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Three Seahawks Free Agent Targets

By Ben Renner

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seahawks
Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Russell Okung (73) in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Russell Okung

Okung’s name has been hot on the presses for weeks now after it appeared the Denver Broncos wouldn’t re-sign the former Seahawks left tackle. There has been renewed interest in the former Pro Bowler in Denver and several other cities around the league. Even though Okung was part of the 24th-best offensive line this season (the Seahawks, unsurprisingly, were dead-last according to Pro Football Focus), the interest is warranted.

The Seahawks will take anyone (anyone ) worth a damn at left tackle to keep Russell Wilson from getting injured, as he was last year in Week One. Carroll mentioned that he and the team would pursue free agents “very aggressively and very actively” this offseason, yet he and Schneider also said they’d re-sign last year’s starting left tackle George Fant and right tackle Garry Gilliam for some reason.

Carroll and Schneider are likely just playing the game, however. The market for offensive linemen is small right now. Okung and 35-year-old Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth are the best available at this point. Okung has the leverage to seek top-market left tackle pay, likely around the $48 million option the Broncos declined to pick up.

Okung was widely mocked for acting as his own agent and negotiating a pay-as-you-go contract with John Elway and the Broncos, but it appears he’s set to cash in.

The Seahawks haven’t spent much on outside free agents in recent years, preferring to pay their own players. For Okung, the first draft pick of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era, they may make an exception. The Seahawks have more salary cap room than they have had in recent years. Investing in the 29-year-old left tackle might be a sound decision.

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