Seahawks add OT Bradley Sowell; try and contain your excitement
By Keith Myers
The Seattle Seahawks finally added to their offensive line. Too bad the player added isn’t any more than a backup.
The Seattle Seahawks finally added an offensive tackle to the roster, but this move isn’t going to help the desperate situation on the offensive line. According to Adam Caplan, the Seahawks have signed Bradly Sowell to a one-year deal.
#Seahawks and former #AZCardinals OT Bradley Sowell agreed to terms on a 1-year, $1.5m deal, source said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 14, 2016
Before you get excited, Sowell isn’t a particularly good player. Even that may be overstating his talent. Let’s just say there is a reason why he couldn’t get on the field in Arizona, even though they’ve been fairly desperate at OT in recent years.
Anyone thinking that Sowell was signed to be the replacement at LT is fooling themselves. He’s a backup, at best. He isn’t here to replace Russell Okung. He’s here to compete for a chance to replace Alvin Bailey as a key versatile backup.
Sowell is only 26, and he can play ever spot on the line except for center. So he’s got that going him I guess.
There are multiple factors working again Sowell even making the roster out of training camp. First would be his salary. The Seahawks can save around $1 million by keeping a rookie in the same role.
The second would be the compensatory draft pick formula. Powell wasn’t cut by Arizona, his contract expired. If he sticks on the roster, he’ll likely cost the Seahawks a draft pick next year. The Seahawks will be looking for any excuse for that not to happen.
Overall, this isn’t a move worth getting excited over. The Seahawks signed a guy that might make the roster as a backup. Hooray!
Now repeat after me in your best Obi Wan Kenobi voice: “This isn’t the offensive linemen you were searching for.”