Seahawks Offseason Part 3: Free Agent Wish List
By Ben Renner
The Seahawks offseason continues. Free agency is upon us. Here are three players I’d like to see them sign this offseason. They may not all be the most realistic targets, but a guy can dream, right?
Look, the Seahawks need some offensive linemen. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. With better protection, Russell Wilson could be the best quarterback in the league next year. The line was so wildly inconsistent last year, General Manager John Schneider and company are sure to add some competition and talent this offseason one way or another. This is established, and there are options out there in free agency to help.
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Offensive line isn’t the only place where the Seahawks will look to improve their roster via free agency and the draft. They’ll need depth at running back, too; and a few more pass-rushers couldn’t hurt. Based on who’s likely to be available this offseason (guys like Von Miller, Alshon Jeffery, and Muhammad Wilkerson are probably going to be franchise-tagged soon), I’ve come up with three useful/fun signings the Seahawks could make during the offseason that would help the team:
- Alex Boone. Guard. Former team: 49ers. Sportstrac calculated market value (avg. annual salary): $2.6 mil. Justin Floor wrote a great article about why the Seahawks need to sign tackle/guard Jeff Allen, a nasty, versatile lineman who would instantly upgrade the sad offensive line situation in Seattle. Boone is another versatile mauler who can play both guard and tackle and upgrade the line instantly. At age 28, he has plenty of good years left in him and he’s not a significant injury risk. In four seasons since becoming a starter for San Francisco, he’s missed a total of four games. He might be a bit expensive, but overpaying for a quality lineman is not always a bad way to go.
- Joique Bell. Running Back. Lions. No market value data available. The hype train for Bell has already started. ESPN analyst and local badass sports writer John “The Professor” Clayton spoke about Bell’s potential appeal for the Seahawks on the Brock and Salk show earlier this week. He’s a physical, versatile back who can catch passes out of the backfield and could be an excellent complement to Thomas Rawls. Bell is a relatively cheap option to add some depth at running back and balance the offense. If he signs with Seattle, the Seahawks add a savvy veteran in the mold of Fred Jackson.
- Jason Pierre-Paul. Defensive End. Giants. $12.75 mil. I know. The Seahawks are highly unlikely to pay JPP over $12 million a year. While the Hawks are more likely in the price range of someone like Cameron Wake or possibly Mario Williams, JPP would make the Seahawks defense even more terrifying. He’s only 27 years old and, despite almost blowing his hand off last Fourth of July, he still showed at times he can be a dominant pass rusher. Defensive ends like Wake, Williams, and Pierre-Paul would all love playing for the Seahawks because of their reliance on the defensive line to get sacks and create pressure. A pipe dream, but still. Imagine how fun it would be to play Madden 17 with JPP as the Seahawks’ DE. Unfair.
Bell and Boone could actually be practical free agent signings this year. And even though the Seahawks probably won’t sign a high-end pass rusher like Pierre-Paul, you can bet they’re looking to replace Bruce Irvin, who’s likely headed out of town, and reload their defensive line as they always do.
I have one more free agent consideration for you and I admit it would be a strange move by the Seahawks, but suspend your scoffing for one moment and consider:
- Robert Griffin III. Quarterback. Washington. This is really an excuse to stump for RGIII, who I believe was let down and mistreated by his head coaches during his short career. During his rookie year, 2012, Griffin tossed 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He added another 815 yards on the ground and seven rushing touchdowns. His coach at the time, devil-worshipper Mike Shanahan, ran him out against the Legion of Boom in the Wild Card round despite poor field conditions and a serious knee injury. You know how that turned out. The next season, Griffin famously flopped, going 3-10 as a starter and throwing 12 interceptions. That miserable performance, which may or may not have had something to do with the physical and mental drubbing he took against the Seahawks, led to him getting benched and then ostracized by new Washington coach Jay Gruden. I’ll admit that I’m a little conflicted about him coming to Seattle because I think he deserves another chance to be a starter somewhere (Josh McCown started eight games last year), but with T-Jack headed out of town, Griffin could be an intriguing backup to Wilson. If the unthinkable ever happens to Russ, RGIII could come in and seamlessly replace him in the offense with some confidence boosting in the offseason. Think about it.
Next: Russell Wilson Set to Explode
The Seahawks are already a Super Bowl 51 contender. With a few more players, they could go over the top. This offseason should be fun.