There are two concerns people are discussing in reaction to the Seahawks signing Cooper Kupp. One is warranted, the other not so much.
He hasn’t played a full 17-game season since his record-breaking year in 2021. Kupp turns 32 in June. The Seahawks will probably have to manage his workload to keep him available. This isn’t unusual for players of his age.
That’s the legit concern. The money side of it, though, is far less problematic.
Firstly, the Seahawks have a lot of money to spend. It’s not just the millions they still have to play with this year. It’s the massive amount of cap available to them in 2026 and 2027. This signing isn’t going to stop them doing anything they want to do this year or in the future.
Furthermore, the final details on the reported three-year $45m contract will likely show some flexibility for the team. The first reported numbers you see are from the agents. I’d be surprised if the Seahawks are on the hook for a hard $15m-a-year without any outs. This is hardly committing tens of millions to Will Fries without a progress report on his recovery from a broken leg first.
Even if it was $15m, the rest of the NFL provides context. Tutu Atwell just signed a one-year deal worth $10m. Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers earn $11m a year. Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney and Khalil Shakir are on $13m.
The Rams gave Davante Adams $22m-a-year and he turns 33 in December.
As you can see, the contract the Seahawks gave Kupp is hardly out of the ordinary or some kind of massive overpay. This is about what he should get for a player of his reputation, if you believe he still has something to offer. The Seahawks clearly believe he has.
It’s also worth noting that DK Metcalf just got $33m to go to Pittsburgh. He only had 992 yards himself in 2024, although I’m sure he’d argue there are reasons for that. If Kupp can get to that level of yardage for half the cost, it’ll be a net-win.
I see the signing as low-risk and very much in the ‘why not?’ category. If it doesn’t work out, there aren’t going to be any serious ramifications. You spent a bit of money on an ageing legendary receiver. It’s hardly a fireable offence.
If it does work out — you’re getting a player with natural skill, veteran savvy, he’s a good blocker and he adds to a receiver room that was suddenly quite thin. He’ll be suitably motivated after being cut by the Rams and clearly has the kind of ‘want to be there’ feeling John Schneider talked about yesterday that was lacking with Metcalf.
He might not be quite the athlete he was five years ago but can he still run the routes this system needs, particularly on the short-to-intermediate range, to move the chains and convert critical downs? I suspect he can. I also think he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be able to play off each other and Marquez Valdez-Scantling will be able to provide the deep threat.
The Seahawks will draft a receiver. I doubt it’ll be at #18 but it could be in rounds two or three. Earlier today I published a mock with Colorado State’s Tory Horton being selected in round three.
This has been a productive free agency so far. It hasn’t been a game-changer but in reality that was never likely with the players available.
I won’t repeat all of the arguments about the offensive line, I’ll just say again that I don’t think it’s any crushing blow to miss out on the player they wanted and I think the draft will provide solutions. People pining for Teven Jenkins and Garrett Bradbury should at least acknowledge why they were replaced by their previous teams. They will likely not help form a great O-line in Seattle but they might be able to act as cheap draft hedges on one-year deals.
The Ernest Jones Jr and Jarran Reed contracts are excellent value. The pivot from Geno Smith to the younger and cheaper Sam Darnold, with a third rounder thrown in too, is a good move. As with Kupp, I think there’s absolutely no reason to quibble about the addition of DeMarcus Lawrence.
With five picks to spend in a good draft — this is turning into the disruptive, potentially transformational off-season this franchise needed. John Schneider and co. deserve credit for being willing to take risks to improve, rather than settle in the middle ground of the NFL.
If you missed our instant reaction live stream to the Cooper Kupp news, check it out below, and please subscribe to the channel:
Round one
#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
All of Tennessee’s moves in free agency so far point to the Titans drafting Cam Ward with the #1 overall pick.
#2 Cleveland — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Browns could reach for a quarterback here, or they could pair Carter with Myles Garrett and terrorise opposing offenses.
#3 NY Giants — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
They just seem so stuck that they’ll need to make sure they come out of the draft with a quarterback. Dart appears to be emerging as QB2.
#4 New England — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
Unless three quarterbacks go in the top-three, Carter and Hunter will be top-four picks.
#5 Jacksonville — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
With Evan Engram moving on, the Jaguars can easily justify adding a playmaker like Warren in this spot.
#6 Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
The pound-for-pound best talent in the draft.
#7 NY Jets — Armand Membou (T/G, Missouri)
The Lions were built in the trenches and there’s a chance Aaron Glenn will follow that approach in New York.
#8 Carolina — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
His lack of size and length plus no testing numbers could hamper Graham’s stock.
#9 New Orleans — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
Defensively they need a refresh. Walker’s versatility and character will be coveted by teams.
#10 Chicago — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
It seems to be gathering pace that the Bears could take Hampton this early if Jeanty’s off the board.
#11 San Francisco — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
Williams is a difficult player to get an angle on but he’ll probably go in the top-half of round one.
#12 Dallas — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
The Cowboys signing two running backs in free agency perhaps suggests they aren’t optimistic either of Jeanty or Hampton lasts to this pick.
#13 Miami — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
Whether it’s at cornerback or ‘STAR’, Barron is an exciting player with loads of character.
#14 Indianapolis — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
They remade their secondary in free agency and this would be a great pick to plug in at linebacker.
#15 Atlanta — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
When you have massive production, good run defense, high-end agility and strong character, you tend to go early.
#16 Arizona — Will Campbell (T/G, LSU)
Another player who is tough to work out. Perhaps the Cardinals start him at guard or push Jonah Williams inside?
#17 Cincinnati — Mike Green (DE, Marshall)
Teams will need to look into the possible character concerns with Green. The Bengals are typically more willing to overlook such issues.
#18 Seattle — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
If Aaron Banks’ testing profile can convince Kyle Shanahan to draft him and Matt LaFleur to pay him $19.25m, Booker can be a fit in this scheme.
#19 Tampa Bay — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
The injuries are mounting up and it’ll likely keep Johnson on the board. He’s a good player, though.
#20 Denver — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Sean Payton apparently wants an X-factor in the backfield, as he did with Alvin Kamara. Henderson could go in this range.
#21 Pittsburgh — Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)
I think someone will draft Shough in round one. His size, personality, athleticism, arm strength and playing style warrant early-round consideration.
#22 LA Chargers — Grey Zabel (G/C, North Dakota State)
Jim Harbaugh loves the trenches and the chances are he’ll love Zabel — either at guard or center.
#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
The Packers typically wait until round two for receivers but they seize a chance to get WR1 here.
#24 Minnesota — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
Having pumped resources into their lines, they can now afford to look at other areas.
#25 Houston — Kelvin Banks (T, Texas)
The more you really dig into the tape, the less exciting Banks is. But the Texans need a tackle.
#26 LA Rams — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
Sanders falling this far would be a big story but landing with Sean McVay would be an ideal situation for him.
#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
Safety remains a need for the Ravens and they typically find value in the first round.
#28 Detroit — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
His athletic profile is top-15 worthy. The production is not. Teams will weigh-up potential versus results.
#29 Washington — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
An EDGE rusher would be ideal but the options aren’t great here.
#30 Buffalo — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
His tackling and run defense is a problem but he’s silky smooth in coverage and will be able to cover at a decent level quickly.
#31 Kansas City — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
A player who relies on ball-tracking and body control, plus natural gifts, but lacks great upside and athleticism.
#32 Philadelphia — Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
With the news they’re willing to move off Dallas Goedert, will they take his replacement here?
Round two
#33 Cleveland — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
The Browns need to add a left tackle, whoever lines up under center.
#34 NY Giants — Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
The Giants badly need to upgrade their offensive line. Ratledge wowed with his testing at the combine.
#35 Tennessee — Bradyn Swinson (EDGE, LSU)
He’s being slept on. Swinson and Donovan Ezeiruaku led the NCAA for pressures during the regular season.
#36 Jacksonville — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
A super smart receiver who’d be a great complement to Brian Thomas Jr.
#37 Las Vegas — Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
He’s such a good player. Naturally talented and driven. He can have a great NFL career.
#38 New England — Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas)
Jackson is built like a terminator and feels like a Mike Vrabel type.
#39 Chicago (v/CAR) — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
He’d excel as Ben Johnson’s Chicago-version of Sam LaPorta.
#40 New Orleans — Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
They need to add a receiver and Burden would be good value here.
#41 Chicago — Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State)
Noel is such an impressive, dynamic talent.
#42 New York Jets — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
He could do with shifting a bit of weight but he has excellent physical upside.
#43 San Francisco — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
Harmon could go earlier than this after a good combine workout.
#44 Dallas — Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
An excellent combine should put him in the top-45 range.
#45 Indianapolis — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
Will Fries is in Minnesota, so they replace him with another BIG-10 lineman.
#46 Atlanta — Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina)
If it wasn’t for the knee injury, Revel might’ve gone in the first round.
#47 Arizona — Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA)
His tape was so good in 2024. Even if he’s a one-year wonder — he’s an impressive player.
#48 Miami — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
A mix of some character concerns and inconsistent play could drop him a bit.
#49 Cincinnati — Darius Alexander (DT, Toledo)
He really looked the part at the Senior Bowl. He could be an option for the Seahawks in round two.
#50 Seattle — Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
The replacement for Roy Robertson-Harris. He ticks every box — personality, aggressive playing style, versatility, production and brilliant testing numbers.
#51 Denver — Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
Running in the 4.5’s won’t help his stock but Sean Payton might be able to turn him into Michael Thomas, who also fell after running in that range.
#52 Seattle (v/PIT) — Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
Even after signing Sam Darnold, this feels like the year the Seahawks will draft a quarterback to develop.
#53 Tampa Bay — Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
They say they’re after ball-hawks — and Watts has a ton of interceptions over the last two seasons.
#54 Green Bay — Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State)
If they move on from Jaire Alexander, they’ll need a replacement.
#55 LA Chargers — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
There are apparently a lot of concerns regarding Pearce’s character so a dramatic fall isn’t improbable.
#56 Buffalo (v/MIN) — Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas)
Another addition to Buffalo’s secondary is necessary and Mukuba feels like their type of player.
#57 Carolina (v/LAR) — Harold Fannin Jr (TE, Bowling Green)
They need as many pass-catching playmakers as they can get for Bryce Young.
#58 Houston — TJ Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
His lack of lower-body power is a concern but he knows how to rush the passer and make plays.
#59 Baltimore — Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina)
When you watch Knight it’s impossible not to think of the AFC North.
#60 Detroit — Marcus Mbow (G, Purdue)
He has to kick inside and the Lions might give him a shot to replace Kevin Zeitler.
#61 Washington — Oluwafemi Oladejo (EDGE, UCLA)
Dan Quinn is going to love ‘The Mayor’.
#62 Buffalo — Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
Three out of three picks in the secondary. That’s how badly Buffalo needs help on the back-end.
#63 Kansas City — Sai’vion Jones (DE, LSU)
He’s underrated and has some real juice as a pass-rusher.
#64 Philadelphia — Josh Conerly (T, Oregon)
When I look at Conerly’s size it scares me. The Eagles once took Andre Dillard though.
Notes on Seattle’s picks
Half the people who read this will reply immediately saying Tyler Booker isn’t a scheme fit. I’ll refer you to what I wrote yesterday:
Another potential target, Tyler Booker, might be more likely to reach #18 after a poor combine testing performance. However, it’s worth noting that the 49ers drafted Aaron Banks in 2021 for the same scheme Seattle is now running. Let’s compare their testing numbers:
40 yard dash: Booker – 5.38, Banks – 5.34
10-yard split: Booker – 1.96, Banks – 1.91
Short shuttle: Booker – 4.83, Banks – 4.92Kyle Shanahan picked Banks in round two. Green Bay just gave him $19.25m a year to play in Matt LaFleur’s offense. This is ample evidence we shouldn’t rule out Booker in Seattle.
If Banks attracts both Shanahan and LaFleur, I see no reason to think Booker won’t be on Seattle’s radar. If anything, his poor testing at the combine might’ve done them a favour — ensuring he lasts to #18.
I maintain he has the best guard tape I’ve seen since Quenton Nelson entered the league. His legendary leadership qualities will appeal to the Seahawks and he’s possibly the most equipped player to start early as a rookie.
Isn’t that what the Seahawks need?
In round two, people might say Ty Robinson is a reach at #50. I totally disagree. He had seven sacks in 2024 and his testing profile is excellent — he ran a 4.83 forty at 288lbs, jumped a 33.5-inch vertical, ran a 4.50 short shuttle and managed 28 reps on the bench press. He has A+ character, is exactly the type of player who fits the personality of the defense Mike Macdonald wants and he’d be an ideal replacement for Roy Robertson-Harris.
Then there’s Quinn Ewers. There’s not much more to say about him at this stage, other than to repeat my hunch that I’ve had for two years that John Schneider admires his natural talent. The fact he’s been working with Mike McCarthy should provide some useful intel. He only turns 22 tomorrow so he can be developed behind Sam Darnold for a year or two, before competing to start.
Seahawks picks — rounds 3-7
R3 — Jared Wilson (C, Georgia)
He has an athletic testing profile similar to Erik McCoy, who excelled at center in New Orleans for Klint Kubiak.
R3 — Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State)
A highly respected leader who tested brilliantly at the combine and just has the look and feel of a Seahawk.
R4 — Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech)
The best blocking tight end in the draft and someone with the personality and attitude they’ll love.
R5 — Nazir Stackhouse (DT, Georgia)
A classic nose tackle who had an impressive combine, standing out with a well proportioned frame and good movement skills.
R5 — Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers)
Another strong leader with plus athleticism who could add to the depth at cornerback.
R7 — Josh Williams (RB, LSU)
Wore the fabled #18 jersey for LSU and gives everything as a runner. Underrated.
R7 — Luke Kandra (G/C, Cincinnati)
Medical concerns could drop him in the draft but he’s a good scheme fit and if he’s not off their board, could be an option here.
Full Seahawks draft class
R1 – Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
R2 – Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska)
R2 – Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
R3 — Jared Wilson (C, Georgia)
R3 — Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State)
R4 — Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech)
R5 — Nazir Stackhouse (DT, Georgia)
R5 — Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers)
R7 — Josh Williams (RB, LSU)
R7 — Luke Kandra (G/C, Cincinnati)
Here’s my best attempt at trying to guess Seattle’s thought process with regards to their offensive line this off-season.
Plan A — sign Will Fries
The Seahawks were clearly in the mix. He was a great scheme fit and his tape showed signs of real promise. There’s no doubt Fries was the best option available in free agency.
The Minnesota Vikings went above and beyond to get him. They didn’t just beat the Seahawks to his signature but several other suitors. You might say they should’ve done whatever it takes to get him. It’s not that simple though.
Many think it is — and that’s been the frustrating thing over the last few days. It’s why I probably came across as a grumpy so-and-so during my Puck Sports show yesterday. I appreciate Seahawks fans want a solution and that’s understandable. That can’t come at any cost though. Let me try and explain why.
Bob Condotta reported that the Seahawks wanted Fries to come in and take a medical after he suffered a broken leg last season.
John Schneider confirmed this today:
“We wanted a visit. Another team didn’t want a visit and they just went ahead and did the deal. So what does that mean? Does that mean you just go ahead and start panicking and throwing money at other guys that aren’t quite as good? No, you make the smart, patient decisions.”
It’s a perfectly logical position for the Seahawks to take. He ended up signing a contract worth $17.5m a year. You could argue it’d be reckless to sign him to a mega-deal without doing a medical, as Minnesota did.
Secondly, the Vikings did something that no other team has done for any player at any position in free agency this year by signing him to a five-year contract. We’ll need to wait for the details on the deal to see if the extra year or two means anything — but is it reasonable to criticise the Seahawks for the way they structure their contracts, when no other team — other than the Vikings in this instance — are doing deals like this?
I really liked Fries and wanted the Seahawks to sign him. By all accounts, the team felt that way too. At no point, though, did I voice an opinion saying caution should be thrown to the wind on the medicals, any amount of money should be spent on him or any length of contract agreed. As I mentioned on Tuesday, his strong zone-blocking PFF grade was based on 67 snaps in 2024. Before that, he graded poorly. You were investing in promise, not proven quality.
Plan A didn’t work out — and it’s OK.
What’s the pivot then?
The reaction to missing out on Fries by many fans and media is to say they had to immediately turn their attentions to Teven Jenkins, Mekhi Becton and Kevin Zeitler. It wouldn’t be acceptable not to produce solutions through free agency.
I think this misses the point. A General Manager in this situation has to ask whether these players are actually any good and are they going to be part of a great line in the future?
The situation with all of the free agent linemen paints quite an interesting picture and arguably justifies Seattle’s position so far:
Teven Jenkins — Ben Johnson replaced him and clearly decided he wasn’t part of the future as a starter in Chicago. He remains a free agent.
Mekhi Becton — Failed in his first gig in New York amid plenty of concerns about his application and attitude. The Eagles didn’t make a big effort to retain him. He remains a free agent.
Kevin Zeitler — The Lions haven’t re-signed him and he’s since joined the worst team in the NFL in 2024, the Tennessee Titans.
It seems like the league universally viewed Fries as ‘the guy’. Drew Dalman was also in the running but his contract is cheaper than Fries’. His deal seems reasonable and appealing — but it’s also possible he had his heart set on joining Johnson’s Bears revival.
Even the Colts seemingly didn’t make a big push to keep Fries or his team-mate Ryan Kelly. They preferred to spend their available money on Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward.
‘Plan B’ for the Seahawks didn’t seem to exist in free agency. Not because the Seahawks can’t be bothered to address an issue they undoubtedly accept is a huge priority, or because they have cash-flow problems or are overly strict on contract-length. Plan B doesn’t exist in free agency because the options are, to put it bluntly, ‘a bit crap’.
So what is Plan B then?
It’s the draft.
I understand all the concerns that come with this. Seattle’s O-line is already quite young. In an ideal world, proven quality would’ve been added as a quick fix. Ideal worlds don’t exist though. Fries joined the Vikings and now the Seahawks have to reassess.
It might mean there are some teething problems at the start of the season. It might mean the Seahawks are not at their peak contender level as a consequence. Was anyone expecting that in 2025 anyway?
The upside of this approach is the ability to draft cost-effective players who are actually capable of building a quality interior structure. I’m not saying this as a cope. I’m not saying there are really good players in this draft to excuse Schneider or anyone else. I genuinely believe, having studied countless hours of tape since last summer, that there are players in this draft who can get Seattle’s O-line to a place we all want it to be.
I appreciate people will bring up Schneider’s history of drafting linemen. What I’d say is, this is the best draft class for interior linemen in a while. Plus, they have an O-line coach with a lot of experience and a track record. They have a better chance compared to previous seasons to draft and develop players.
So what might ‘Plan B’ actually look like?
In November I was talking up Grey Zabel as an outstanding prospect. My words in a text to Jeff Simmons were something along the lines of, ‘get this guy in Seattle’.
Personally I prefer him at guard. Many others see him as a better fit at center. How about this for a proposal? What if the Seahawks didn’t really pursue Drew Dalman because they feel very good about their chances of landing Zabel? I’ve not seen any mock projecting him above the 18th pick. I don’t think it’s a reach, personally. I think in a draft where the player taken 18th will have a similar grade to the player taken 45th, it’s completely acceptable to think he’d be a worthy pick in the top-25.
Some claim Schneider refuses to draft for the interior O-line early. Yet in 2016, there was a lot of buzz about his interest in drafting Ryan Kelly. He was taken 16th overall, before Seattle’s pick at #26. What if the Seahawks believe they can draft Zabel at #18, they think he’s very much worth the pick and in the worst case scenario of them missing out — which seems unlikely — they’re content to go with the centers already on the roster? Or see what options are available in the middle rounds, such as Jake Majors or Jared Wilson? On Wilson, his testing profile is very similar to Erik McCoy’s. He excelled for Klint Kubiak in New Orleans.
Zabel is 6-6, 312lbs, he has 32-inch arms and 9.5 inch hands. He jumped a 36-inch vertical and a 9-3 broad, with 26 reps on the bench press. We don’t have any speed or agility numbers, which is a shame.
Creed Humphrey, the NFL’s top center, is 6-4 and 302lbs. He has 32-inch arms and 9.5 inch hands. He jumped a 33-inch vertical and a 9-4 broad. There’s not a massive difference between the two in terms of profile, provided Zabel can run a similar 4.49 short shuttle.
They could also draft Zabel to play guard. Chris Lindstrom, the former #14 overall pick by Atlanta, was the #1 guard in the NFL per PFF in 2024. Zabel, for me, can match his production. If you’re concerned about Zabel coming from North Dakota State, know that PFF’s #2 ranked guard went to UW-Whitewater and their #5 ranked guard went to Bowling Green.
Whatever his role, he has incredible potential coming into the league.
Another potential target, Tyler Booker, might be more likely to reach #18 after a poor combine testing performance. However, it’s worth noting that the 49ers drafted Aaron Banks in 2021 for the same scheme Seattle is now running. Let’s compare their testing numbers:
40 yard dash: Booker – 5.38, Banks – 5.34
10-yard split: Booker – 1.96, Banks – 1.91
Short shuttle: Booker – 4.83, Banks – 4.92
Kyle Shanahan picked Banks in round two. Green Bay just gave him $19.25m a year to play in Matt LaFleur’s offense. This is ample evidence we shouldn’t rule out Booker in Seattle.
I don’t think it’s preposterous to suggest they have their eye on several draft targets and believe — not unfairly — these players are a lot better than the free agent options available.
Clearly if a top player, a ‘can’t miss’ player, lasts to #18, they’ll need to pivot again. I’m not sure the Jihaad Campbell types will be there, paving the way for Zabel as an option. If he or others are, they’ll likely have alternative plans with their other high picks.
They might double-down on the interior. If they took Zabel and started him at center, I’d be very interested in drafting Tate Ratledge to play guard. His testing at the combine was elite. A 4.97 forty, 1.72 10-yard split, 32-inch vertical, 9-5 broad jump, 7.38 three-cone. He ticks every single box for athleticism and explosive power.
If he goes in the second round, we may well be asking ‘why?’ a few years down line, just as we do with Humphrey in Kansas City.
Put these two together in the interior and what do you get? A tough-guy mentality, extreme physical quality and you re-shape your identity in their image. The Eagles draft guys like this. I think both can start quickly. Isn’t this more preferable than signing Teven Jenkins just so we can say they ‘did something’?
As I keep saying, the aim is to create a top-10 line. It isn’t to sign veterans for the sake of it. If we have to live through a challenging-at-times 2025, with two brilliant young interior blockers, to emerge with greatness in the future, sign me up.
The beauty of having five picks in the top-100 is you can justify a double-dip on the O-line and still:
— Add a young receiver if you want
— Draft a quarterback if you want
— Bring in another defensive tackle or pass-rusher if you want
— Consider any other position
The signing of DeMarcus Lawrence takes a little bit of pressure off needing to draft an EDGE rusher. If they sign Cooper Kupp, the same will be true at receiver (although they’ll almost certainly add one — it just might be in rounds 3-4 where the options remain strong).
My suggestion to all Seahawks fans is, let’s see what happens. I accept some will reject that plea. I think it is quite limiting, though, when people say the idea of drafting and developing for the O-line this year is “stupid” while implying the Seahawks didn’t go “all-in to fix” the problem as Michael Shawn-Dugar suggests in this video. My response to that would be, show me what ‘all-in’ constitutes? Is it the recklessness discussed at the start of this article? Paying out $50m contracts for players recovering from injury with no checks? Is it signing a veteran or two ‘just because’? This feels very much like trying to win free agency on the internet — the downfall of many teams in the past.
Every single person who reports on or follows the Seahawks can agree that ideally top veterans would’ve been added. My aim over the last few days has been to try and provide some perspective as to why that’s easier said than done and why the draft can provide solutions.
If they take a receiver at #18, a cornerback at #50 and a linebacker at #52, I’ll be the first one to challenge and question their approach to the O-line. My guess is that won’t happen — but let’s at least wait to find out.
A final note to make today. I hope this means something to some people, because regulars to this blog know I don’t cheerlead for this team.
I’ve been tremendously impressed with Schneider and the front office so far this off-season. I think they’ve found a gem of a Head Coach in Mike Macdonald and put a strong offensive staff around him. I think they handled the situations with Geno Smith and DK Metcalf superbly — not wasting any time, effectively moving on and getting value via trade within a good draft class. The way they replaced Smith with no fuss, signing Sam Darnold, was incredibly efficient.
I’m optimistic. I accept other people feel differently. I see great opportunities in the draft to set up the future of this team and improve upon recent years where the team was stuck in a ‘good not great’ middle-area. This off-season so far has been a success and I’m upbeat, not downbeat, about the direction of this team.
In possibly the grumpiest podcast I’ve ever done (apologies, I’ve had a 12-hour and an eight-hour round-trip with the day job since Saturday) — I discuss below the Seahawks’ inactivity in the O-line market and why I’m OK with it.
Below the video I also give my thoughts on the DeMarcus Lawrence & Marquez Valdez-Scantling signings:
On Lawrence, I’m eager to see actual contract numbers. It’s been suggested it’ll be something like two-years for $18m which is palatable. However, he turns 33 in April and hasn’t had more than 6.5 sacks since 2018 — despite having the benefit of playing across from Micah Parsons.
I’m told by a Cowboys fan I know that his run defense and leadership remain big positives, though his pass-rush now lacks juice. Mike Macdonald managed to coax a late-career renaissance out of Kyle Van Noy so maybe he can do the same here.
Clearly they want a rich rotation. This might be more to replace Dre’Mont Jones’ snaps rather than say anything about the pure EDGE players, or their likelihood to draft a pass rusher early.
They had money to spend and they’ve used some of it here. Aden Durde knows Lawrence well. It’s not an electrifying signing but an understandable one.
On Valdez-Scantling, we’ve discussed him for a while, after a decent spell last season with the Saints where he had 347 yards in five games and four touchdowns. He did a great job making plays downfield and he still has the speed to threaten opponents.
The Seahawks have no depth at receiver so this made perfect sense. They will add other players, with this being a rich draft again at the position in the middle rounds.
A final point, all signs currently point to the Seahawks being comfortable focusing on the draft for offensive line additions. I think that’s OK, as discussed in the video above and my article earlier. It’s a good class with high upside players. Having five picks in the top-100 will enable them to address multiple positions.
I woke up on Wednesday and thought to myself, ‘no, you weren’t strong enough yesterday‘. The reaction to Will Fries joining Minnesota was absolutely ridiculous.
Borderline infantile.
I accept why some fans have come to the end of their tether. Armed with cap space and having traded away two players, the expectation was they’d invest in the offensive line. After two days of legal tampering they’ve only signed a cheap depth tackle to replace George Fant.
The O-line problems have gone on for too long and a quick fix was needed. A dopamine hit was required in the form of an Adam Schefter ‘breaking news’ tweet to let everyone know some money was being spent. People just needed to see something. Anything.
It’s understandable. Seattle’s line has been an issue for far too long. It does need fixing, nobody can deny that. It’s a significant blot on John Schneider’s copybook. It’s a problem he hasn’t been able to solve for over a decade.
Let’s take a step back though and actually look at the reality of what’s happened specifically this week.
Firstly, it’s universally accepted that this is a bad year for free agency. Several articles have been written claiming this is the view from inside the NFL. I read reports from Albert Breer and Dianna Russini alluding to this.
The Seahawks, within hours of the tampering window opening, landed Sam Darnold. Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports and the CBS Sports writers ranked Darnold as the top free agent available. The Athletic ranked Darnold fourth, PFT ranked him second and Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com ranked him sixth.
Immediately they addressed their biggest need position at a reasonable but high cost. In doing so, they avoided the kind of situation we see the Giants and Steelers in at the moment. They’re both seemingly scrambling around to try and sign Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, the Jets gave Justin Fields — a player who can’t throw — a hefty sum to be a place-holder quarterback.
Basically the Seahawks got younger and cheaper at the position, landed a player of similar quality to replace Geno Smith and gained a third round pick in the process. This was an effective start to free agency.
Since then, fans have reacted negatively to the fact they didn’t sign either Drew Dalman or Will Fries. OK, let’s look at the situation.
If we’re being really honest, most people didn’t know who Will Fries was three months ago. NFL diehards would possibly know he was the Colts’ right guard who missed most of the 2024 season with a broken leg. When the season ended, not a single person was clamouring for the Seahawks to sign Fries.
That all changed due to a handful of factors. Klint Kubiak was appointed and declared he was going to run outside zone. This blog and other people like Brian Nemhauser noted the free agents who graded well on PFF for zone blocking. Fries was near the top of the list. People took notice of that.
Perhaps we should’ve done a better job noting that his grade was near the top of the list based on only 67 snaps? We probably should’ve noted that in 2023, when he played 282 zone snaps, his grade was a mediocre 61.6.
It’s not just about PFF grade though. I knew very little about Fries until I watched his tape just over a week ago. I thought he looked really good and jumped out as an obvious scheme fit. I wrote about it, tweeted about it. Brady Henderson noted the Seahawks were interested in Fries. With increasing chatter about Dalman going to Chicago, Fries became the name to track.
This only grew when it was reported multiple teams were trying to sign him. Suddenly it became a game to be won or lost. Can the Seahawks seal the deal? If they didn’t win this tug of war, there would be criticism.
They didn’t win it. Minnesota did. And the reaction has been predictably OTT. They didn’t swing and miss on Trey Smith, who was franchised. This wasn’t a repeat of not landing Joe Thuney in 2021. They missed out on a player hardly anyone knew about, including me, a few weeks ago.
Adding to all of this, Fries is coming off a broken leg. Who knows how the recovery has gone? Are you even able to get the necessary medical information before free agency officially begins, in order to justify a mega-deal?
It’s one thing to like a player and want to sign him. If the Vikings went above and beyond to sign Fries — and you don’t feel comfortable matching their commitment given he’s coming off a serious injury — is that really a bad thing?
As I noted yesterday, Corbin Smith became so irate about the situation he used the wrong word beginning with ‘A’ to describe how serious the situation was if they don’t now sign Teven Jenkins or Mekhi Becton (more on them in a moment). Over 1,600 people liked his tweet and sadly only a few of the replies pushed back or noted that ‘adjunct’ failure doesn’t make any sense.
Yet here’s the thing. Curtis Allen intelligently noted this on Twitter:
Since the Legal Tampering period opened, OTC has logged over 100 new contracts signed by players.
There have only been 7 contracts of 4 years or more.
And only one contract is for 5 years.
Will Fries.
— Curtis Allen (@curtis93969) March 12, 2025
So there we go. The Seahawks didn’t stretch to a five year deal and are getting hammered for it. Yet not a single other team has done this, for any player at any position, apart from the Vikings for Will Fries.
Maybe it’s a symbol of the Seahawks not being willing to push the boat out for offensive linemen like many are saying? Or maybe, if we’re being honest, the Seahawks might’ve done the right thing? Just as they did by not paying Aaron Banks over $19m a year by the way. Good luck with that contract, Packers.
I know writing this way won’t satisfy many people who just want to hammer the Seahawks and Schneider because they just want to see something happen. This isn’t a good way to approach team building. You can’t just sign players at great cost to appease fans. You have to keep a cool head, you have to think rationally. The worst thing to do is try to ‘win’ free agency on Twitter.
What about Dalman though, you might ask? It’d be contradictory of me to claim I voiced any concern about him in the build up to free agency. I also think the contract given to him by Chicago is perfectly reasonable and one I would’ve celebrated if he’d joined the Seahawks.
It also needs to be acknowledged that he isn’t duty bound to go to Seattle. It’s been something of a worst kept secret that he’s been destined for the Bears. Only Creed Humphrey is paid more at his position. It’s not the end of the world that he’s not coming to the Seahawks. It’s a disappointment not to get him, as it was with Fries. It’s not a death knell to the franchise though and not worthy of claims Schneider’s job hangs in the balance as a consequence.
So what should happen next? The key to building a good offensive line is not just to sign players for the sake of it. People like Corbin (and many others) are latching on to Jenkins and Becton. Firstly, the Bears just got rid of Jenkins and re-made their entire interior O-line because he’s not good enough. He hasn’t completed a full season in his NFL career. Does anyone really think he’s the answer?
Becton meanwhile completely flopped with the Jets with major questions about his application and commitment. It took going to the Eagles to play with the best linemen in the league, and for the most respected O-line coach, to whip him into shape. Philadelphia haven’t exactly busted a gut to retain him since the end of the season. Can you really trust him? I wouldn’t be so sure.
These are not players to covet, in my opinion. It’s sheer desperation to think they can be the answer. The objective, however hard it may be, should be to try and build a top-10 offensive line. I cannot imagine Jenkins or Becton being the catalyst for creating a top-10 line in Seattle.
This is a really good interior O-line draft. I know you don’t want to rely totally on a youth movement up front but maybe that just has to be the way it is? There are legitimately players who can be ‘great’ at the next level in this class.
Not just good. ‘Great‘.
Grey Zabel and Tate Ratledge have elite-level physical tools. Their testing profiles and workouts at the combine jumped off the screen. Sometimes you can just tell when a player has that extra bit of quality and it makes it easy to project their NFL pathway. I firmly believe these two players could form the base for an exceptional interior O-line. They look like the kind of players the Eagles draft.
I’ll also repeat what I said about Tyler Booker on Monday. Everyone’s given up on him as a zone blocker because he tested badly. Watch his on-field session in Indianapolis below. I refuse to accept this is a player who can’t be considered for a zone blocking system:
No way am I ruling him out for the Seahawks. He moves well enough on tape and in that video above. To me he’s the best pure guard to enter the league since Quenton Nelson. He’s a plug-in-and-play talent who will enhance your culture, competitiveness, leadership and quality from day one.
Donovan Jackson is another early round option, while the likes of Logan Brown and Jack Nelson could provide swing potential or could be developed to be full-time guards (just as Will Fries was after playing tackle at Penn State).
The center class is paper thin. However, here’s what an anonymous AFC National Scout says about Texas’ Jake Majors:
“That building is crazy about him because of his leadership and just how sharp he is. He can make protection adjustments on the fly like an NFL veteran.”
That sounds to me like the kind of player the Seahawks need. His tape is very good too. Then there’s Georgia’s Jared Wilson who possesses a physical profile similar to Dalman’s.
The Seahawks have five picks in the top-100. The best player available at the positions where they’re due to pick could, more often than not, include an offensive line option. In a perfect world they would’ve signed two proven, legit veterans and they could’ve called it a job well done. Now they have to pivot. The draft provides an opportunity to set up a cost-effective O-line for the long haul.
If you believe in Christian Haynes, you’re really talking about drafting one quality guard — one of Zabel or Routledge perhaps — to feel comfortable. If they ended up drafting Zabel, Ratledge and Majors — you won’t find any complaints from me. I don’t think it’s likely but you could do a lot worse.
The broader point here is to offer needed perspective when Seahawks Twitter, and some of the people who cover the team, seem to be losing their cool. It’s unnecessary. The first wave of free agency rarely ever provides the answers you’re looking for. Look how well the Dre’Mont Jones signing was received for a good example of that. He was a disastrous signing, yet one most fans approved of.
As someone who’s criticised the Seahawks plenty of times over the years for various poor decisions, I don’t think it’s necessary at this time.
Players I’d consider signing on shorter-term deals (but won’t be rushing to complain if they don’t sign):
Elijah Moore (WR) — seems to have had his career sabotaged by being forced to play with the Jets and Browns. Only 24 and worth giving an opportunity to.
Azeez Ojulari (EDGE) — a player who has failed to take the next step but is still a reasonable rotational rusher. He’s 25 and might be the kind of player Mike Macdonald can unlock.
Julian Blackmon (S) — he can cover and roam and play in the box and tackle. He might not be the most electric playmaker but he’s 27 and can do a job for a team needing a bit more at the position.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling (WR) — after a strong spell under Klint Kubiak in New Orleans, why not bring him to Seattle as a draft hedge?
And a final thought…
In October 2023, the Seahawks gave the Giants a second round pick to rent 10 games of Leonard Williams. They ended up re-signing him in free agency on a big contract ahead of his 30th birthday. Williams has been sensational for Seattle and a true impact player.
Would this spur them on to try and do something similar for Trey Hendrickson? He’s 30, he’s also a big-time EDGE rusher (35 sacks in the last two seasons). He’d require a big contract but the Seahawks have money to spend. He could tilt Seattle’s pass-rush into elite status.
The Bengals are notoriously difficult to trade with but they face the prospect of having to try and feed too many mouths. Trading Hendrickson could be the platform to extend Ja’Marr Chase. Would one of Seattle’s second round picks get it done?
Last week I wrote an article highlighting Will Fries’ fit in Seattle. He was the ideal signing for the zone scheme and would’ve been a really good addition. Per Brady Henderson, there was legit interest in his services.
I’m completely unaffected by the fact he’s signed for the Vikings instead.
Fries has agreed a five-year $88m deal. We need to see the details but it’s a big contract. It’s a lot of money for a player coming off a broken leg. The chances are he won’t match the value of the deal. That’s the reality of the vast majority of big free agent signings.
The Colts have cap-space remaining and chose not to make a big push to re-sign him, instead prioritising big-money additions at safety and cornerback.
There’s also some online speculation, which I don’t know anything about so can’t add anything, that this might be an ownership issue rather than a front office one. This isn’t anything new in the NFL by the way. Look at what the 49ers are going through currently.
As someone who hailed and praised the Dre’Mont Jones addition two years ago — as most people did — these deals often look great on paper but rarely pay off.
The best deals are always the ones where age meets talent meets value. Julian Love is the best example of this. We’re now entering a period of free agency where value can be easier to find. There are still offensive linemen out there. There are still players at other positions who can be added without blowing a load of money.
I couldn’t resist replying to this tweet by Corbin Smith earlier, suggesting Seattle’s free agency would be an “adjunct failure” (I think he means ‘abject’) if they didn’t sign Teven Jenkins or Mekhi Becton.
Come on. Really? I don’t think Jenkins is that good and Becton did a good job rebuilding his image with Philadelphia last year — while playing next to the best offensive linemen in the league, playing for one of the best offenses, led by arguably the best O-line coach in the league. There’s nothing to say his success is repeatable outside of the Eagles organisation.
There are really good players in the draft who are better than these two players. The Seahawks have five picks in the top-100. Spending two of those picks on the O-line is perfectly plausible, acceptable and can provide value.
It would’ve been good to sign Fries but it’s not the end of the world. Like everyone else, I would’ve loved to see an element of aggression shown by the Bears and Vikings to fix needs. I don’t think they’ve actually missed out on anyone ‘that’ good though.
Regulars to this blog know I’ll criticise the Seahawks when I think it’s warranted. There’s nothing currently that makes me want to complain or throw the baby out with the bathwater.
As long as they don’t fritter away their remaining cap-space like they did in 2020, spending a lot of money for almost no tangible return, this can still be a very productive off-season.
If you want to see what players could be available for the Seahawks in the top-100, check out my horizontal board below:
As expected, Sam Darnold is Geno Smith’s replacement in Seattle. They gave him the contract they probably would’ve been comfortable giving Geno Smith.
It’s important to acknowledge what this actually is. Lost amid an online battle between those sour over Smith’s departure and those who aren’t as bothered is the reality of the situation. The Seahawks don’t have a long term answer at quarterback. That was true last week and it remains true today.
While they look for that, they need a bridge. Smith was a convenient bridge until his price became too rich. All power to him if Pete Carroll and the Raiders are willing to give him a contract the Seahawks were not.
You can’t blame John Schneider for moving on. He pivots to a younger, cheaper player who — for me at least — is probably on a par with Smith in terms of current day abilities, with the potential to be better. Meanwhile, the swap of quarterbacks also netted the Seahawks a third round pick.
‘But what about the offensive line!’ has been the cry from those who’ve spent the last few days bemoaning this completely understandable move. That comes next. There’s free agency and the draft to upgrade the line.
As I’m writing this blog post, only Aaron Banks of the big-name guards has been signed. Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly are also off the board. However, Will Fries — easily the best player and fit for Seattle’s scheme — remains available. Several other guards are also still on the market.
I wouldn’t panic if the Seahawks miss out on Fries and others. This is a good draft for the offensive line. It might not be ideal to rely on a youth movement up front but you can’t physically force players to want to sign for your team. There are 32 franchises, many with huge needs on the offensive line.
Neither can the Seahawks go ridiculously overboard on salary just to quench an O-line thirst.
If they have to do the bulk of their work in the draft, so be it. They have five picks in the top-100. They can get a lot done in April. There’s little need to panic because the Seahawks haven’t started spending on the first day of free agency.
As Jeff Simmons rightly noted in the stream we did earlier (see below), the best thing to do is try to find the next Julian Love. Or in the case of the Super Bowl Champion Eagles, the next Zach Baun and Mekhi Becton. Good players who can be added on motivational contracts, with the ability to become core pieces.
That could be someone like receiver Elijah Moore — a talented 24-year-old who simply had the misfortune of being drafted by the Jets and then traded to the Browns. You can make a play for him on a prove-it deal and he only needs to look at the roster to see he’ll get opportunities.
Another option could be Chauncey Golston in Dallas. He just turned 27, had a breakout year in 2024 for the Cowboys and could add to Seattle’s defensive end rotation.
Your best team building occurs during the draft. I said after the combine, Grey Zabel and Tate Ratledge look like great options and future NFL stars. I still think Jake Majors can be a very competent starting center, including in a zone system. Logan Brown and Jack Nelson have swing potential to play inside or out.
I’d also challenge anyone to watch the video below and tell me Tyler Booker is an immobile sloth. His testing was awful, I get it. He didn’t look like his testing numbers suggest in the drills below. If you watch the rest of the linemen at the combine, very few moved as well as this:
The point is, there are options in the draft. Capable options to set the O-line up for years to come.
Then you look at other positions. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Jihaad Campbell, Nick Emmanwori, Will Johnson, Jahdae Barron — defensive possibilities in the first frame. Look at the receivers slated to go between rounds 2-4 — Jaylin Noel and Jack Bech ooze pro-quality, while Tai Felton, Jayden Higgins, Tory Horton and Kyle Williams are all very talented. The middle-round tight-end options are strong and there are defensive tackles and pass rushers deep into the heart of this draft.
Click here to see my updated post-combine horizontal board.
I also think the quarterbacks are better than most are giving them credit for. The signing of Darnold acts both as a draft hedge, a time-buyer to sit and develop a quarterback and misdirection to other teams if they are targeting a signal caller.
I will sit and hope for news of Will Fries signing, or of alternative additions. Whatever happens though, I’ll be fairly relaxed. I think you should be too.
If you missed my live stream with Jeff earlier, check it out here:
