Every season, teams across the NFL have to make tough decisions about pending free agents. According to Over the Cap, the Seattle Seahawks have 18 players whose contracts expire this off-season. Many of these are unrestricted, meaning they will enter the free agency pool, free to sign wherever they choose.
Seattle must make some pretty difficult decisions as they cannot afford to re-sign every pending free agent, with money left over to sign outside free agents, and still have money left to sign their rookie class. For the Seahawks, it's not too common for players signed in free agency in past years to get second contracts in Seattle, but you can never say never with the new-look Seahawks headed by first-year head coach Mike Macdonald.
There is no real formula for knowing whether or not to re-sign a player, but there are key factors. A player's age, how much money they'll command, and recent production are huge factors in determining whether to offer another contract. Using these factors, here are the five most likely pending free agents to re-sign with the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks are most likely to try to re-sign these five players
LB Ernest Jones IV
Ernest Jones IV, who was acquired from the Tennessee Titans in a midseason trade in 2024, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this off-season. One of the best players on a pretty good Seattle defense this season, Jones is only 25 years old. Jones was thrust into the starting lineup midseason and immediately had a huge impact on a struggling defense.
In a recent report, Jones told journalists he wants to remain in Seattle. The young player has already been traded twice in his career and likely just wants to settle into a long-term home. It was also reported Jones and Seattle were in talks regarding a new contract prior to Week 18, but those talks have appeared to stall.
It's no question the Seahawks need to re-sign Ernest Jones. Jones almost single-handedly fixed the middle of the defense and is quickly becoming a fan favorite on defense. Jones' play has certainly earned him a second contract in Seattle, even if he commands significant compensation. There is almost no way to replicate nor replace what Jones means to the middle of this defense, and creating even more turnaround at the linebacker position can only hurt Seattle.
Tre Brown
Tre Brown's stellar 2023 campaign had everyone excited for this season. Brown was one of the best man-coverage corners in the NFL last season, and the idea of having him on the field alongside Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon in Mike Macdonald's defense was intriguing. However, Brown took a step back in 2024.
While Brown wasn't Tharold Simon or Tre Flowers' level of bad, his sticky man coverage from 2023 did not translate. It seemed like Brown was constantly beaten in coverage or flagged downfield all season. However, Brown was dealing with various nagging injuries throughout the season and perhaps we never saw him at 100% in 2024.
Brown is 27 years old and coming off his rookie deal. He did take a step back this season, but he was never awful. With a thin cornerback room already, it would be pretty hard for Seattle to let Brown walk in 2025, especially with the way he played only a season ago. I believe Seattle brings Brown back on a one-year deal.
Josh Jobe
Another cornerback with an expiring deal is Josh Jobe. Jobe, who went undrafted in 2022, was one of my favorite cornerbacks in college football. At Alabama, Jobe played with length and aggression and was hardly ever beaten in coverage. However, injuries derailed his collegiate career and he lost all draft value.
When Seattle took a shot on Jobe last off-season, I was thrilled. Jobe originally sat on the practice squad until injuries riddled Seattle's secondary in the middle of the season. Jobe ended up starting a few games and looked good. Jobe ended up finding himself back in a reserve role once the secondary healed up, but still played well in a reserve role.
Like Tre Brown, Josh Jobe has some really high upside, and at 26 years old, he's still pretty young. Again, the cornerback position is a thin one, so letting the one who showed promise in 2024, walk would certainly hurt. He won't have much of a market in free agency, so it should be pretty easy for Seattle to bring him back.
Brady Russell
The wild long-haired man you often see shirtless in pregame warm-ups is Brady Russell. He served mostly as a reserve tight end for most of the season but contributed on special teams. At only 26, Russell should be a long-time Seahawk.
With TE Pharaoh Brown set to become a free agent, and the fact Noah Fant could end up a cap casualty in 2025, Brady Russell could be pretty valuable to Seattle. Over the Cap estimates Russell is valued at only a little over $1 million in 2025, which is nothing for a player who contributes on special teams.
At 6'3, 250 lbs, Russell could end up being someone who plays a handful of snaps for Seattle in 2025. A capable blocker, Russell may end up an in-line tight end to chip pass rushers or lead the way down rushing lanes. In what would be a low-risk re-signing, I think Seattle will retain Brady Russell in 2025.
Stone Forsythe
The offensive line absolutely must be addressed this off-season. Whether it's in the draft or through free agency, Seattle must re-build their line from the inside out. However, maintaining some sense of continuity is also important.
Forsythe, a sixth-round pick out of Florida in 2021, has found his role in Seattle as a reserve tackle. At 6'9, he is a huge bookend on the offensive line who can come in at a moment's notice and be serviceable. With Abraham Lucas's injury history, having someone on the sidelines who can come in and not completely crumble is extremely valuable.
Forsythe is not starter-quality, and he will not be paid starter money. However, as a dependable backup, I believe Forsythe has earned a second contract in Seattle. Something in the ballpark of $5 million per year sounds about right for an offensive tackle who played nearly 40 percent of Seattle's offensive snaps last season. I see Seattle re-signing Forsythe as a reliable backup for an often-injured offensive line.
Who walks?
Unfortunately, Seattle can't re-sign everyone. Multiple players will move on to other teams this off-season, but luckily, there aren't a ton of key players that I see Seattle letting walk. Jarran Reed, whose contract expires, likely does not return.
At 33 years old, Reed will simply be too expensive to retain. The same goes for Johnathan Hankins, who's an unrestricted free agent. Further, keeping them in the fold prevents guys like Byron Murphy II from taking a big step forward in 2025.
Other players, such as Pharaoh Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Artie Burns, K'Von Wallace, and Trevis Gipson likely won't be back. None of those players made a big enough impact in 2024 to justify a second contract. There is an opportunity for other free agents, like Jamie Sheriff, Cody White, Josh Ross, and Jaelon Darden to be retained on the practice squad, but for now, I don't believe Seattle needs to give any of those guys new contracts.