Fates of many former key Seahawks still hang in the free agency balance

The Seattle Seahawks are definitely done signing high-priced free agents. The team might not be completely done trying different players out, however. The player might depend on their position.

For instance, Seattle signed Marcus Simms this week because he might be a valuable kick returner. General manager John Schneider is going to try to find those little pieces that help the bigger puzzle. But Seattle doesn't have the money to spend on any well-known and established free agents.

Many former Seattle players remain free agents. The first player on this list might still be good enough to make the Pro Bowl. Some of the others are probably done.

Former Seattle Seahawks who are still free agents ahead of the 2024 season

Safety Quandre Diggs

Surely, someone will sign the 31-year-old Diggs as while he did dip a bit in efficiency in 2023, he is only a season removed from three straight years of making the Pro Bowl and he had 14 interceptions in those seasons. He is still a good player, a valuable veteran voice in the locker room, and a trusted leader on the field.

He is also getting paid north of $10 million this season by the Seahawks so he could sign something close to the veteran minimum and still make plenty. He will find a team eventually and will be a good addition. Maybe that even happens in Seattle.

Diggs not being signed while Jamal Adams was, however, is nearly criminal. Let's hope that gets remedied soon because Diggs is a good guy who deserves good things to happen to him.

Defensive tackle Al Woods

Woods is ancient for an NFL defensive lineman and he didn't get much play last year when he was with the New York Jets due to injury and rotational needs. Woods played three recent seasons with the Seahawks (2019-2022 and he missed 2020 due to opting out during the league's COVID season) and he was an excellent run-stopper. He also supplied some decent pass rush at times.

Chances are that Woods is done in the league. He was a solid player, especially from 2013 on, but teams like young players. Maybe he will become a coach one day.

Defensive lineman Rasheem Green

Green seemingly came into the league 10 years ago, but he is still only 27 years old. He was a third-round selection in the 2018 draft by Seattle and had a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2021. In the last two seasons, he has played sparsely on two different teams.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Green has only ever received mediocre grades in both run support and pass protection. At best, he is a deep rotational pass rusher but should never be considered a full-time starter (unless all other options have been hurt). He is still young enough that he will probably play again.

Guard Phil Haynes

Haynes either failed the Seahawks or the team failed him. One can't argue that after Seattle took him in the 2019 draft that he got the best coaching. He also suffered various injuries and teams are going to look away from a free agent with a long injury history.

To be fair, Haynes never proved he could be good in any aspect of blocking. In a bit over pass-block snaps the last two seasons, Haynes allowed nine sacks. Not great. The worst part is that, according to PFF, he grades even more poorly against the run.

Defensive tackle Bryan Mone

Mone has had an interesting career. He was undrafted out of college, given a chance to prove himself in 2020, and looked like he could develop into a solid rotational piece along the inside of the defensive line. The issue was that he was big enough (366 pounds) to be an anchor, but he was better as a pass rusher. Perhaps his play strength did not equal what his size might imply.

Mone missed all of 2023 with an injury so he could very well be done in the league. One might wonder if Mike Macdonald could find a great use for him, but Seattle seems set along the defensive line now. Mone would have had to prove he could be good against the run in previous seasons to get a chance in 2024.

Left tackle Duane Brown

38-year-old left tackles are rare. Brown has been very good in his career and was a five-time Pro Bowler. The last two years were not his best, though, and in 2023 he allowed nine total pressures in just 68 pass-rush snaps. He probably won't play again.

No shame there. The left tackle made more than $100 million in his career. He and his family's future generations are probably set. Good for him.

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