Seahawks wait until training camp to make second best move of the offseason

The Seattle Seahawks certainly are going to look different this season. An almost entirely new coaching staff was hired and some long-time veterans, such as Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, were released. Seattle will have new starters at inside linebacker, at several spots along the offensive line, and at safety.

One player will remain the same, however, and Seattle signed him to an extension this week. That player is safety Julian Love who surprisingly made the Pro Bowl last year. The Notre Dame product has been in the NFL for five seasons, but he is still only 26 years old. He was signed last offseason for two seasons and 2024 would have been his final year under contract.

Love's new deal will keep him with the Seahawks through 2027 and he will get a deserved pay raise. His extension is worth a maximum of $36 million, so an average of $12 million a season. His cap hit for this season is less than that at $8,090,000.

Seahawks sign safety Julian Love to a three-year extension

The reason Love was a surprising pick for the Pro Bowl in 2023 is because he was underused for parts of the season by former defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt and former head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll and Hurtt decided to use Adams more when he was healthy. The result was that when Love played 44 percent or less of defensive snaps in games, the team on average allowed a touchdown more a game.

Unfortunately, Love had four games where he played 44 percent of defensive snaps or less. Seattle was 1-3 in those games. In other words, statistically speaking, had Love played more, the Seahawks might have potentially added another win, made the playoffs, and maybe Pete Carroll still has his job.

However, relieving Carroll from his duties as head coach, coupled with the hiring of Mike Macdonald, was the best move Seattle made this offseason. General manager John Schneider got to stick with a defensive-minded coach who was half the age of Carroll but who had more recently had a high level of success.

Love being extended is the team's second-best move of the offseason. Because of his versatility, he should be a perfect fit in Macdonald's scheme. While Love had the best season of his career last year when he set career highs with four interceptions and 10 passes defended, he easily could be much better in 2024 under Macdonald.

He is going to be a veteran leader for Seattle for at least four more seasons. That should help equate to some added wins as well.

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