Tag: B.J. Finney

Will the Seahawks pick an interior offensive lineman in NFL draft?

It’s hard to predict what the Seahawks will do in the NFL draft, but adding a center/guard seems unlikely following their free agency moves.

Even though we have been doing it for months, it’s always hard to predict what the Seattle Seahawks will do in the NFL draft.

Their two most recent first round selections, Rashaad Penny in 2018 and L.J. Collier in 2019, were hardly expected – as Penny didn’t fill a positional need and Collier was not considered a first round talent by most evaluators.

So while it’s anyone’s guess what Seattle will actually do this weekend, it does seem like the team’s moves during free agency will steer them away from taking interior offensive linemen during the draft.

The team not only signed two new center/guard types in free agency – B.J. Finney and Chance Warmack – they also re-signed Joey Hunt, Mike Iupati, Jordan Roos and Jordan Simmons, giving them 11 players capable of playing the three interior spots.

Iupati is expected to re-join Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker as starters in 2020, which doesn’t leave much room for newcomers.

Of course, Britt could be a cap casualty, as cutting him would save the team $11.4 million dollars – money they could use to pursue an upgrade on the defensive line.

Even if they make that move, Finney will likely take over as the starting center, and Iupati and Fluker will have plenty of competition to back them up, including Ethan Pocic, Phil Haynes, Jamarco Jones (if they move him inside) Demetrius Knox, Simmons, Roos and Warmack.

There are plenty of good interior linemen available for the picking, and we have profiled quite a few of them including Nick Harris, Lloyd Cushenberry, Cesar Ruiz, Tyler Biadasz and Damien Lewis.

However – unless Seattle is planning to make multiple cuts up front, it seems unlikely they’ll use an early round pick on an interior offensive lineman during the 2020 NFL draft, and even a late round pick seems like a waste unless they see some real upside.

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Ranking the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason acquisitions so far

The Seattle Seahawks have acquired nine new players this offseason. Here’s a ranking of each of them, and how they might contribute in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks, as of this writing, have acquired nine new players heading into the 2020 season.

With more additions to come, during both free agency and the draft, it’s hard to know exactly what impact all the newcomers will have on this year’s squad.

However – we can take some guesses based on their history, Seattle’s typical use of players, and various other factors.

The following is a ranking of Seattle’s nine new players, with analysis on their potential impact on the team in 2020.

This list is not to be taken as an order of talent, but rather the best fit for the team, based on the current roster construction and expected use.

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What Mike Iupati’s signing means for Seattle’s offensive line

Could the Seahawks signing veteran Mike Iupati to a one-year deal spell the end of Justin Britt’s tenure in Seattle?

The Seattle Seahawks made yet another addition to their offensive line on Tuesday afternoon, reportedly re-signing veteran guard Mike Iupati to a one-year deal.

Iupati started 15 games for Seattle last year, all at left guard, and his mauling run-blocking ability paved the way for the Seahawks to employ their run-heavy offensive attack.

Now he’s back, and his return crowds an already overstuffed group of interior offensive linemen in the Emerald City – likely paving way for more moves.

Iupati is almost certainly going to start at left guard, and unless the team decides to part ways with D.J. Fluker, he will be the starter at right guard.

That leaves a bevy of players competing for backup guard spots, including Jamarco Jones, B.J. Finney, Ethan Pocic, Jordan Simmons, Phil Haynes, Jordan Roos, Demetrius Knox, Chance Warmack, Kyle Fuller and Joey Hunt.

Whew.

Jones and Finney are the two who seem to lose out the most with this signing. However, both are capable of playing multiple positions – which is how this Iupati signing could be a sign of things to come elsewhere.

Finney was signed to a two-year, $8 million deal, and it’s unlikely Seattle would give him that kind of cash to leave him on the bench.

Since a lot of Finney’s NFL experience is at center, this move could be an indication that veteran Justin Britt and his $11.4 million salary will be coming off the books soon, clearing space for a potential big name signing, likely either Jadeveon Clowney or another pass rusher.

Finney would likely take over as the starting center if Britt is cut, but the team also has Joey Hunt and Ethan Pocic in the mix as well – plenty of depth to absorb the loss of Britt if that is the direction the team goes.

As for Jones, he could be used in a similar role as last year, a versatile backup capable of playing four spots on the offensive line and filling in as needed.

He could also compete to start at right tackle with free agent Brandon Shell, who is expected to replace Germain Ifedi but could get usurped by Jones if he performs well.

The Iupati signing looks strange at first, considering Seattle’s depth, but coach Pete Carroll loves keeping continuity on the offensive line, and Iupati’s style fits Seattle’s strategy up front.

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Why Seahawks could still take an offensive lineman in 1st round

The Seahawks already signed four offensive lineman this offseason, but drafting USC’s Austin Jackson in the first round still makes sense.

On paper, it looks like the Seattle Seahawks have done enough to shore up their offensive line heading into the 2020 season.

Four new signings; Brandon Shell, Cedric Ogbuehi, B.J. Finney and Chance Warmack, replenish depth at all five positions along the line, and the team also offered restricted free agent Joey Hunt a tender and is planning to bring back guard Jordan Simmons as well.

However – there is plenty of reason to believe more will happen along the offensive front, and it remains a distinct possibility the Seahawks look to upgrade their offensive line in a big way during the 2020 NFL draft.

Germain Ifedi and George Fant are both gone, signing with the Bears and Jets, respectively, and left guard Mike Iupati looks unlikely to return as well.

Additionally, both Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker are potential cut candidates to save salary cap room, which opens up two more starting spots.

It may look like the team has clear cut starters in place, with Shell likely to take over for Ifedi and Ogbuehi likely to fill the sixth lineman role Fant held the past two seasons. However, Jamarco Jones will likely slide into Iupati’s role at left guard, which means this team will be hurting for depth at the tackle spots.

Enter USC tackle Austin Jackson. Jackson frequently finds himself on mock draft boards near Seattle’s first round pick, No. 27 overall, and it would make sense for the Seahawks to snag him.

He’s a bit raw, and most of his experience is at left tackle, but he is expected to be an NFL starter within a year or two, and he would be a great long-term replacement for Ifedi at right tackle.

Shell is more than capable of filling in for the 2020 season, but Jackson would give Seattle an anchor to build a young offensive line that could include Jones, Phil Haynes and Ethan Pocic in the near future.

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Seahawks at No. 11 in Touchdown Wire’s mid-free agency power rankings

The Seattle Seahawks have landed at No. 11 in Touchdown Wire’s mid-free agency power rankings.

Now that the first wave of NFL free agency is in the books, it’s time to take a look at where teams stand after a little roster adjusting.

The Seahawks have added a few key additions to the squad over the last week, including linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Quinton Dunbar, guard B.J. Finney and tight end Greg Olsen much earlier in the offseason.

For their efforts so far, Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield ranks Seattle at No. 11 in Touchdown Wire’s mid-free agency power rankings.

“The biggest question right now is where Jadeveon Clowney winds up,” Schofield notes. “If he returns to the Seahawks, that would definitely boost their stock. Adding Irvin is a nice acquisition, as the Seahawks struggled to generate consistent pressure last year and Irvin tallied 8.5 sacks a season ago, his career high. Seattle also absolutely stole cornerback Quinton Dunbar, one of the most effective players at his position in 2019, for a fifth-round pick.”

“They lost George Fant to the New York Jets, but adding pieces such as Finney will help the offensive line somewhat,” Schofield continues. “Plus, having a mobile quarterback such as Russell Wilson works to mitigate any mistakes or deficiencies up front. Olson is a solid tight end, provided he remains healthy, but the organizations hedged their bets at that position by assigning a second-round tender on Jacob Hollister and inking Luke Willson to a contract extension.”

Regardless of the moves they’ve made so far, the Seahawks will never stop tweaking their roster so expect another wave of depth signings in the near future.

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A look at Seahawks’ offensive line after Week 1 of free agency

The Seattle Seahawks overhauled their offensive line this offseason. Here’s a look at each position battle as the roster comes together.

The Seattle Seahawks used the first week of free agency to shore up a handful of positions of need, including adding a wide receiver and bringing back an old friend on the defensive line in Bruce Irvin.

However, most of the overhaul has been done on the offensive line, where the team has signed four new players and let two players, George Fant and Germain Ifedi, leave via free agency.

Although there are likely still moves to be made, including potential cuts, more signings and of course the NFL draft, we are going to take a look at how things project out on Seattle’s offensive line as of now, and what they could look like come September.

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Seahawks officially announce signing of offensive lineman B.J. Finney

The Seattle Seahawks have officially announced the signing of former Steelers’ offensive lineman, B.J. Finney who can play center and guard.

The Seattle Seahawks have now officially announced the signing of former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman, B.J. Finney. Reports the two sides had reached an agreement surfaced last week.

Finney, a product of Kansas State, first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He spent the last four seasons in Pittsburgh, starting 13 of 59 games played. Finney’s versatility is key, having logged time at center and both guard positions.

The Seahawks battled a number of injuries on the offensive line last year, losing both starting center Justin Britt and guard Ethan Pocic to the injured reserve. Finney could provide much-needed depth across the line when the team reconvenes this offseason.

In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Seahawks had made it clear they would not be announcing any new personnel moves until contracts had officially been signed.

For a look at all of Seattle’s reported moves so far, be sure and check our live free-agency tracker here.

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Seahawks agree to terms with guard Chance Warmack

The Seattle Seahawks continue to collect free agent offensive linemen, agreeing to terms with Chance Warmack, a former first round pick.

The Seattle Seahawks have added another offensive lineman into the mix, agreeing to terms with former first round pick Chance Warmack, according to his agent Ron Slavin and confirmed by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Warmack did not play in 2019 due to injury, but he has 51 career starts to his name, almost all of them coming at right guard.

He was a first round pick in the 2013 NFL draft after an accomplished career at Alabama, going 10th overall to the Titans. He spent four years in Tennessee before playing two years in Philadelphia with the Eagles, appearing in 20 games but only starting three.

Now, he’ll join B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi as newcomers on Seattle’s offensive line in 2020. With Mike Iupati and Germain Ifedi both free agents, and George Fant already gone, this team will have a very different looking offensive unit next season.

Warmack, 28, is likely just a depth signing and a potential camp body, although his pedigree makes him a worthwhile gamble on a team filled with inexperienced guards.

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Touchdown Wire gives Seahawks ‘C grade’ for free agency so far

After the first week of NFL free agency, Touchdown Wire gives the Seattle Seahawks a “C grade” for their activity and dealings so far.

We are nearing the end of the first official week of NFL free agency, and despite all the restrictions as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, teams are finding ways to get deals done.

The Seahawks have made a number of moves so far but will not be announcing any contracts are official until the physicals are completed and the paperwork signed.

That being said, with the reports of the deals so far, here’s a look at Touchdown Wire’s analysis of Seattle’s free agents gained and lost to date.

Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield put together the following thoughts on the Seahawks’ dealings.

“Losing offensive lineman/hybrid tight end George Fant to the Jets wasn’t a big deal for the Seahawks, but losing outside/inside pass-rusher Quinton Jefferson to the Bills presents a bigger issue,” Farrar and Schofield write. “Jefferson is one of the NFL’s most underrated defensive linemen, and Seattle doesn’t have another guy with Jefferson’s capabilities unless Jadeveon Clowney re-signs in the Emerald City. Losing Jefferson also takes some of the luster off the Jarran Reed re-signing, though Reed is a quality player. Signing former first-round pick Bruce Irvin back gives a bit of edge-rush capability, as well as linebacker depth for the team that plays more base defense than any other. The sleeper deal so far for Seattle, we suppose, is multi-positional offensive lineman B.J. Finney, who fills a few backup holes but doesn’t solve the team’s longstanding protection issues in a larger sense.”

Farrar and Schofield will continue to update their analysis on the Seahawks’ free agent moves, but give the team a grade of “C” so far.

You can follow all of Seattle’s latest moves here.

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Recent signings spell the end of Germain Ifedi’s tenure in Seattle

The Seahawks added three o-linemen in the first week of free agency, almost certainly spelling the end of Germain Ifedi’s tenure in Seattle.

The Seattle Seahawks’ recent binge of free agent offensive lineman likely spells the end of the Germain Ifedi era at right tackle.

Ifedi is an unrestricted free agent after the team did not tender him a fifth-year option last offseason, which would have paid the 25-year-old $10.3 million dollars in 2020.

Ifedi is expected to command a similar amount per year on the open market, especially after Halapoulivaati Vaitai and George Fant, who were both backups last season, each signed deals around $10 million annually.

If the Seahawks weren’t willing to pay Ifedi $10 million last offseason, they are even less likely to do so now, after they added a potential replacement in the form of former Jets tackle Brandon Shell.

Shell’s recent grades on Pro Football Focus are similar to Ifedi’s, and he commits penalties roughly half as frequently. Considering his modest $5.5 million per year contract, Shell is a comparable talent at half the cost – so it’s easy to see why Seattle would bring him into the mix.

Seattle also added center/guard B.J. Finney and tackle/tight end Cedric Ogbuehi. Finney could challenge for the starting left guard spot, potentially pushing Jamarco Jones back out to tackle, while Ogbuehi expects to fill the Fant role as a backup tackle and occasional sixth lineman/tight end.

All this points to a future offensive line without Ifedi in the fold, as the former first round pick will likely have to try to find a starting job elsewhere for the first time in his NFL career.

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