Joey Hunt, Branden Jackson sign tenders, Seahawks make procedural moves before draft
The Seahawks are making housekeeping moves on the eve of the draft.
Defensive end Branden Jackson became the latest Seahawk to sign his tender offer as a restricted free agent. He posted that on his Instagram account online before the team announced it Tuesday.
He joins tight end Jacob Hollister, center Joey Hunt and wide receiver David Moore in signing their tenders and returning to Seattle for the 2020 season.
Wide receiver Malik Turner did not sign his tender as an exclusive-rights free agent before the Seahawks rescinded the offer and let him go as a unrestricted free agent.
Hunt announced he’d re-signed Monday night.
Hunt finished the last 2 1/2 months of last season as the Seahawks starting center. That was after Justin Britt sustained a season-ending knee injury in October. The team is not sure when Britt may get back on the field in his recovery from reconstructive surgery.
The shorter, smaller (less than 300 pounds) Hunt was overmatched at times last season by bigger defensive linemen bulling past him. But the Seahawks and Russell Wilson value him for how intricately their sixth-round draft choice from 2016 knows their offense. Hunt is precise with his line calls and picking up blitzes and Wilson’s audibles just before the snap. That is hugely important to the success of any play, whether Hunt makes his block or not.
“Joey came in and played real well,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in February.
That was before the Seahawks signed free agent B.J. Finney. He has started games at left guard, right guard and center for Pittsburgh. So Seattle has three veterans who have started NFL games at center, with Britt’s health and contract ($11.4 million salary-cap charge for 2020) in some doubt.
The Seahawks also announced two free-agent contract signings: of tight end Luke Willson and left guard Mike Iupati. Those agreements became known what feels like years ago, with all we’ve been through as a society lately.
Seattle signed cornerback Linden Stephens off waivers from Miami. Stephens, 25, was on the Seahawks’ practice squad last season before the Dolphins signed him onto their active roster late in the year. He was an undrafted rookie free agent from Cincinnati in 2018.
