Even with Evan Brown, Seahawks need more depth on offensive line

The Seahawks signed center/guard Evan Brown to the roster but coach Pete Carroll admitted more depth is still needed on the offensive line.

The Seattle Seahawks had been in need of a center since last year’s starter Austin Blythe announced his retirement this offseason. Fortunately for Seattle, the Seahawks were able to acquire center/guard Evan Brown during the first week of free agency.

“I think it was a really good signing for us,” coach Pete Carroll said this week in Arizona. “It was very strategic in that we wanted to see if we could find a guy that’s been doing some playing, that’s got some background and really good communication skills, because of what we got from Austin last year.

“And so Evan is the guy that we think is going to be able to carry that on – he’s got a battle with our guys that we have.”

Brown originally entered the league with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He then had stints with the Dolphins and Browns before playing the last two seasons in Detroit. He adds depth and the flexibility to play both center and guard.

“The position of the offensive line I think is very secure right now,” Carroll continued. “It’s not as deep as we need it to be, but it is very solidly situated. We’ll have as much continuity, save losing the center, but if we can get that transition to fit well with the guards, really counting on Phil (Haynes) to do a big job for us. (Damien Lewis) and the tackles, they’re going to grow enormously, probably as much as anybody in our program.

“So it feels very connected and so I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Seahawks 2023 free agency: Contract details for each signing

Here are the details for every deal that we have numbers for so far.

The Seattle Seahawks went against type in free agency this year, spending freely to bolster a defensive front seven that was their greatest weakness last season. They have also re-signed both of the two quarterbacks they carried on the roster in 2022. Seattle has gotten mostly good grades for their signings, but the devil is always in the details for these contracts. So, let’s take a look.

Here are the details for every deal that we have numbers for so far.

2023 NFL free agency: Seahawks get high grades for early moves

Here are some grades for the team’s free agent haul from around the web.

The Seattle Seahawks are getting mostly rave reviews for their work in the NFL’s 2023 free agency period. Usually quiet this time of year, the front office threw a curveball, making a “home run” signing on the first day with former Broncos defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones.

Seattle also got arguably the best deal of the entire month when they re-signed quarterback Geno Smith to an unthinkably team-friendly and flexible three-year deal. The Seahawks have also added new players at linebacker (Devin Bush), center (Evan Brown), safety (Julian Love) and brought back former defensive lineman Jarran Reed. So, what do the experts think?

Here are some grades for the team’s free agent haul from around the web.

Seahawks 2023 free agency: Grading the first wave of signings

The Seahawks have signed five players since the 2023 free agency period opened on Monday.

The Seahawks have signed five new players since the 2023 free agency period opened on Monday and re-signed some of their own.

Here are our grades for each individual signing so far.

5 takeaways from Seahawks GM John Schneider’s radio interview

Schneider answered a number of free agency related questions.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider went on ESPN 710 radio in Seattle on Thursday afternoon and answered a number of free agency related questions, including about their most-recent signings.

Here are five takeaways from that conversation.

Seahawks agree to terms with former Lions C Evan Brown

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Lions center Evan Brown, according to a report by Aaron Wilson.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Lions center Evan Brown, according to a report by Aaron Wilson.

Brown (6-foot-3, 320 pounds) played his college ball at SMU and then went undrafted. He’s put in time with four different NFL teams, including one-year stops with the Browns, Dolphins and Giants and a three-year stint in Detroit. All together he’s appeared in 32 pro grames, including 24 starts.

For what it’s worth, last year Brown earned a solid PFF grade for his run blocking (69.5) but a poor one for pass protection (45.5), coming out to a 64.8 overall grade.

Brown fills an immediate need for Seattle in the middle of their offensive line, where 2022 center Austin Blythe just announced his retirement. Signing Brown doesn’t necessarily rule out the Seahawks from drafting a center, though. Word is they are very-much interested in Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz, the No. 1 prospect at the position in the 2023 NFL draft.

Seattle may also see Brown as a guard. He spent most of the 2022 season at right guard in Detroit after exclusively playing center his entire career up until that point. The Seahawks have Phil Haynes on deck there, though – and the greater need is at center at least for now.

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The Seahawks agree to terms with free agent OL Evan Brown from the Lions

Brown heads to Seattle after two impressive seasons as a fill-in starter in Detroit

Former Lions starting offensive lineman Evan Brown is on the move. Brown, who started at center in 2021 and right guard in 2022 in Detroit, is headed to the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent.

Terms are not initially available for Brown’s deal with the Seahawks.

Initially expected to be the top interior reserve for the Lions, injuries to Frank Ragnow in 2021 and Halapoulivaati Vaitai in 2022 thrust Brown into starting roles. He handled himself capably in both spots and made himself one of the top interior linemen on the free agent marketplace.

The initial reports of Brown signing with Seattle came within minutes of the news that the Lions were signing free agent Graham Glasgow.

No Lions free agents have signed with other teams yet

No Lions free agents signed with other teams yet during the first few hours of the legal tampering period

Monday marked the unofficial start of free agency as teams are able to set up deals with players whose contracts are about to expire.

While many teams were reported to have made some big moves, none of them agreed to terms with any of the pending free agents of the Detroit Lions.

Detroit itself opted to bring back Alex Anzalone, Isaiah Buggs, and Craig Reynolds, who all were with the team in 2022. They also brought in one outside free agent, cornerback Cam Sutton.

The Lions have many players who will command some attention in free agency, including Jamaal Williams, DJ Chark, Evan Brown, and John Cominsky. All have been reported to have garnered interest from other teams, but no deals have been reported for them or the other 12 unrestricted free agents on the roster in the first few hours.

The new league year begins on Wednesday at 4:00 pm ET and all of the reported deals will become official.

12 free-agent OL the Colts could consider in 2023

Taking a look at 12 free-agent offensive line options for the Colts in 2023.

After a tumultuous campaign, the Indianapolis Colts will have their eyes on adding some depth and talent to the offensive line through the free-agent market during the 2023 offseason.

While Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith are expected to be the starting tackles, adding depth behind them is crucial. The Colts also will be in the market to add a starting-caliber right guard and depth at the interior spots.

We took a look at the following positions for the Colts to consider adding to in free agency:

We shouldn’t expect the Colts to go on a wild spending spree in free agency. It’s not their M.O., and Chris Ballard isn’t working with the same amount of salary-cap space as he’s used to.

Now, it’s time to take a look at the free-agent options along the offensive line for the Colts to consider:

All available free-agent guards for Colts in 2023

Here’s a look at the available free-agent guards for the Colts in 2023.

As the new league year quickly approaches, the Indianapolis Colts will keep an eye on the free agency market once the middle of March arrives.

Filling the void at right guard is one of the biggest needs for the Colts this offseason. How the team will go about doing that remains to be seen, but the free-agent market does offer some intriguing options to consider.

We took a look at the available free agents for the following positions as well:

Here’s a look at the available free agents at guard for the 2023 offseason: