The unofficial NFL free agency is now open for business. Some teams have already worked out deals with impending free agents in hopes of fixing or bolstering their lineups. The Seattle Seahawks made a significant free agent signing of their own after locking up their own quarterback Geno Smith last week.
Smith’s new deal will keep him in Seattle for three more years. The Geno signing is monumental for the Seahawks as they can now move towards carefully planning how to attack the free agency market and this year’s rookie draft. Seattle has a lot of options.
Amidst a successful campaign last season, wherein Seattle was able to make it to the playoffs even after trading away long-time quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos, there were still significant holes in their lineup that needs to be addressed this year. Seattle has good cap space and a bevy of early draft picks this offseason. The sky is the limit to what general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll can do. The Seahawks can only build up from what they were able to accomplish last season, and the 12s are craving to see what this management has on their sleeve.
Seahawks still have options in free agency
It will be fascinating to see how the Seahawks will try to improve this team with the ammo they have in the bag this offseason. One can only dream of all the positive scenarios they can do in order to achieve their ultimate goal this season, and that is climb the mountain top again and win the Super Bowl. However, let us not get ahead of ourselves here, let us focus on which of these free agent players will be a dream addition to this team this season.
Seahawks should sign LB Bobby Wagner
After being released by the Los Angeles Rams in order to create cap space, linebacker Bobby Wagner is now a free agent. As soon as the news got out about Wagner’s release, it seems all of us 12s were begging the Seahawks for a reunion with the future Hall of Famer. Everyone wants it to happen, there is no denying this. But most of it is up to BWags himself on whether he wants to finish his career with the Seahawks or not.
Man this photoshop GO CRAZY‼️ @Bwagz pic.twitter.com/0sNOtCwFM6
— Nino (@qdiggs6) March 2, 2023
Other than being sentimental about a potential magical reunion, last year’s departure of Bobby Wagner made the defense worse. The middle of the defense was one glaring hole the team desperately must fix this season. It will be a more than welcome addition to the team if Wagner decides to sign back with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2012 rookie draft.
Not only did Seattle have a tough time stopping their opponent’s run game all throughout last season, but they also lost their leading tackler in linebacker Jordyn Brooks to an ACL injury towards the end of last year’s campaign. By signing Bobby Wagner back, the Seahawks will guarantee themselves to mitigate the loss of Brooks and Cody Barton. Barton recently signed with the Washington Commanders.
It seems everyone is lobbying for this signing, including some of the Seahawks’ players. Now it is up to John, Pete, and BWags to come to an agreement.
Seahawks should sign center Ben Jones
The Seahawks are in desperate need of a center after the retirement of Austin Blythe. Another Seattle center, Kyle Fuller, is still unsigned as free agent. Seattle greatly improved their offensive line last season with the additions of Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas through the 2022 draft. However, the departure of Blythe leaves a huge hole at center for the Seahawks.
Ben Jones was a major key to the running game success of the Tennessee Titans last season. Jones would be a good fit with the identity Pete Carroll likes to have on offense. The Seahawks need to make a play to acquire Jones as the center position this year. It will be very beneficial to further the development of Kenneth Walker III and the running game if Seattle can sign a veteran center like Jones who knows all about efficient blocking to help the run game.
While there are other holes the Seahawks must address, however, the center position is also one that the team must focus on this offseason. By adding a proven center, Seattle can afford to take a center in a later round in this year’s rookie draft and assess him behind Jones. Using an early draft pock in this year’s draft on a center will not immediately help the Seahawks this season as they will be missing out on some impactful players on the defensive side of the ball.
Seahawks should target DE Frank Clark
Another aspect of the Seattle Seahawks team that must be immediately fixed is at edge rusher. The Seahawks had so much trouble last season in applying pressure to their opponents’ quarterback, allowing them so much time in the pocket to make a good throw. Coming into this offseason, the team will surely emphasize acquiring a pass rusher whether that be in free agency, the rookie draft, or via trade. This is no secret to everyone, of course. Getting an impact pass rusher is a must for this team to be able to stay successful this season.
The Kansa City Chiefs recently released their edge rusher Frank Clark. Clark was a huge part of their Super Bowl runs in the past few seasons. Clark can be disruptive to another team’s offense, as they need to really focus on him to not be able to penetrate the offensive line. This is what the Seahawks need: An edge rusher who can command enough respect from their opponents and put some fear in the opposing quarterback, forcing some ill-advised throw from time to time.
Now is the time for the Seahawks to make some bold moves and try to sign impactful players as the NFC West is pretty much wide open. The Rams are trying to shed more salary and the Cardinals are being forced to be without their starting quarterback Kyler Murray to start the year due to an ACL surgery last season. At this point, the expectation is that Seattle should finish no worse than second in the NFC West, as long as they make more good free agent moves.