Three dream Seahawks free agent signings in the 2021 offseason

Olivier Vernon

Why is Vernon a dream signing when he misses games every year and hasn’t had more than 16 quarterback hits in a season in three years? Because he’s consistent and consistently good, though not spectacular, and will not take up the rest of what the Seahawks have in cap space allowing them to sign one or two other good players as well.

Vernon is also good against the pass and the run and isn’t simply a situational player. One thing that made Jadeveon Clowney a success with Seattle is how good Clowney was against the run. Vernon isn’t Clowney-good in this department but Vernon still is better than most. According to Pro Football Focus, Vernon had the same grade against the pass and the run in 2020, 71.6, and both ranked in the top-30 of the NFL.

Vernon graded out higher than Clowney and Carlos Dunlap, who Seattle acquired in a trade mid-year in 2020 and has since released, against both the run and the pass last year.

Vernon is also 30 years old so should have several productive years left to play in the league. That said, the Seahawks should see if they can entice Vernon to a two-year deal with a decent signing bonus so if he doesn’t work out then he won’t be expensive in 2022.

And just to make sure all these dream signings don’t happen if the Seahawks and Wilson don’t restructure Wilson’s deal, at least two of these players could be signed with Seattle’s current cap space. Vernon might sign for $7 million. He suffered a ruptured Achilles at the end of the 2020 season and will be working his way back from injury. This will lower the contract he is offered.

Warford wanted $7 million last offseason and won’t be offered more this offseason. So that would be two players at less than what Seattle has currently in salary cap and that’s before other roster moves or contract moves are made to create more space.