The Seattle Seahawks new chapter under Mike Macdonald will officially begin on the league new's year, March 13. At that point in time, trades become official, and free agency begins. For Seattle, free agency is going to be pivotal for them in the sense that it will set the tone for how the rest of the off-season will play out.
Now that the Seahawks no longer have any extra draft picks due to the Russell Wilson trade, they will have to find ways to build around the young nucleus on this team. John Schneider and Pete Carroll were never big spenders in free agency. Outside of one or two big deals, they focused on a lot of one-to-two-year contracts for minimal money.
A large part of the success Pete Carroll had in Seattle was due to the culture that he instilled. Quite often, former players returned. That was a big deal in Seattle, creating avenues for former players to re-open familiar doors. This off-season, although Pete is no longer head coach, I do think John Schneider will maintain that same philosophy.
Seattle Seahawks should hope to bring back these former players in 2024
Last season, it was Bobby Wagner who made his return to the Seahawks after a brief stint with the Rams. This year, who will it be? There are plenty of options out there and plenty of holes to fill on this roster. Some could certainly elevate into a starting role, while others can serve as depth. After some cap maneuvering that has already taken place, the Seahawks can begin shopping around.
Although some of these signings may not be considered needle movers, there is a lot of value in marginal signings. Throughout the course of the season, it is impossible to predict who gets hurt and what player gets inserted into a starting role. As you will see, some of the individuals mentioned already know what that is like in Seattle. Here are 4 former Seattle Seahawks we would like to see return in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks should sign T George Fant
George Fant started the majority of the 2023 season for the Houston Texans. He served to be a pretty reliable member of their offensive line and can fill a void for the Seahawks, whose tackles both dealt with injuries last season, that kept them sidelined for multiple weeks. Not to mention the fact that Evan Brown, Phil Haynes, and Damien Lewis are all set to hit the open market.
While Seattle is linked to the draft in acquiring more depth or even a potential starter on the offensive line, a George Fant signing feels like it's right up the alley of John Schneider. Last year we even saw Jason Peters get signed during the season and serve as a rotational offensive lineman. Fant could play a similar role or be trusted enough to get elevated into a starting role at some point.
Seattle Seahawks should sign WR David Moore
It will be curious to see how the Seahawks address the wide receiving core this off-season. This draft class is loaded at the wide receiver spot and Seattle could certainly find a potential steal on day three. However, I wonder if more attention should be put on this spot given the heavy emphasis on offense in today's NFL. The Seahawks have never really made a big splash in free agency at the wide receiver position.
A former Seahawk, David Moore, coming off a season with the Buccaneers might be a good addition. I can see Seattle signing him to a 1-year contract for minimal money. Although he didn't spend much time in Tampa, he did make some big plays for the team, including in the playoffs. In 2020 with the Seahawks, Moore found the end zone 6 times, pretty impressive for a player who did not see the majority of the snaps each game.
Seattle Seahawks should sign DT Poona Ford
Will the Seahawks retain Leonard Williams? I think one would certainly hope so given the draft capital they gave up to get him. If he is brought back, it wouldn't be the worst idea to also consider bringing back Poona Ford. He was one of the brighter spots even though he was a part of a defensive line that struggled to stop the run.
Jarran Reed blossomed last season when he made his return to Seattle. Why can't we see something similar with Ford? Again, the Seahawks can most likely bring him back on a 1-year contract that is not worth a lot of money. The former Big-12 defensive player of the year knows what it's like to be doubted. He was un-drafted before Seattle signed him and that chip-on-the-shoulder mentality will blend in nicely with Macdonald's defense.
Seattle Seahawks should sign S Ryan Neal
One of the bigger storylines for this Seahawks team entering this off-season was the QB position. While it seems like that has been put to bed, the rest of my attention goes to the safety room. It feels as if anything is possible. Jamal Adams is pointed to as the obvious casualty. Given his injury history and lack of production in coverage, many feel he is no longer worth the price tag that he carries along with him.
But, is it possible the Seahawks cut him and Quandre Diggs? It certainly would free up a lot of space. Perhaps my favorite consideration of them all, the idea of bringing back Ryan Neal makes too much sense. He made a name for himself in Seattle, displaying his versatility when filling in for the injured Adams. I know I am beating a dead horse here, but Macdonald loves a safety who can do it all. Ryan Neal fits the bill and will be playing under a significantly cheaper contract than that of Adams and Diggs.