One of the less talked about parts of NFL free agency is some players and teams will work out deals in principle with the understanding that what the team is able to do in the NFL draft could make the deal moot. Where the Seattle Seahawks are concerned, if a high-quality cornerback prospect, for instance, falls to them then that could affect a potential free agent signing.
Seattle also needs help along the interior of the offensive line. The team could draft a prospect or two, but it still needs to sign one in free agency. Relying on rookies to improve the offensive line is probably a mistake.
Rookie receivers also notoriously have a difficult time. Even drafting one in the first round should not rule out signing another veteran. In fact, the team could bring back a couple of familiar faces.
These free agents might be waiting to sign with the Seahawks until after the 2025 NFL draft
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett
The Seahawks have two good wide receivers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp (assuming Kupp stays healthy), but after those two, there are a lot of question marks. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is explosive, but inconsistent. Jake Bobo isn't fast, but could be a decent possession and red-zone receiver.
Seattle should take a receiver early in the draft. Maybe not in the first round, but certainly on Day 2. Kupp and MVS are over 30 years old, and drafts are as much for three seasons down the road as they are for immediate help. Choosing a player like Arizona's Tetairoa McMillian or Texas's Matthew Golden could make sense.
But what if Seattle waits until Day 3 to take a chance on a prospect? That might mean the team would welcome Lockett back on a relatively inexpensive deal. He might not be as good as in 2022 and before, but he is still a reliable wideout.
Right guard Brandon Scherff
Scherff is 33 years old, but he has managed to stay healthier in the last three seasons than he did in three of the four seasons before. He has not missed a game in three years. He is still excellent as a pass protector, but isn't the best against the run. However, Scherff is a savvy veteran who would be a good voice on a relatively young offensive line.
He is a true right guard, which would mean Christian Haynes, Anthony Bradford, or Sataoa Laumea would need to flip to the left side. At least with Laumea and Haynes, neither has played enough where they were entrenched in their one spot.
Scherff might be the 2025 equivalent to 2024's Laken Tomlinson signing, but even that would be an upgrade to what the Seahawks currently have on their depth chart. Plus, if Scherff is signed for only one season and Seattle takes a guard relatively high in the draft, at least the rookie would have time to acclimate to the NFL.
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin
Griffin visited the Seahawks ahead of the draft, and he could be the one player who is definitely waiting to see what Seattle does in the draft. If the team does not choose a cornerback on the first two days, Griffin could be signed and counted on to be a quality outside corner. He does not create many turnovers, but his coverage skills have always been solid.
Taking a cornerback in the first two rounds makes sense for the Seahawks, though. Josh Jobe was decent when forced into playing last year, but there is no guarantee he will be good again. Riq Woolen is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The position could be among Seattle's most significant needs in 2026, so signing Griffin to a two-year deal would help.