Seahawks tender restricted free agents CB Mike Jackson and LB Jon Rhattigan

They have used a fifth-round tender on cornerback Mike Jackson and a right of first refusal tender for linebacker Jon Rhattigan.

The new league year is now officially official, and with it comes a flurry of transactions and personnel news.

A couple notes for Seattle just dropped via Tom Pelissero at NFL Network. The Seahawks have tendered two of their restricted free agents this year. They have used a fifth-round tender on cornerback Mike Jackson and a right of first refusal tender for linebacker Jon Rhattigan.

Jackson was expected to maintain a regular starting role in 2023 after a strong preseason showing. However, once Devon Witherspoon debuted Jackson quickly got lost in the shuffle in what’s become one of the deepest cornerback rooms in the NFL. Tre Brown and Artie Burns also both ended up passing him up on the depth chart.

Jackson wound up playing all 17 games but only earned four starts. He totaled 34 tackles and allowed zero touchdowns and a 95.1 passer rating in coverage. In the end, Jackson was on the field for 40% of the team’s defensive snaps and 51% on special teams.

Rhattigan also appeared in every game this past season for Seattle, but was relegated to an almost exclusive special teams role. He only played 19 defensive snaps on the year, or 2% of the team’s total. On special teams he was out there for 303 snaps, or 66%.

Looking ahead, both should at least continue to see significant playing time on special teams in 2024. Aside from that, it’s difficult to envision serious snaps on defense for either barring a string of injuries.

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Let’s get caught up on some of the latest Seahawks free agent news from around the league.

Today has been much slower compared to yesterday, but let’s get caught up on some of the latest Seahawks free agent news from around the league.

Last night left guard Damien Lewis agreed to a massive four-year deal with the Panthers, worth a reported $53 million total.

A short time ago we also learned that running back DeeJay Dallas is also leaving. According to Jordan Schultz, he has agreed to terms with the Cardinals, but there are no details on how much as of yet.

Finally, just moments ago we received word that Drew Lock will also be leaving Seattle as a free agent. According to Adam Schefter at ESPN, Lock is getting a one-year, $5 million deal from the Giants.

None of these headlines should really come as a surprise, aside from the outlandish size of Damien Lewis’ deal with Carolina.

So far the Seahawks have been characteristically quiet in free agency. They have not signed any outside free agents as of yet and have only reported to be- re-signing tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Leaonrd Williams.

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Leonard Williams staying with Seahawks, agrees to 3-year deal

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with defensive lineman Leonard Williams, according to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with defensive lineman Leonard Williams, according to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

Tom Pelissero followed up moments later with details that it’s a three-year deal worth a total of $64.5 million.

Originally a first-round pick by the Jets back in 2015, Williams came over to the Seahawks in a mid season trade with the Giants. In 10 games in a Seattle uniform he was their most-effective defender, totaling four sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 15 pressures despite frequently seeing double teams.

As expected, re-signing Williams wasn’t cheap and while the trade to get him may not have been a brilliant idea, allowing him to leave would have made the Seahawks’ defense worse where it matters most. By keeping Williams in the fold, they have a solid centerpiece to build their defense around in the absence of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks.

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Seahawks re-signing tight end Noah Fant to 2-year deal

Fant is the first free agent who’s been re-signed by Seattle in this cycle.

The Seahawks are re-signing tight end Noah Fant to a two-year deal worth a total of $21 million, according to a report by Jordan Schultz at Bleacher Report.

Fant (26) is the first free agent who’s been re-signed by Seattle in this cycle. It’s no surprise that it’s a tight end, a position where the market has moved incredibly quick over the last few days. Just observe the contracts that Fant’s teammates have gotten today. Both Will Dissly (Chargers) and Colby Parkinson (Rams) signed eight-figure, three-year deals with other teams.

Retaining Fant at this price point is a win for the Seahawks, especially considering what other tight ends are getting. Fant may have been underused by former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron the last two seasons, only earning 106 total targets. Fant is still a very athletic receiver with the ability to stretch the field and tack on YAC. It doesn’t take much imagination to see him producting a lot in Ryan Grubb’s offense.

Looking ahead, Fant will be at the top of the depth chart for Seattle’s tight end room. Who will be in there with him remains to be seen. For now, practice squad member Tyler Mabry is the only other tight end on the roster.

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Jordyn Brooks leaving Seahawks, agrees to 3-year deal with Dolphins

According to a report by Adam Scheter at ESPN, Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks has agreed to a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks has agreed to a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $30 million.

Brooks is the first major loss for Seattle in this free agency cycle. He was coming off a career-best year in 2023, having totaled a career low 89.3 passer rating allowed in coverage, making a difference as a pass rusher (4.5 sacks) and defending the run as well as ever.

In Miami Brooks will be joining a loaded defense that may have only been missing a difference-maker at inside linebacker.

With Bobby Wagner also hitting free agency and reportedly unlikely to return to Seattle, this is another position where we are likely to see heavy turnover this offseason. The team’s No. 3 option at linebacker Devin Bush is also set to become a free agent.

Other free agent defections include tight end Colby Parkinson to the Chargers and former tight end Will Dissly signing with the Rams.

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Former Seahawks TE Will Dissly plans to sign with Chargers on 3-year deal

Happy National Pay Tight Ends Day!

Happy National Pay Tight Ends Day!

The latest member to join the club is former Seahawks and Huskies tight end Will Dissly, who was released last week for $7 million in cap savings. It didn’t take Dissly long to find a new home in the NFL. According to Jordan Schultz at Bleacher Report, Dissly is signing a three-year, $14 million deal with the Chargers. $10 million of it is fully guaranteed.

Dissly had appeared in 72 games with Seattle over the last six seasons. All together, he’s totaled 127 catches, 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Dissly is the second Seahawks tight end to get a new deal today. Colby Parkinson is also on his way to LA, having agreed to terms of a slightly larger three-year deal with the Rams.

Tyler Mabry and Noah Fant are now the only tight ends on the roster, and Fant will become a free agent in two days. Based on the kinds of deals that have been going around, keeping Fant around is not going to be cheap.

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Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson intends to sign 3-year deal with the Rams

Good for Parkinson.

If you’re a tight end in the NFL you’re about to get paid. Perhaps the fastest-moving market so far in free agency has been this position, which just saw another exodus from the Seahawks’ depth chart.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, third-string tight end Colby Parkinson intends to sign a three-year deal with the division rival Rams for $22.5 million, with $15.5 million guaranteed.

Good for Parkinson.

However, this leaves Seattle even thinner at tight end, having released Will Dissly for cap savings last week. For those keeping count at home, that means if Noah Fant hits the market on Wednesday, the Seahawks will only have Tyler Mabry left on their roster at this spot.

As a consolation prize for Parkinson leaving, Seattle is now projected to get a sixth-round comp pick in next year’s draft.

 

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Russell Wilson to sign one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Wilson will be headed to the Steel City on a one-year, veteran minimum contract to compete with former first round selection Kenny Pickett.

The clocks weren’t the only things to take a step forward on Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move to bolster their quarterback room. After a short-lived stint in unrestricted free agency, former Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has found his new NFL home.

Wilson will be headed to the Steel City on a one-year, veteran minimum contract to compete with former first round selection Kenny Pickett. The Steelers are absolutely taking advantage of the fact the Broncos are financially on the hook for the absurd contract extension they granted Wilson before he even took one snap with them.

Ever since it became evident the Broncos would be moving on from Wilson, the Steelers always seemed like the natural fit. Pittsburgh is a defense-focused team that needs its quarterback to be efficient, mistake free, but give just enough juice to move the ball.

Gee, this sure sounds a lot like the situation Wilson was in during the early Seahawks years.

Speaking of Seattle, the 12th Man will surely not be thrilled at the sight of the best quarterback in franchise history taking snaps for the hated Steelers. The pain Pittsburgh (and the officials) caused the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL has not been forgotten, nor will it any time soon. With this in mind, it is hard to imagine there will be many Seattle fans deciding to resume rooting for Wilson with him now a member of the Steelers.

Still, Pittsburgh does seem like the place for Wilson to attempt to fix his heavily damaged legacy. The Steelers are a model of consistency, and managed to make the playoffs with a ragtag team of quarterbacks last year. Should Wilson be able to replicate his 2023 season (26 touchdowns against eight interceptions) the Wisconsin Badger standout just might give Pittsburgh a boost at the most important position in sports since the departure of Big Ben Roethlisberger.

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Seahawks getting visit from free agent safety Rayshawn Jenkins

We finally have our first reported visit between the Seahawks and an outside 2024 free agent.

We finally have our first reported visit between the Seahawks and an outside 2024 free agent.

According to Jordan Schultz at Bleacher Report, former Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins is on his way to Seattle to visit with the Seahawks.

Jenkins (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) was originally a fourth-round pick by the Chargers in the 2017 NFL draft out of Miami (FL). He played 61 games with them over the next four seasons, followed by three years and 48 more games with the Jaguars.

While Jenkins has not made a Pro Bowl team, he has performed well at his position. What sets him apart from the herd is his coverage, which has been exceptionally tight – especially over the last three seasons in Jacksonville. During that time he has only allowed two touchdowns and his passer rating allowed has dropped from 96.9 to 78.6 to 62.5 last season.

Jenkins is listed as a safety but that belies his versatility. Jacksonville used him all over in 2023 – notably in the box, in the slot and at free safety. If the Seahawks do sign him, he would be projected to start at safety opposite Julian Love.

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Bobby Wagner expected to hit free agency, unlikely to return to Seahawks

Wagner will become a free agent when the new league year begins and it’s considered unlikely that he will return to Seattle.

According to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will become a free agent when the new league year begins and it’s considered unlikely that he will return to Seattle.

Wagner is coming off a 183-tackle season, the third time he has led the league in tackles in his career. However, Wagner is also 33 years old and the Seahawks are going in a younger direction. He has played 185 games in the NFL, made nine Pro Bowl teams and has six All-Pro nominations. While he has nothing left to prove, in interviews after the 2023 season ended, Wagner made it clear he intends to continue playing.

This past season Wagner gave Seattle a hometown discount, signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal. On the open market he should be able to earn more than that after another Pro Bowl season.

Potential replacements for Wagner in free agency include Patrick Queen, Eric Kendricks and D’Vondre Campbell, who was just released by the Packers and had done great work under the Seahawks’ new linebackers coach.

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