Everson Griffen
There is no way I would want the Seahawks to sign Everson Griffen long-term. But Smith was a one-year deal and Griffen would be too. Likely, Griffen wouldn’t get paid much more than Smith was going to. And Griffen is a player a lot like Smith.
Griffen will be 33 years old this season. I don’t care. He basically stays healthy and is consistently productive. Last year between the Lions and Cowboys, he had 6 sacks in 14 games. In 2019 with the Vikings, he had 8 sacks. Between 2011 and 2020, Griffen missed a total of 10 games. 5 of those came in 2018 alone. Last year Griffen had to miss a game while being traded.
Like Vernon, Griffen shouldn’t be expected to come in and be the Seahawks sack leader. Seattle is counting on a rotation of guys to produce. If Griffen gets 6 sacks, great. Dunlap could get 7. Jamal Adams will get 7 or 8 and so on. The pass rush is going to be very good.
Griffen, like Smith would have been, would simply be another cog in the machine and a veteran who knows how to produce at that. Seattle wants a player like Smith, clearly, and Griffen is that and still available. Bring him in and replace Smith and Griffen would be just as productive and more reliable.