Five free agents Seahawks should sign before the 2021 season begins

Free agent number four: Geno Atkins

Atkins hurt his shoulder last preseason and didn’t play a full season and wasn’t healthy when he did. He is also 33 years old. But Atkins has been medically cleared to play in the NFL in 2021 and will likely come in at a low expense.

Atkins did play every game for six straight years before 2020, though, so his injury might have just been a one-off situation. And in each of those six previous seasons, Atkins made the Pro Bowl. No, he isn’t the player he was in 2018 but he is still a defensive tackle very capable of producing an interior pass rush and Seattle needs this to go along with all the edge rushers they have accumulated.

Atkins would also probably benefit from playing next to former Bengals teammate Carlos Dunlap. The two players formed one of the best pass rushing duos in the league for nearly 10 years. Familiarity is a good thing on a team and Atkins joining the Seahawks where he knows what Dunlap likes to do should only help player and team.

I am actually surprised Atkins, even with his injury last year, hasn’t been signed. Maybe he simply doesn’t want to take what is being offered? But Justin Houston, a very good pass rusher just had to sign a one-year deal for $2.075 million with the Ravens so Atkins won’t likely get more than that. His signing would be a bargain for the Seahawks if he signs for that much in Seattle.