NFL free agency day 2: Seahawks standing pat as a QB leaves, presumed LB signs elsewhere
A reminder: John Schneider is a scout, draft maven and player-developer at his core.
Having $50 million in salary-cap space for NFL free agency doesn’t change that. Or Seattle’s general manager.
The day after the Seahawks re-signed Leonard Williams, their highest offseason priority to keep on their defense, Seattle watched a linebacker who appeared to fit its new coach’s scheme sign elsewhere.
Plus, Seattle is now down to one quarterback, Geno Smith. By design.
Day 2 of the league’s free-agency negotiating period began with Baltimore Ravens 2023 Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Queen reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $41 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers — not the Seahawks.
When contracts begin becoming official Wednesday with the start of the new league year, Queen’s will be the richest free-agent deal in Steelers’ history.
Queen was in the middle of the Ravens defense new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald coordinated in 2023 to the top of the NFL in turnovers, sacks and points allowed. With Seattle’s 2023 starting linebackers Jordyn Brooks agreeing to sign this week with Miami and Bobby Wagner shopping for his own free-agent deal elsewhere, Queen appeared to fit well with Macdonald in Seattle’s new defense.
The Steelers got him instead.
The Seahawks?
After the splash for Williams and a two-year, $21 million splurge to retain tight end Noah Fant on Monday, Schneider and the team appear to be settling into their normal free-agency approach. That is, patience in waiting for lower-priced, secondary-wave bargains rather than paying top dollar in the market’s opening days.
And a reliance on the draft in April to fill the team’s many holes. Those include at inside linebacker, safety and along the interior of the offensive and defensive lines.
Drew Lock to Giants
Also Tuesday, now-former Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock got what he didn’t get last year in free agency: multiple attractive offers, more than last year when he re-signed with Seattle for 2023.
NFL Network reported Lock agreed Tuesday to a free-agent contract with the New York Giants.
Lock’s deal is reportedly worth $5 million for 2024. That’s $1 million more than Seattle re-signed him for last year to back up Smith again. That’s what Lock filling in for the injured Smith and rallying the Seahawks past the Philadelphia Eagles with the entire league watching late on a Monday night in December earned Lock.
His new Giants deal leaves Smith as the only quarterback on Seattle’s roster, entering April’s draft.
Smith, who turns 34 in October, has this year and next year remaining on his Seahawks contract.
Other Seahawks departing
Running back DeeJay Dallas reportedly agreed to a free-agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
The fourth-round pick by Seattle in 2020 was primarily a kick returner and third-down running back last season. He played in 61 games with five total touchdowns in four years with the Seahawks.
His exit, as expected, makes it likely 2023 draft choice Kenny McIntosh gets a full chance to back up top two running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet for Seattle this year.
Seahawks free agency tracker
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Seahawks were one of just two NFL teams not to have agreed on a contract with a free agent from another team.
They had lost five free agents to contract agreements with other teams.
Seattle’s unrestricted free agents for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
LB Jordyn Brooks: To Miami
C Evan Brown
CB Artie Burns
LB Devin Bush
RB DeeJay Dallas: To Arizona
DE Mario Edwards
TE Noah Fant: Re-signing with Seahawks
G Phil Haynes
G Damien Lewis: To Carolina
QB Drew Lock: To New York Giants
TE Colby Parkinson: To Los Angeles Rams
OT Jason Peters
LB Bobby Wagner
DT Leonard Williams: Re-signing with Seahawks
This story was originally published March 12, 2024 at 12:40 PM.
