Relax, 12s. The Seahawks have already proved it's too early to panic

After the first few pending free-agent deals were announced, far too many 12s bemoaned how the Seattle Seahawks were sitting on their hands and doing nothing. Maybe wait a bit longer than 12 hours before you proclaim everything's a disaster.

As Bugs Bunny famously said, "Oh, the agony. The aaagonnneee." I saw much the same comment from far too many 12s as the first announcements of pending free-agent deals landed. Christian Wilkins is off the market, Kirk Cousins is gone, ditto Brian Burns, and even Russell Wilson got away from us. Okay, we certainly didn't want Wilson back, even for the veteran minimum deal he'll get, and we don't need Cousins. But Wilkins or Burns, sure, either player would have been a great addition.

Uh oh, things got even gloomier in the Emerald City as the Hawks started to lose their own free agents. Colby Parkinson will sign with the - ugh - Rams, while Damien Lewis is moving on to the Panthers. In the biggest hit so far, Jordyn Brooks will join the Dolphins. Honestly, I hope his departure makes it more likely the Hawks will re-sign Bobby Wagner. But things brightened considerably, and it didn't take long

Seattle Seahawks made their big plays late, as they often do

Just as the Hawks came back at the end of the day time after time last season, John Schneider made two big plays toward the end of the first day of the legal tampering period. Okay, maybe not the best analogy as the Seahawks didn't win enough games to make the playoffs, but I'm sticking with it. Especially since we've only completed the first day of free agency.

In the biggest news for the Hawks so far, they re-signed the Big Cat, Leonard Williams. If you watched any of Seattle's games last season, you know how important Williams was to the Hawks' defense. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as Seattle's best defensive lineman and the fourth-highest of any defender. While he's better known for his run defense, 32 pressures in just 10 games with the Hawks isn't exactly a bad record. Only Boye Mafe registered more pressures per game than Williams. His three-year deal will keep the pressure on Seattle's opponents for the foreseeable future.

In some ways, the other deal Schneider made is even more important. After all, the Seahawks do have other linemen under contract. But keeping Noah Fant in Seattle makes a huge difference, as both Parkinson and Will Dissly will be with other teams. Dissly will sign a three-year deal with the Chargers. Of the three, Fant is by far the best receiver. No, he can't block like Uncle Will, but who can? Fant isn't exactly a sieve, either. Check Daniel Bellinger's stats if you want a toreador at tight end.

So yes, some big names signed with other teams. Imagine that, 31 other organizations in the NFL, and some of them had the temerity to make agreements with players. Of course, we won't know the Seahawks' current cap situation until the details of the contracts are announced. It's a bit premature to whine about who hasn't been signed when you have no idea if the Hawks paid massive signing bonuses or structured the deals to backload the contract. So relax, doomsayers. We've just begun the fun.

Read more from 12th Man Rising