While the Seahawks have lost more players than they’ve added so far, NFL free agency continues in earnest three days in.
You can follow all the news here as we will update this space continually with signings becoming official when the new league year begins Wednesday at 1 p.m.
We’ll also offer some analysis and other news and notes along the way.
Jump to: Live updates » | Comments »
Seahawks unrestricted free agents
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks → Signing with Miami
Center Evan Brown
Cornerback Artie Burns ✔ Returning to Seahawks
Linebacker Devin Bush → Signing with Browns
Running back DeeJay Dallas → Signing with Cardinals
Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.
Tight end Noah Fant ✔ Returning to Seahawks
Guard Phil Haynes
Guard Damien Lewis → Signing with Panthers
Quarterback Drew Lock → Signing with Giants
Tight end Colby Parkinson → Signing with Rams
Offensive tackle Jason Peters
Linebacker Bobby Wagner → Signing with Commanders
Defensive end Leonard Williams ✔ Returning to Seahawks
Seahawks additions
Tight end Pharaoh Brown ✔
Center Nick Harris ✔
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins ✔
Tackle George Fant ✔
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson ✔
Quarterback Sam Howell ✔
5:03 pm, Mar. 15, 2024
Seahawks still working on linebacker corps
Just as Bobby Wagner was officially introduced as the newest members of the Washington Commanders, the Seahawks were taking steps to try to replace him in the middle of their defense.
A day after signing linebacker Tyrel Dodson to help fill the departed tandem of Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, the Seahawks were reported to be getting a visit from another linebacker — Jerome Baker of the Dolphins.
ESPN first reported that Baker visited the Titans on Thursday and was flying to Seattle on Friday to meet with the Seahawks.
Keep reading: Seahawks keep working on linebacker corps, kick tires on Jerome Baker
4:40 pm, Mar. 15, 2024
Catching up on the first week
Maybe the Seahawks didn’t make as many big moves during free agency as many fans might have hoped or expected.
It’s not as if they did nothing.
As of Friday afternoon, the Seahawks had signed five external free agents, kept 11 of their own, and made a trade — all while saying goodbye to a team legend for the second time in three years, but this time probably for good.
Keep reading: Here’s what the Seahawks did in the first week of NFL free agency
2:53 pm, Mar. 15, 2024
Quiet day for the Seahawks
No transactions listed for Seahawks on official NFL transactions listing other than a few of those that have already been incredibly widely reported, discussed, debated and hot-taked.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) March 15, 2024
11:19 am, Mar. 15, 2024
Bobby Wagner BMOC?
Bobby Wagner started an MBA program this January.
He chose Howard. Expected to be online.
Now he says things might have changed.
Keep your eyes open, students.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 15, 2024
9:14 am, Mar. 15, 2024
More linebacking help on the way?
Free-agent visits today:
🏈LB Jerome Baker visited the Titans and is now going directly to Seattle today to meet with the Seahawks.
🏈DT Teair Tart is visiting today with the Bengals, who lost DJ Reader.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2024
9:13 am, Mar. 15, 2024
Seahawks get top-graded LB
Only a few minutes after Seahawks president of football operations John Schneider said “obviously we feel like we have a need” at a linebacker, he took a step toward filling it, reaching an agreement with free agent Tyrel Dodson.
Dodson, 25, spent the last five years in Buffalo and started 10 games for the Bills last season. He made 74 tackles, eight for a loss, after taking over at weakside linebacker for the injured Matt Milano.
Ready more here: Seahawks finally get a linebacker, bringing in top-graded Tyrel Dodson
2:42 pm, Mar. 13, 2024
Bobby Wagner headed to other Washington
Bobby Wagner likely won’t end his NFL career as a Seahawk, as he had long hoped.
But he will continue it with a face from the Legion of Boom’s glorious past, reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, now coached by Dan Quinn. Quinn was the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks in 2013 and 2014, seasons when they advanced to the Super Bowl.
Heading to Washington also reunites Wagner with Ken Norton Jr., who has joined Quinn as the linebackers coach with the Commanders. Norton was the Seahawks’ linebackers coach from 2010-14 and defensive coordinator from 2018-21. Wagner is also pursing an MBA at Howard University in Washington D.C.
READ MORE >>>
2:39 pm, Mar. 13, 2024
Seahawks get a replacement at safety and depth on O-line
The Seahawks added two more external free agents on Wednesday shortly after the new league year began, reaching agreements with safety Rayshawn Jenkins and offensive tackle George Fant.
Jenkins, a starter the last three seasons with Jacksonville and a veteran of 80 NFL starts, will help replace the departed duo of Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, each released last week.
Fant played for the Seahawks from 2016-19 after making the roster as an undrafted free agent. He spent three seasons with the New York Jets and last year with the Houston Texans and will add insurance and maybe competition for Abe Lucas at right tackle.
Fant started 13 games last year for Houston and played in 16. He got 874 snaps at right tackle and 41 at left tackle.
The Seahawks have returners at each spot — Charles Cross at LT and Lucas at RT.
Lucas played just six games last season while battling knee issues and had surgery after the season.
President of football operations John Schneider said at the NFL scouting combine the hope is that Lucas will be healthy for the 2024 season. But they could view Fant as competition and insurance at right tackle and possibly giving the team options in how to use its offensive line, maybe using a tackle to help fill the voids at guard.
Fant has 73 starts in 99 career NFL games, including 24 in his first stint with the Seahawks. That included 10 at left tackle in 2016 as a rookie when he took over after Seattle did not re-sign Russell Okung.
Jenkins, released last week by Jacksonville in a cost-cutting move — he was entering the final season of a four-year deal worth up to $35 million he signed with the Jaguars in 2021 — and had a reported visit with Seattle on Monday and was scheduled to visit the 49ers.
Terms of his deal were not immediately known.
The Seahawks likely view him as a potential starter at safety alongside Julian Love in a remade back end of the defense after the releases of Adams and Diggs,
Jenkins was the 113th overall pick of the 2017 draft by the Chargers out of Miami and started 31 games for LA in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before moving on to Jacksonville.
Jenkins, who turned 30 in January, is listed as a strong safety. But he was used liberally at both safety spots last year by the Jaguars — according to PFF he had 489 yards at strong safety, 335 at free safety and 188 in the slot.
2:10 pm, Mar. 13, 2024
Seahawks extend Darrell Taylor, tender Michael Jackson and Jon Rhattigan
The Seahawks retained three of their restricted free agents before Wednesday’s 1 p.m. deadline, reaching an agreement to extend linebacker Darrell Taylor and tendering cornerback Michael Jackson and linebacker Jon Rhattigan.
Seattle did not tender offensive lineman Jake Curhan, so he is now an unrestricted free agent.
There were no immediate details on the contract for Taylor but a source confirmed to The Times that Taylor had been extended by Seattle.
Taylor was a second-round pick out of Tennessee in 2020 at No. 48 overall who missed all of his rookie year due to a leg injury but has played in 49 games over the past three seasons with 21.5 sacks.
He had 5.5 sacks last season in what was regarded as something of a disappointment after he made 9.5 in 2022.
RFAs given tenders can still negotiate with other teams but the tender gives Seattle the right to match any offer and possible compensation.
Jackson was given a fifth-round tender, assuring him a salary of $3.116 million for 2024 if he makes the roster, and meaning Seattle can get a fifth-round pick as compensation in return if he signs with another team or can match any offer he might get.
Jackson’s likely return means Seattle could have back in 2024 each of its top five cornerbacks from 2023: Tre Brown, Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Artie Burns and Jackson.
Rhattigan was given a right-of-first-refusal tender with a salary of $2.985 million if he makes the roster and giving Seattle the right to match any offer he might get, but no compensation if he signs elsewhere.
Rhattigan has been a key special teams player the past three years after initially making the roster in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of Army. And the team’s current lack of depth at linebacker could factor into the equation there, as well.
—Bob Condotta
1:45 pm, Mar. 13, 2024
Darrell Taylor coming back?
My understanding is Seahawks reached an agreement to extend Darrell Taylor before the RFA deadline today. Explains why he was not on any of the official lists.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) March 13, 2024
11:06 am, Mar. 13, 2024
Seahawks bringing back corner Artie Burns
The Seahawks kept another of their pending unrestricted free agents in the fold Wednesday morning, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Artie Burns.
ESPN first reported the signing.
Burns, 28, started one game and played 231 snaps overall last year as a reserve/situational cornerback and figures to contend for a similar role again this season.
He becomes the third of the 14 players who could have become unrestricted free agents at 1 p.m. Wednesday to re-sign with the Seahawks, joining tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
The Seahawks’ top three corners from last year — Riq Woolen, Tre Brown and Devon Witherspoon — are all under contract.
—Bob Condotta
8:38 am, Mar. 13, 2024
Analysis: Despite change in coaches, Seahawks stick to usual free-agent strategy
Maybe this year would be different, Seahawks fans wondered.
Maybe a change in head coaches from Pete Carroll to Mike Macdonald would result in a more aggressive approach in free agency.
Especially, they might have thought, after all those moves made over the last week — cutting Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, redoing the contract of Tyler Lockett — to free up more than $40 million in salary cap space.
But no.
Instead, as The Who might have sung it, meet the new free-agent strategy, same as the old free-agent strategy.
After the first two days of the free agent signing period, the Seahawks had again mostly sat things out, other than two moves on Monday to re-sign defensive lineman Leonard Williams and tight end Noah Fant and then adding tight end Pharaoh Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $3.9 million with $3.2 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
READ MORE >>>
—Bob Condotta
8:24 am, Mar. 13, 2024
Seahawks bring former UW standout Nick Harris back to Seattle
The Seahawks began filling out their offensive-line depth Wednesday morning, reaching an agreement with former UW standout Nick Harris on a one-year deal.
The NFL Network reported the deal is worth up to $3.26 million with a base value of $2.51 million.
Harris played at UW from 2016-19, crossing paths there with Seahawks offensive line coach Scott Huff for the last three years of his Husky career.
Harris was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2020 and has played in 40 games over four years with Cleveland, with four starts. He missed all of the 2022 season with a knee injury but returned to play in 17 games with two starts in 2023.
His playing time has come primarily at center but he has also played some guard.
Harris may come in to compete with Olu Oluwatimi for the starting center spot to replace Evan Brown, last year’s starter who is now a free agent. He could also compete for time at guard where they will be looking for a replacement for left guard Damien Lewis, who has reached an agreement with Carolina.
Harris is the second external free agent to reach agreement with the Seahawks, joining tight end Pharaoh Brown.
—Bob Condotta
Seattle Times sports staff