5 Seattle Seahawks Predictions For Free Agency
By Keith Myers
Predictions are always fun. Especially when a well known site editor make them and they end up being wrong. That’s always fun, because then everyone gets to throw them back into my face later. Ahhh… good times…
I did this almost exactly a year ago, and in spite of my very obvious lack of clairvoyance, I did pretty well. I thought it would be fun to try again and, most likely, prove that last year’s success had more to do with luck than any skill on my part.
1) The Seahawks will avoid all of the big names in this year’s free agent market.
Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, Henry Melton, Wes Welker, etc. Forget about it. The Seahawks simply don’t have the cap space to spend big this offseason. While many fans will be clamoring for the Seahawks to “make a splash,” I simply don’t believe that they will.
2) Instead, the Seahawks will fill at least 2 holes with 2nd or 3rd tier free agents with short term deals.
These are guys that don’t “move the needle” in terms of fan excitement, but still bring something to the table on Sundays. These are like the deals for Alan Branch 2 years ago, and Jason Jones last year, that have more of an impact that most casual fans expect them to on the day they sign.
Dec 16, 2012; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jason Jones (90) on the bench against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at the Rogers Centre. Seahawks beat the Bills 50-17. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
3) Speaking of Branch and Jones, both will be with other teams next season.
This is the closest thing you’ll get from a “bold prediction” from me. I think both would like to return, and I’ve been told that the Seahawks are especially interested in bringing back Jones. The problem is finances. I just believe that another team with more cap space is going to be willing to offer these guys more than the Seahawks will be willing to offer them. I don’t think it’ll matter though, as I expect the team to draft DT very high in April’s draft.
4) Kam Chancellor will get a contract extension before the start of training camp.
Chancellor is entering his “contract year,” and I don’t expect the Seahawks to take any chances with possibly losing their starting strong safety next offseason. Just like they did with Max Unger a year ago, look for the Seahawks to lock up Chancellor with a cap-friendly contract extension just before players report to camp this fall.
5) At least 1 starter from 2012 who is still under contract will be cut before the start of training camp.
This is one of those things that seems to be true for every team every season. Last year it was Mike Williams and Marcus Trufant (though he was later re-signed). There aren’t as many options this year since most of the starters are still on their rookie deals, but I still think it happens. Not that I have any idea who it might be at this point…