Marshawn Lynch, Red Bryant two critical free agents for Seahawks

The annual NFL draft brings out the fans and breathless experts, while the pricey free-agent signings generate the large-font headlines.

But sometimes, behind-the-curtains dealing, positioning and relationship management that take place this time of year are as important to the success of an NFL franchise.

Look back. Long before the botched tagging of Steve Hutchinson allowed his escape, Hutchinson was disaffected by the Seahawks’ lack of convincing extension talks with him.

Marshawn Lynch’s surge of touchdowns in eight straight games and average of almost 120 rushing yards per game in the past five games has caused his impending free agency to become a hot topic.

But when addressing that question recently, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll pointed out that Lynch was not the only concern, and very appropriately mentioned defensive end Red Bryant as another critically important player whose contract expires after the season.

Carroll said that talks are ongoing. To secure those two would seem like wins regardless what happens in the final four games. But at what price?

It’s not too soon to sort through the financials, which indicate not only where they stand, but also where they’re headed.

Through act or statement, Carroll and general manager John Schneider have laid out their blueprint: build through the draft, meet specific immediate needs with free-agents (young, if possible), and manufacture depth by finding/developing cheap talent through transactions or lower-round acquisitions.

They’ve done so well finding bargains, in fact, they should be in position to keep the core of cornerstone players. Lynch was an inspired pickup from Buffalo. He deserves consideration as at least a top-10 back, while his base of $1.14 million this season is somewhere in the neighborhood of 30th for backs.

Frank Gore/Michael Turner money in the $5 million annual range doesn’t seem unrealistic for the 25-year-old Lynch. Bryant is a little harder to price. His impact is less dramatic than Lynch’s, but no less crucial to the foundation of the Seahawks. It’s hard to imagine the Seattle defense without him. When he went out with a knee injury last season, Seattle’s rank against the run plummeted immediately and dramatically.

The humble Bryant would never raise the topic, but he’s turned into an enormous bargain for the Seahawks. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract, playing for a base salary of $600,000 — lower than the base for special teams player Heath Farwell and backup lineman Paul McQuistan.

Bryant would be worth that for his blocked field goals, alone.

But when you look at the salaries of top defensive ends, the big money goes to those with high sack figures. That’s not Bryant’s style. It’s likely, then, that his value to the Seahawks is higher than it would be to other teams in the market for ends. Bryant is an example of the fiduciary benefits of drafting and developing your own studs rather than buying somebody else’s. Free agent pickups Sidney Rice, Charlie Whitehurst, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery are at or near the top of the salary list, with varied productivity.

Salary numbers are tricky and sometimes misleading because of bonuses and prorations and front- or back-loading. But you can make some generalities.

Both starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and backup Charlie Whitehurst make salaries in the veteran “back-up” range. And together it’s less than what Tennessee is paying for Matt Hasselbeck.

If you wonder whether either was expected to be the long-term quarterback here, keep that in mind.

Schneider’s best fiscal moves show up on the low end of the salary list. Leading receiver Doug Baldwin, an undrafted free agent, has been a gem for $375,000. And secondary starters Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman all play for base salaries of $405,000 or less this season.

“Hitting” on young talent creates so many options. Fourth-round rookie linebacker K.J. Wright collects a modest base of $375K, but his strong play allowed the Seahawks to trade former first-rounder Aaron Curry, who was into the team for a $10 million cap number this season.The Hawks ended up with a better player who is younger and cheaper, although they had to shove a reported $3.2 million into Curry’s pocket on the way out just to make the deal work.

Another option rising from player development: Right tackle Breno Giacomini was signed off the Packers’ practice squad in September 2010. He’s developed so well (while playing for $600,000 salary) as a replacement for injured starter James Carpenter, that the Seahawks could consider leaving him there and moving Carpenter to left guard when he returns to health.

And now, when the Seahawks look to draft a quarterback, it will be much less expensive than it had been in the recent past because of the new collective bargaining agreement.The deal for reigning top pick Cam Newton called for less than half the guaranteed money that Sam Bradford landed from St. Louis as the first pick just one year earlier.

The Seahawks will have the draft and free agency in the spring to shape the 2012 team, of course, but continued work on that foundation must be ongoing.

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

dave.boling@thenewstribune.com