One of the most entertaining parts of the NFL offseason is upon us. Besides the NFL draft, nothing is bigger than the free agency period. For 12s, this means watching their favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks, do next to nothing early on in free agency and that’s OK. Seattle has overall been quite successful since 2010 by following general manager John Schneider and head coach/Vice President of Football Operation Pete Carroll’s philosophy of not overspending on veteran players.
Seattle has mostly been good because they have had some really successful drafts (yes, they have had some bad ones since 2010 as well but the years that have been good have been very good) and landed a player (like Jadaveon Clowney or Duane Brown) in a trade. But maybe Schneider and Carroll don’t get the respect for the players they don’t sign or re-sign in free agency. Basically, free agency is still very important to the Seahawks because of not only who they sign but who they don’t sign.
2023 could be different. While we know Seattle will be re-signing their quarterback – more on that in just a bit – the team still likely has enough cap room to sign an impact free agent. Will they? Probably not, but there is always hope. Here is what the status is for Seahawks’ free agency happens to be currently.
Who are currently the Seahawks Seahawks 2023 unrestricted free agents?
The list that follows is a little boring. It’s just a list of names. But we will update how things are proceeding with each of these players as it happens.
Austin Blythe, center (reportedly retiring)
Artie Burns, cornerback
Ben Burr-Kirven, linebacker (released on 3/9)
Justin Coleman, cornerback
Xavier Crawford, cornerback
Poona Ford, defensive tackle
Kyle Fuller, center/guard
Cullen Gillaspia, fullback
Marquise Goodwin, receiver
Shelby Harris, defensive tackle (released on 3/13)
Bruce Irvin, edge rusher
Gabe Jackson, right guard (released on 3/9)
Quinton Jefferson, defensive tackle (released on 3/14)
Darryl Johnson, Jr., edge rusher
Josh Jones, safety
Tanner Muse, linebacker (Seattle has elected to non-tender Muse turning him from restricted free agent to an unrestricted one)
Tyler Ott, long snapper
Teez Tabor, cornerback
Carson Tinker, long snapper
Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver
Al Woods, defensive tackle (released 3/20)
Who are the Seattle Seahawks 2023 Restricted Free Agents and Exclusive Rights Free Agents?
Per the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, a restricted free agent (RFA) is any NFL veteran [that reaches the end of his contract] with three accrued seasons but not four accrued seasons of service (Note: I go to quickly look up the definition of “accrued”). An RFA is offered a qualifying offer by his current team and the current team has a right of first refusal and might receive a draft selection as compensation if the player signs a contract with a new team.
This one hurts a player like Ryan Neal who has been really good for a couple of seasons but has not yet reached a third full year. Neal was actually the highest-graded safety in the NFL in 2022, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He will have to wait for a bigger payday until next offseason.
An exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) is any NFL veteran [who reaches the end of his contract] with less than three accrued seasons. A rookie (meaning a first-year player), second, and third-year player each fall into this category. If a player is offered a contract by his current team, he must sign it or not play anywhere else.
Here is the list of current RFAs and ERFAs for Seattle:
Myles Adams (ERFA), defensive tackle (Tendered)
Penny Hart (RFA), wide receiver
Godwin Igwebuike (ERFA), safety/kick returner
Michael Jackson (ERFA), cornerback (Tendered)
Tony Jones (RFA), running back
Ryan Neal (RFA), safety (Update: Seattle has tendered Neal a contract giving the team the right of first refusal)
Jon Rhattigan (ERFA), linebacker (Tendered)
Cody Thompson (ERFA), wide receiver
2023 free agents signed by the Seattle Seahawks
Most likely the biggest free agent signing the Seahawks will have this offseason is their re-signing of quarterback Geno Smith. Smith was good in 2022 but will need to prove himself again in 2023. He appears to have a front-loaded contract that is worth three years and up to $105 million. Only $40 million of that is guaranteed, however.
Seattle re-signed kicker Jason Myers to a four-year and $21,100,000 million deal. Myers has been very good since he came to Seattle in 2019. Keeping him in Seattle for the foreseeable future was the correct move.
The Seahawks re-signed fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore to a two-year and $6,600,000 contract. Bellore has also been with Seattle since 2019. He is a solid special teams player and great in the locker room.
Seattle re-signed right guard Phil Haynes to a one-year contract worth up to $4 million. Haynes rotated at right guard in 2022 with the released Gabe Jackson and Haynes was the better player. Now he has one season to prove he should stick around in Seattle for many years to come.
Former Bronco defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones is joining the Seahawks. Jones is 26 years old and capable of supplying the interior pass rush that Seattle has lacked for several seasons. He will get paid up to $51 million over three years.
Seattle is bringing back a player that left them two seasons ago, per the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 and the Green Bay Packers in 2022 and had a combined 5 sacks and 26 quarterback hits in those seasons. Reed played his first five years with Seattle.
Seattle is bringing back another quarterback as well. Last year’s backup, Drew Lock, is returning on a one-year deal with a base of $4 million and a max of $7.5 million. The signing of Lock doesn’t mean Seattle won’t take a quarterback in the 2023 draft, though.
Seattle signed center Evan Brown to a one-year deal as well. Brown was pretty good at center for the Lions in 2021 but then Detroit moved him to right guard in 2022 and Brown wasn’t as good. Brown is likely a stop-gap center to start 2023 for Seattle while the team probably drafts a guy this year.
The Seahawks signed linebacker Devin Bush from the Steelers. Bush was the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft but hurt his ACL in 2020 and hasn’t seemed to be the same. Maybe working in a new defensive system will help him?
Seattle signed safety Julian Love to a two-year deal worth up to $12 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Love started 16 games for the Giants in 2022. His signing might be a sign that Jamal Adams is nowhere near returning.
2023 free agents leaving the Seattle Seahawks
Linebacker Cody Barton is reportedly signing with the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal that is fully guaranteed. 12s seemed to either like Barton while he was with Seattle or detest him. He wasn’t awful, but he also wasn’t Bobby Wagner or K.J. Wright.
The #Commanders are signing former #Seahawks LB Cody Barton to a one-year, fully guaranteed deal, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2023
Running back Rashaad Penny is leaving for the Philadelphia Eagles, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This is a near-perfect fit for Penny for the offensive system. Penny is a good dude and I wish him the best. Good for him if he rushes for 1,000 yards or more in 2023.
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier is signing with the Arizona Cardinals. Collier was a first-round bust. Good luck, Cardinals!
Running back and special teams ace Travis Homer will be signing with the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Homer will definitely be missed on special teams as he is the player that called out the alignments on punt blocking and he could return kicks at times. He likely will have an opportunity to get more rushes in Chicago than he would with the Seahawks.
Safety Jonathan Abram is reportedly signing with the New Orleans Saints. Terms were not yet disclosed. Seattle signing Julian Love made Abram that much more expendable.
Check back here for updates on everyone who is reportedly signing with Seattle, signing elsewhere, or not signing at all. The free agent frenzy is underway. We will keep you updated on all changes as they happen.