Seahawks Notes: NFL Announces Key 2017-18 Dates
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks are successful enough where most fans could care less about next season, but Seattle could see some big changes after this year.
The NFL announced some key dates for the 2017-18 season (and offseason) and some of these may be stressful for Seahawks fans. Why? Well, one date in particular: March 14, 2018 is the beginning of next offseason’s free agency period. But more on that in just a bit. First, here is a glance at what the announced dates are and what they involve.
September 2, 2017
This is the date NFL teams must cut their rosters down to 53 players. In other words, active rosters will be set on this day. The change this year is that there will only be one cut from two in previous seasons. The Seahawks will have a longer look at players who might be on their bubble. As the Seahawks have never been afraid to take a chance on an undrafted player, this might make for some interesting personnel moves in Seattle.
This day is followed up by September 3, 2017. This is the day 10-man practice squads are set. If a player can clear waivers – and it is important to note that this season there will be A TON of players trying to clear waivers – Seattle can sign them to their practice squad.
October 31, 2017
This is the day of Halloween. No, seriously, this is the NFL trading deadline. Usually when it comes to the trading deadline in the NFL, as opposed to baseball, things are pretty boring. This year will probably not be much different.
February 4, 2018
This is Super Bowl Sunday. In other words, this is the day we watch the Seahawks take on some other team for the championship of professional football. Go Hawks!
February 20, 2018
A bit over two weeks after winning the Super Bowl, the Seahawks will need to decide of their many free agents the one they might franchise. Seattle does not usually franchise a player. They may do so in 2018. Again, more on that in just a minute.
March 14, 2018
Free agency begins at 1 pm PT. Players will not really sign immediately after 1 pm, but there will be a lot of speculation about which players are signing where. In fact, while teams cannot sign a player prior to 1 pm, let’s be honest. Players pretty much know where they are going and teams know who they are getting.
Here’s the stressful part for Seahawks fans. As opposed to previous years, the Seahawks have some key players as unrestricted free agents. At least, they do at this point as these guys have not yet signed extensions. Here is the stressful list of unrestricted free agents:
Offense
Wide Receiver Paul Richardson
Running Back Eddie Lacy
Tight End Jimmy Graham
Tight End Luke Willson
Guard Luke Joeckel
Center Justin Britt
Guard Oday Aboushi
Defense
Safety Kam Chancellor
Safety Bradley McDougald
Cornerback DeShawn Shead
Linebacker Michael Wilhoite
Defensive End Cassius Marsh
There are also a whole host of recently signed one-year linebackers.
The biggest decisions, if the player has not signed an extension, will be Chancellor, Graham, Lacy, Richardson or Britt. I would not be surprised to see the guy who actually gets franchised is Britt. He is younger than Chancellor and Graham and plays a position of greater need.
April 26-28, 2018
The NFL draft takes place on these days. Same format as recent years: Round One on the 26th, Rounds Two and Three on the 27th and Rounds Four through Seven on the 28th. No location has been announced by the NFL yet, but should be a fun event as always.