Five Biggest Free Agency Moves: Seattle Seahawks
With free agency now into its sixth week as April’s Draft draws closer, it’s time to start reviewing which teams filled some needs and who got weaker. Here are the five biggest free agency moves for each team so far.
Seattle have struggled to recapture their once-dominant form in recent years, and their Super Bowl window could be closing. Their defense was still a top five unit even after injuries, but they need to upgrade the offensive line and reload at key positions in the Draft if they want to position themselves as future contenders. Here are Seattle’s five biggest free agency moves:
1 — Signing Eddie Lacy
Since Marshawn Lynch retired, the Seahawks have struggled to find a true power back. So they took a flier on former Packer Eddie Lacy, who has also struggled over the past couple of seasons with weight issues. At his best, Lacy looks like Lynch-lite, and could have a good year if he can crack the starting line-up and keep his weight down. Lacy signed a one year, $5.5 million prove-it deal.
2 — Reinforcing the offensive line
Seattle’s biggest weakness last season was poor offensive line play, stifling the running game and forcing quarterback Russell Wilson to shoulder virtually the entire offense. The Seahawks were desperate for reinforcements, so will kick the tyres on both Luke Joeckel and Oday Aboushi. Joeckel, the former Jaguars first round pick, was widely regarded as a bust in Jacksonville. The Seahawks will try and extract some quality play out of him on a one year, $8 million deal. Aboushi joins on a one year contract after being a backup guard in Houston.
3 — Re-signing DeShawn Shead
DeShawn Shead showed some promise as Seattle’s number two corner opposite Richard Sherman before tearing his ACL in the Divisional round loss against the Falcons. Seattle re-signed him to a one year, $1.5 million deal as a show of good faith that he can be a good player again when healthy. Shead had 14 pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble last season, starting 15 games.
4 — Signing Bradley McDougald
After star free safety Earl Thomas broke his leg in Week 13, the Seahawks struggled to fill the void as opponents suddenly took advantage of their weakness across the middle without Thomas. Needing depth at the position for next season, Seattle signed former Buccaneers safety Bradley McDougald to a one year, $1.8 million contract. McDougald started 31 of Tampa Bay’s last 32 games and had ten pass breakups and two interceptions last season.
5 — Re-signing Luke Willson
Seattle’s offense has evolved to centre around Wilson and the passing game in recent years, and boasts several underrated weapons. One of those is number two tight end Luke Willson. While he doesn’t see many targets, Willson is a good blocker, and can catch when needed to. Willson returns on a one year, $1.8 million deal.
