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Seahawks Free Agency Grades for Each Signing

By Ben Renner

January 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seahawks
Oct 18, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Luke Joeckel (76) guards against Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during the second half of a football game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Luke Joeckel OT/OG 1 year, $8 million, $7 million guaranteed

Grade: D-

I’ve been telling everyone I know, some people multiple times, that the Luke Joeckel signing got an ‘F’ grade from Bill Barnwell at ESPN. That’s actually not true. Barnwell, who I know and trust, gave the Seahawks a ‘D’ for their signing of Joeckel. 

Barnwell had two simple reasons for his low grade: 1. They overpaid for essentially a project player who crapped out in Jacksonville. 2. Even if Joeckel has a good season under Tom Cable’s tutelage, the Seahawks won’t control him after this coming season without extending him or re-signing him for more money.

Joeckel commands a high salary for a player of his ability because of his status as a second-overall pick. In the historically bad 2013 NFL Draft, Jacksonville chose him with their precious second pick, only to see him flail and hurt himself for four seasons. Letting him test the free agent waters of the league wasn’t a difficult choice for the Jaguars.

Normally a player with Joeckel’s history of being a terrible offensive tackle and guard and for missing nearly half of Jacksonville’s games over the past four years wouldn’t command a salary near the $7 million guaranteed he got from Seattle. But the Seahawks are just desperate enough to take an expensive flier on Joeckel. And if their gamble pays off, they’ll likely only see one season of the reclaimed offensive lineman.

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