bit of a drop off after Larry Fitzgerald with J.J. Nelson, Chad Williams, Carlton Agudosi, and Rashad Ross under contract, as shown on Roster Resource.
Other clubs reportedly view Brown a potential No. 2 wide receiver, though he’d slot in no better than No. 3 with Seattle, behind Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. The speedy Marcus Johnson, brought over via trade with the Eagles, also figures to get involved.
Brown, 28, posted the best season of his career in 2017 by registering 31 receptions for 477 yards and four touchdowns. He also has considerable special teams experience, though he played on only a third of Arizona’s special teams snaps in 2017.
DeShawn Shead Wanted To Return To Seattle
It’s been a wild ride for the Seahawks defense the past week. After the team traded Michael Bennett to the Eagles and released Richard Sherman, it also decided to release cornerback DeShawn Shead.
This was noteworthy because the Seahawks told the player it would release him to allow him to become an unrestricted free agent despite the NFL saying his contract should toll for 2018.
Earlier today, Shead signed with the Lions but reportedly wanted a return to the Seahawks, the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta tweets. After Seattle honored its statement to make the cornerback a free agent, Shead wanted to give Seattle every chance to keep him, but the organization ultimately wouldn’t match the offer he received from the Lions.
Seattle now enters free agency without three of its top veterans and could be seeing the end of the Earl Thomas era, who has threatened to hold out if he doesn’t receive a new deal. The Seahawks could deal him this offseason and are reportedly looking for a first-round pick in return.
Needless to say, the Seahawks once-stingy defensive unit will look plenty different in 2018.
Seahawks Seeking First-Round Pick For Earl Thomas
If the Seahawks are to move three-time First Team All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, the team is expected to require a first-round pick in return, the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta tweets.
With all the moves the Seahawks have already made in their secondary — releasing both Richard Sherman and DeShawn Shead — moving on from the star safety isn’t out of the picture. Thomas, who turns 29 in May, has earned six Pro Bowl selection in his eight seasons, and has been a critical figure in Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary.
Thomas also seemed pretty interested in leaving Seattle during the 2017 season. He connected himself to the Cowboys after the Seahawks’ December win in Dallas, telling Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to “come get me.” Thomas was born in Orange, Texas and played at the University of Texas before Seattle selected him with the No. 14 pick in 2010.
In January, Thomas threatened a holdout by saying he doesn’t envision himself rejoining Seattle without a longterm deal. The safety signed a four-year $40 MM deal in 2014, which is set to expire after the 2018 season.
Seahawks To Sign Barkevious Mingo
Seattle is set to sign former Colts linebacker Barkevious Mingo to a two-year deal worth $6.8 MM, with $3.2 MM in full guarantees, ESPN’s Brady Henderson tweets.
The deal also includes a $2.2 MM signing bonus, base salaries of $1 MM (2018) and $3 MM (2019), and $300,000 in per-game active roster bonuses. There are also incentives tied to sacks, playing time and the Pro Bowl. Mingo’s cap number for 2018 comes out to be $2.4 MM.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Browns, Mingo is coming off a two-sack campaign after signing with Indianapolis in the 2017 offseason. With Michael Bennett now in Philadelphia and defensive end Cliff Avril considering retirement, it made sense for Seattle to make a move for a pass rusher.
Mingo will team with Frank Clark and presumably Dion Jordan, who was tendered as a first-round pick, as Seattle’s rushers coming off the edge.
Lions To Sign CB DeShawn Shead
Former Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead has signed with the Lions, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He received a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. The deal be worth as much as $6.5MM with playtime incentives.
It’s a solid deal for Shead, who played in just two games last season after returning from a broken leg. The deal also has considerable upside for Detroit – Shead was Seattle’s full-time cornerback opposite Richard Sherman in 2016 and could prove be a starting caliber player at a bargain.
As shown on Roster Resource, the Lions project to start Darius Slay at one cornerback spot, but Shead could bump Quandre Diggs for the other top job. After re-signing on a two-year deal worth more than $9MM, Nevin Lawson will return in support.
The 49ers were among the teams with interest in Shead.
Extra Points: Jets, McKinnon, Cardinals, Mathieu, Eagles, Foles, Acho, Bears
The latest from around the NFL:
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Running back Jerick McKinnon nearly joined Teddy Bridgewater with the Jets, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). Ultimately, the 49ers came back with a big offer. The Jets pivoted at that point and instead signed running back Isaiah Crowell.
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The Cardinals were willing to go to about $9MM/year with Tyrann Mathieu before he was cut, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Other teams believe that he is now looking to top that figure. He may or may not get that kind of coin given his past injuries and a down 2017.
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The Cardinals called the Eagles about acquiring Nick Foles this week, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). However, this took place right around the time of the Sam Bradford signing. With Bradford in the fold at a hefty salary, it’s unlikely that the Cards will go back to that well. Meanwhile, the Eagles seem intent on keeping the Super Bowl MVP.
Cowboys, Seahawks Interested In Ndamukong Suh?
The best free agent left on the board could soon sign with an NFC contender. Both the Cowboys and the Seahawks are interested in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys aren’t interested in the hulking lineman.
Suh was officially released on Wednesday, clearing the way for teams to sign him. The Dolphins first tried to move his contract in a trade, but they were (unsurprisingly) unsuccessful in that effort. The defensive tackle was in the midst of a six-year, $114MM contract that Miami wishes they could take back.
Suh was no doubt overpaid – we could have told you that at the time of his deal – but he is still an impact player. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 interior defensive lineman in the NFL last season and is a three-time All-Pro. The 31-year-old clearly had a productive campaign last season, as he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Suh would obviously slot into both the Seahawks and Cowboys starting lineup. Seattle is currently rostering defensive tackles Jarran Reed, Nazair Jones, Malik McDowell, and Garrison Smith. Meanwhile, Brian Price and Maliek Collins are projected to be in the Cowboys starting lineup.
TE Luke Willson To Visit Panthers
Luke Willson‘s tenure with the Seahawks may be over. The free agent tight end is set to visit with the Panthers this evening, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (via Twitter).
The 2013 fifth-round pick has spent his entire career with Seattle, earning himself a Super Bowl championship along the way. The 28-year-old finished the 2017 campaign having hauled in 15 receptions for 153 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Pro Football Focus ranked Willson 43rd among 71 tight end candidates, but the site was fond of his run-blocking skills.
The Panthers and Seahawks could effectively be swapping tight ends, as Ed Dickson is set to meet with Seattle tonight. If he joins the Panthers, Willson would presumably slide into a backup role behind Greg Olsen. Meanwhile, after having lost Jimmy Graham, the Seahawks are currently rostering only a pair of tight ends in Nick Vannett and Tyrone Swoopes.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
RFAs
Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):
- Cowboys DE David Irving (story)
- Giants: C Brett Jones (story via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- Jets: Quincy Enunwa (story)
Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):
- Browns: DT Jamie Meder
- Chiefs: DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches (via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
- Jets: OL Brent Qvale, TE Neal Sterling
- Lions: WR T.J. Jones (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Rams: OLB Matt Longacre (via Rapoport)
- Seahawks: DE Dion Jordan (story)
- Texans: C Greg Mancz
Non-tendered:
- Buccaneers: DE Ryan Russell (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Chargers: LB Josh Keyes
- Chiefs: LB Ramik Wilson (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Dolphins: OL Anthony Steen
- Falcons: RB Terron Ward (via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- Jaguars: S Peyton Thompson, RB Tyler Gaffney
- Jets: DL Xavier Cooper
- Lions: RB Zach Zenner, DE Brandon Copeland, DL Zac Kerin
- Packers: LB Joe Thomas (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Panthers: WR Kaelin Clay, CB Ladarius Gunter, TE Scott Simonson, OL David Yankey (via David Newton of ESPN.com)
- Rams: LB Cameron Lynch, T Darrell Williams
- Saints: WR Brandon Coleman, DT David Parry
- Seahawks: RB Thomas Rawls, RB Mike Davis (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Steelers: WR Eli Rogers (story via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
- Texans: LB Brian Peters, DE Angelo Blackson, LB Ben Heeney
- Titans: S Curtis Riley (via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com), RB Bishop Sankey (via Chris Tomasson)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Browns: QB Kevin Hogan
- Colts: TE Erik Swoope, G Jeremy Vujnovich, CB Christopher Milton, LS Luke Rhodes
- Dolphins: C Jake Brendel, LB Mike Hull, CB Jordan Lucas
- Giants: DT Robert Thomas (via Vacchiano)
- Jets: S Doug Middleton FB Lawrence Thomas TE Eric Tomlinson
- Lions: QB Jake Rudock, DT Christian Ringo
- Packers: WR Geronimo Allison (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- Rams: K Sam Ficken (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
- Raiders: LB/DE James Cowser, S Erik Harris, G/T Denver Kirkland
- Ravens: LB Patrick Onwuasor, WR Quincy Adeboyejo, OL Matt Skura, OL Maurquice Shakir
- Seahawks: RB J.D. McKissic, DE Quinton Jefferson, DE Branden Jackson (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Non-tendered:
- Chiefs: DB Keith Baxter (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Giants: TE Ryan O’Malley, LB Curtis Grant (via Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com)
- Lions: DT Rodney Coe, P Kasey Redfern (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Packers: CB Herb Waters, LS Taybor Pepper (via Silverstein)
- Saints: C Jack Allen
Seahawks Tender Dion Jordan
The Seahawks have tendered defensive end Dion Jordan at the first-round level, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. This will spike Jordan’s salary to 4.129MM next season.
The reported decision to tender Jordan at the highest level comes as a surprise. The former No. 3 overall pick could have been retained with the original-round tender, which would have entitled the Seahawks to the first-round compensation in the event of an unmatched offer sheet, only with a cheaper placeholder for the Seahawks. The Seahawks could just be rewarding Jordan for his hard work in 2017 and putting out a show of good faith as they ponder a longer deal with the defensive end.
A bust with the Dolphins due to suspensions and injuries, Jordan landed in Seattle and played sparingly. But during the 135 snaps he did play, Pro Football Focus bestowed a strong grade upon the former top-five pick.
Considering the Seahawks traded Michael Bennett and have Cliff Avril possibly facing retirement, Jordan could see more time next season. This financial decision should ensure it, although it will be on the one-time high-end prospect to stay healthy.