Now that the Seattle Seahawks appear to have resolved their quarterback issue, the team will turn its attention toward the next order of business – signing a starting defensive tackle.
And that search likely begins at home, with Seattle making a concerted effort to re-sign its own unrestricted free agent, Brandon Mebane.
Mebane was at the team’s Renton headquarters Tuesday to work out and to see some of his teammates.
“I think it was good for him to be at the facility after the long lockout and see people he hadn’t seen in a while,” said Mebane’s agent, Chuck Price.
While he was there, Mebane likely had a conversation with team general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll to see where things stood on a possible deal to stay in Seattle.
Mebane has generated a lot of interest around the league, along with fellow defensive tackles Cullen Jenkins of Green Bay, Barry Cofield of the New York Giants and Aubrayo Franklin of San Francisco, but the Seahawks appear to have the first shot to lock up Mebane with a long-term deal.
HAWKS SIGN 19 UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
The Seahawks announced Tuesday that they had signed 19 undrafted rookie free agents, bringing their roster to 73 players heading into the opening of training camp this weekend.
The Seahawks can have up to 90 players on the team’s training camp roster.
Two players on that list stood out to Rob Rang, senior draft analyst for NFLDraftScout.com.
Rang called Nebraska defensive end Pierre Allen the crown jewel of the group. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Rang said Allen was considered a mid-round draft prospect but went undrafted because of lingering hamstring issues. Rang said Allen has a chance to make Seattle’s roster as a left defensive end.
“They got a guy I consider a fourth- or fifth-round pick, and they got him as an undrafted free agent,” Rang said. “And I know that other teams were battling for him.
“He’s a good football player. Of all of the undrafted free agents I’ve seen so far, I would be surprised at this point if he didn’t make a real run at a roster spot. He’s going to get a shot, and we’ll see if he can take advantage of it.”
Rang also had high praise for receiver Ricardo Lockette. At 6-2, 211 pounds, Lockette ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in February.
“Whether it’s been Alex Bannister or Jordan Kent, he’s one of those guys with a rare combination of size and pure speed,” Rang said. “He’s raw, and his hands our inconsistent. But you give him a chance and see what he can do. He brings an element of speed that the team lacks. By adding them, he gives them a long speed threat that obviously they’re missing.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
HAWKS’ SIGNED UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
DT Ladi Ajiboye (South Carolina)
DE Pierre Allen (Nebraska)
WR Doug Baldwin (Stanford)
FB Dorson Boyce (Washington)
DE Jarrett Crittenton (Middle Tennessee State)
P John Gold (Texas)
DB Jesse Hoffman (Eastern Washington)
G Michael Huey (Texas)
T Zach Hurd (Connecticut)
S Jeron Johnson (Boise State)
QB Zac Lee (Nebraska)
WR Ricardo Lockette (Fort Valley State)
LB Deron Minor (McNeese State)
LB Mike Morgan (USC)
G/C Brent Osborne (Harvard)
CB Ron Parker (Newberry)
QB Josh Portis (California Pa.)
S Rickey Thenarse (Nebraska)
TE Ryan Travis (West Liberty)
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