Free Agency day 2, Seahawks pursuing linemen
By Dan Viens
The Seattle Seahawks are hosting former Steelers DT Cam Thomas and are reportedly interested in G Ted Larsen as well.
Most of the big names have been spoken for already in this year’s round of NFL Free Agency Frenzy, so this is where the Seahawks feel comfortable rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Unlikely to spend big in this year’s market, GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll are looking for solid depth players, most likely at a bargain.
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That begins today as they host a visit with massive nose tackle Cam Thomas, who played his last two seasons in Pittsburgh after four years in San Diego. He’s 6’3″, 330 pounds and there’s no question what his role would be. He’s strictly a two down run-stuffer who offers nothing as a pass rusher. But after losing nose tackle Brandon Mebane, who signed a 3 year deal with the Chargers yesterday, finding a rotational interior lineman who can help stop the run became a priority for the Hawks. And that’s where Thomas excels. Last year the Steelers gave up an average of just 3.4 yards per carry to opposing teams when he was on the field. He’s 29 years old, and his price tag would be relatively low.
Also this morning, reports surfaced that the Seahawks are targeting a former Arizona Cardinals player as they look to upgrade their offensive line.
#49ers are not the only NFC West team with interest in Ted Larsen. #Seahawks, who lost G J.R. Sweezy to Bucs, also interested.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 10, 2016
Larsen has played guard and center in his career. He started the last 10 games at right guard for the Cards last year, and the Seahawks just lost RG J.R. Sweezy, who signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay yesterday. But it may be Larsen’s versatility that is most attractive to Seattle. They love players who can play multiple positions, and as they grind hard to try and upgrade their offensive line this off season, adding a player to compete at more than one spot makes sense. Larsen actually played center his last two years at North Carolina State, snapping the ball to current Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.
Whether they can get him to even visit here, however, is still up in the air.
Source close to Ted Larsen says he’s in SF right now meeting with 49ers. Seattle trip depends on how it goes with them. @AZCardinals
— Edward Cole (@edcole43) March 10, 2016
Elsewhere, there were some rumblings yesterday that Packers free agent OLB Nick Perry would be a good fit for Seattle, he played for Pete Carroll at USC and is still just 25 years of age, but there are no solid reports of any significant contact or a scheduled visit.
Next: Seahawks re-sign Jeremy Lane
As the day progresses, we will continue to keep our eye on the Russell Okung situation. The Seahawks free agent left tackle got a late start on the negotiating process because he’s representing himself without an agent, but there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for him, or at least there’s been very little buzz connected to him. Seattle has reportedly made a “strong push” to keep Okung, and the longer he goes without a deal the more it may work in the Hawks favor.
In other notes, former Jaguar DE Chris Clemons visited yesterday but there’s no news of any deal yet. Clemons, 34, played in Seattle from 2010-2013, racking up 38 sacks.
There are also reports the Seahawks may have interest in Eagles free agent DE Cedric Thornton.