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Five potential Seahawks signings that won’t break the bank

By Todd Vandenberg

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 6: Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates with teammates offensive tackle Taylor Lewan #77 and offensive guard Quinton Spain #67 after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 6: Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates with teammates offensive tackle Taylor Lewan #77 and offensive guard Quinton Spain #67 after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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There are some great players on the market. While the Seahawks don’t have a lot of cash, these five fit their needs and their budget.

The Seahawks have several needs to address this off-season. The offensive line needs, shall we say, more than a tune-up? The vaunted Legion of Boom could need an overhaul as well. I don’t think that’s likely, but it is possible.

Have I mentioned the Seahawks don’t have a lot of cap space? Other than in virtually every article this past week, I mean. In case you don’t know, Seattle is currently working with about $13.6 million, according to spotrac.com. They could certainly rework some contracts to free up more space, and likely will. Both Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas are looking for extensions, so reworking their current contracts could help.

Regardless of future contract wizardry, let’s focus on what the Seahawks can do with what they currently have. $13.6 million means there is no Le’Veon Bell in their future. We’re not going to see guard Andrew Norwell either. You know what? It’s going to be okay. Really, you can put away your Rolaids and Tums. We already gave you five of their own free agents the Seahawks should keep. Let’s look at some new blood.

These potential Seahawks are long on value

Running back: Orleans Darkwa. You’ve read on our pages that Dion Lewis would be a great fit for the Seahawks, and he certainly would. However, he’ll come with a bit of a price tag. New York Giant Darkwa will be available for much less. No, he isn’t Dion Lewis, but he did manage 4.4 yards per carry behind an offensive line actually ranked worse than Seattle’s.

Guard: Quinton Spain. Nope, he isn’t the top-rated free agent at the position. But he’ll also cost a lot less than $11 million a year, the projection for Norwell. Graded 68.8 by Pro Football Focus this year and 82.3 in 2016. He’s a restricted free agent, so the Tennessee Titans may have something to say about his next gig.

Defensive end: Kerry Hyder Jr. Because neither Cliff Avril nor Michael Bennett may be back. Hyder missed all of 2017 with a torn Achilles tendon. He recorded eight sacks for the Detroit Lions in 2016, when Pro Football Focus graded him at 77.2. He’ll come cheap, with a bushel of potential.

Safety: Tavon Wilson. This is a little Kam Chancellor injury insurance. Also a little Earl Thomas holdout insurance, as he can play free safety as well. He’s coming off a relatively poor year with the Detroit Lions, but graded at 84.1 by Pro Football Focus in 2016.

Wide Receiver. Jarvis Landry. Yeah, I wish.  Cameron Meredith is the real pick. Like Hyder, Meredith missed all of 2017, in his case with a torn ACL. He had 888 yards receiving and four touchdowns with the Chicago Bears. That was with Matt Barkley, Brian Hoyer and Jay Cutler throwing to him. Imagine what he can do with an actual quarterback?

Odds are none of these players will set the league on fire in 2018. But each of them could play big roles for the Seahawks, without cashing huge paychecks.

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