Five pending Seahawks free agents who probably won't be back in 2025

Mike Jackson - Seahawks cornerback

After striking gold in 2022 and 2023 by drafting Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon, respectively, the Seahawks drafted two more cornerbacks, both from the University of Auburn in last month's draft. Even 2021 draftee (one of only three players drafted by Seattle that year), Tre Brown, graded out as the best press corner in the NFL last season, according to PFF.

Mike Jackson has been a mostly solid depth piece recently after making 17 starts for the team in 2022. The former University of Miami product has spelled the oft-injured secondary since 2021, amassing 17 pass defenses and one interception over the last two seasons. There have been murmurings about converting the 6'1" cornerback to safety, as there's a much larger need for depth in that department.

However, Jackson will be 31 years old come this time next season and with the young depth in the cornerback room, he may not be likely to return. If one of the two rookie cornerbacks from Auburn, DJ James or Nehemiah Pritchett, pushes Jackson down the depth chart this summer, there's a real possibility he doesn't even make it to opening day of the 2024 season.

Laken Tomlinson - Seahawks left guard

Much like the K'Von Wallace situation, Laken Tomlinson was brought in after the Seahawks failed to retain both starting guards from 2023, Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes. Tomlinson, a former Pro Bowl guard for the 49ers, is a band-aid for the offensive line for 2024. He was not a bad signing at all given the state of the interior offensive line -- he was simply just not meant to be a long-term solution.

The 32-year-old guard provides a veteran presence to a mostly young offensive line that looks to start at least one rookie, Christian Haynes. Further, between the two guards will likely be Olu Oluwatimi, a second-year center who barely saw the field last season. Having a veteran like Tomlinson is invaluable to the inexperienced interior front.

However, Tomlinson is likely only there for the 2024 season, as his deal does expire after a year. He will be relied on by the team to mentor the young guards behind him like Anthony Bradford and rookie Sataoa Laumea, while also holding down the left guard position. Unless Tomlinson has an All-Pro season and the young guards behind him aren't getting over the learning curve fast enough, I think it's fairly clear Seattle won't be bringing him back for 2025 -- and that's not a bad thing.

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