The Seahawks All-Value Team for 2017
By Ben Renner
2. Justin Britt, C
Justin Britt is in the third year of a four-year deal worth $3.5 million. According to Sportrac, Britt is worth $8.1 million a year as a competent center. Indeed, that number nearly matches Luke Joeckel’s one-year deal. The NFL puts a premium on anyone who can put on pads and block. Another season of competent offensive line play from anyone is valuable for the Seahawks.
Britt is a decent player at a position of need. Of all the offensive lineman Tom Cable and company will mold into a starting lineup, Britt is the least likely to switch positions because he’s been effective as a center.
Yes, the 2016 offensive line was bad, and it’s not like Britt is the next Walter Jones, but Britt was the anchor of the unit as they limped through the year. Heading into 2017, he’s as close as the Seahawks get to a sure thing on the offensive line. The fact that he’s still employed for his low price (as a result of the NFLPA losing their most recent CBA negotiations in 2010) makes him extremely valuable to Seahawks leadership.
Britt has already changed positions, and it appears, for once, that Cable was right to make the switch. Cable is never afraid of mixing and matching, but he shouldn’t have to move his offensive line stalwart around much more.
Offensive line was easily the worst unit for the Seahawks in 2016–their Achilles’ Heel. They’re counting on newcomers like Aboushi and Joeckel, second-year players like Germain Ifedi and Rees Ohdiambo, and rookies like Pocic, to improve the line in 2017. Britt gives the Seahawks a starting place to build around.