While they push to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, Seahawks sign free-agent OL B.J. Finney
While they continue their push to re-sign prized pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, the Seahawks have added to their needy offensive line.
Seattle reached an agreement Tuesday on a two-year contract with free-agent versatile offensive lineman B.J. Finney worth $8 million. That’s according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The 28-year-old veteran could earn up to $9.5 million with incentives, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM reported.
Finney has played left guard, right guard, center and even some tight end for the Steelers. He started 13 games in four seasons for Pittsburgh, and the Steelers went 11-2 in his starts. They signed him as an undrafted rookie from Tyler Lockett’s Kansas State in 2016.
Finney’s most snaps in his career have been at left guard. The Seahawks had Mike Iupati as their starting left guard last season, but his contract has ended. He is a free agent. Starting right guard D.J. Fluker’s contract ends after the 2020 season.
Center Justin Britt had season-ending knee surgery, a complete reconstruction, in October. He may not be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
Finney started two games in 2019 at center for the Steelers.
Britt’s three-year, $27 million contract extension he signed in Aug. 2017 ends after the 2020 season, thanks to the team picking up his option for next year in the spring of 2018. Like most veteran extensions, the salary-cap charges for his extension years balloon in the final years, back-loaded to be more cap friendly up front at the start of the deal.
The Seahawks could save $8.75 million against the 2020 salary cap by releasing the 28-year-old who has been a Pro Bowl alternate for them at center after he failed at tackle then at guard his first two seasons with the team. Britt’s $11.67 million cap charge is scheduled to be the fourth-highest on the team this year. That’s behind only franchise pillars Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner then Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown and ahead of Lockett, the team’s top wide receiver.
Coach Pete Carroll said last month at the NFL scouting combine Britt has been working out at Seahawks headquarters returning from the knee surgery.
“He looks real good,” Carroll said. “I’ve seen him a number of times coming through the building, and all. His attitude and...I know I’m hearing of the work ethic he’s putting forth is exactly what we would hope for right now.
“He is doing great. He is going to come roaring back from this surgery.”
Seattle lost tackle George Fant in free agency Monday to the New York Jets. Fant is an offensive tackle who has been the Seahawks’ extra, blocking tight end in the running game the last two seasons.
The Seahawks are on the verge of also losing tackle Germain Ifedi in free agency.
The market officially opens Wednesday at 1 p.m.
A few minutes before the news broke of Finney’s agreement with Seattle, the Seahawks lost defensive end Quinton Jefferson to the Buffalo Bills on a two-year contract. Jefferson was with Clowney Seattle’s most consistently disruptive forces on the defensive front last season.
He said goodbye to Seattle online Tuesday evening.
Jefferson’s departure reinforced the all-in nature to the Seahawks’ pursuit of re-signing Clowney. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end reportedly has a strong offer from the New York Jets. Seahawks general manager John Schneider has said he hopes Clowney will afford Seattle a chance to match his best offer before he would sign elsewhere.
That could be what was happening with Clowney still unsigned as the league’s top remaining free agent available into Tuesday night.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 6:19 PM.
