Create cap room
Cutting Tyler Lockett ($17m), George Fant ($3.8m) and Roy Robertson-Harris ($6.6m) is necessary to get the team back into the black in terms of effective cap space. You save another $11.6m by cutting Dre’Mont Jones.
Lockett’s contract makes a parting inevitable but all of the other players are replaceable and cost too much for what they are producing.
Restructuring Uchenna Nwosu’s contract can create $9.5m.
These moves will enable the Seahawks to raise funds — but they need more…
Work out a new contract with Geno Smith
It feels inevitable at this point that the two parties will reach a compromise. This is a big lever the Seahawks can pull to create cap space. They can reduce Smith’s cap-hit of $44.5m considerably with an extension, give him more money in 2025 and still retain annual outs for the future to retain flexibility.
Extend DK Metcalf’s contract in the summer
They can do this sooner if needed but given his last extension came in July and they re-organised Leonard Williams’ contract to free up space suggests they’re expecting a slightly longer timescale.
That isn’t an issue. They can use all of the cap space created above in free agency, then a Metcalf extension can lower his cap-hit considerably later in the year. This will reduce his cap hit of $31.9m, giving the Seahawks enough money to do everything they need to do from August — including paying for a practise squad, injured reserve and any additions they want to make during the season.
The structure of Brandon Aiyuk’s extension with the 49ers should suit both the team and player. It guarantees Metcalf around $45-50m but gives the Seahawks a manageable cap-hit for the next couple of years, with potential outs down the line.
Re-sign Ernest Jones & Jarran Reed
It’ll be interesting to see what Jones’ market is. The Rams didn’t want to pay him and ended up trading him to the Titans for a ham sandwich. Then Tennessee moved him to the Seahawks rather than paying him. It worked out in Seattle but it might be that the rest of league won’t make him a big offer.
Jordyn Brooks signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins worth $8.4m per year. Patrick Queen agreed a deal worth $13.6m over three years. It’s difficult to project where Jones falls in the hierarchy of contracts but you would anticipate that one way or another, the Seahawks will get this done.
They should also work to bring back Reed, a genuine leader on the defense who is cost-effective and a great part of their D-line rotation. His last deal was worth $4.5m a year for two seasons. They might be able to reach a similar agreement.
Go and get your center early in free agency
Klint Kubiak made it very clear — the key to a successful zone blocking offensive line is an elite center. The Seahawks need to do what the Atlanta Falcons did in 2016 when they hired Kyle Shanahan and immediately signed Alex Mack. They need to go and land the best center on the market.
That is 26-year-old Drew Dalman. He is worth pushing the boat out for. He’s one of PFF’s top-five highest graded centers, next to the likes of Creed Humphrey and Frank Ragnow. In the last two seasons he’s graded at 82.3 and 90.9 for zone blocking (an 86.6 average — best among all free agent offensive linemen). He’s the ideal player to invest in.
The Seahawks should be prepared to outbid the market, as they did for Dre’Mont Jones in 2023 and Leonard Williams last year. A contract that slots between Humphreys’ $18m a year and Ragnow’s $13.5m a year makes sense.
If they can’t get Dalman, they should pivot to Ryan Kelly. He had a strong zone blocking grade of 75.4 in 2023 and would provide leadership and toughness up front. Longevity might be a concern though given he turns 32 in May. Olu Oluwatimi is an adequate backup if needed.
They don’t have any better alternatives than these two free agents if they want this blocking system to realise its potential.
Sign additional help for the offensive line
It’s not realistic, unfortunately, to expect the Seahawks to go on a massive spending spree. Trey Smith will likely cost too much with too many suitors. Even Mekhi Becton, who will probably be retained by Philadelphia, could get a significant pay-day.
Assuming Christian Haynes is given a new lease of life under Kubiak and John Benton (Haynes’ zone blocking grade at UConn was an impressive 89.2) and if they add a veteran center, they can let the market come to them at left guard, with the intention of also drafting a player down the line.
What’s the market like for Teven Jenkins? His average zone blocking grade over the last two seasons is a 78.1. Will Fries’ average is a 76.4. Could you take on Evan Neal as a reclamation project, similar to Becton in Philadelphia? His zone blocking grade in 2024 was a 90.9 (albeit on 78 snaps). Lucas Patrick from the Saints looks like a good draft hedge, given his experience in the system and 67.7 average grade in zone. There are two potential cap casualties who could interest the Seahawks. Garrett Bradbury (74.4 average) and Trey Pipkins (70.3) could become available.
Is there a dark horse candidate at guard?
Ben Bartch isn’t a household name but he could be a key target. He spent the last two years with San Francisco having previously been a fourth round pick for the Jaguars. When Aaron Banks suffered an injury late in the season, Bartch replaced him at left guard and excelled against Buffalo.
In the limited time he’s had on the field, he recorded a 79.7 zone blocking grade in 2023 and a 79.0 grade in 2024. There’s a feeling the 49ers will try to re-sign him to replace Banks, who is also a free agent.
Bartch knows the system Klint Kubiak will use and he’s shown promise when he’s started, unlike other San Francisco linemen. Stealing him away could provide the Seahawks with a cost-effective starting guard at a good age (26) while spoiling the plans of a division rival.
Are there any big moves they could make at guard?
If the Chiefs want to transfer cap space to Trey Smith, they might be willing to part with Joe Thuney (although I think it’s unlikely). They’d save $16m by dealing him. You would inherit a $15.5m cap-hit. He turns 33 in November so this would only be a short-term move — yet adding Thuney and a good center to your offensive line would give it a real shot in the arm.
The Chiefs won’t give him away so you’d have to come up with a creative package. For example, if you don’t have any interest in giving Tariq Woolen a big extension given his erratic level of performance, maybe you can dangle him as a trade chip? It’d be risky given Woolen’s immense upside but can you trust him to mature and find a level of consistency? I’m not sure.
There are veteran free agent cornerbacks worthy of consideration as potential replacements and I’m not sure Mike Macdonald completely trusts Woolen.
Seek value in free agency
This is actually quite an interesting free agent class, full of untapped potential.
It’s particularly strong in the secondary. Cornerbacks like Asante Samuel Jr, Charvarius Ward, Byron Murphy, Carlton Davis and Nate Hobbs could be interesting. At safety, if you wanted to cut Rayshawn Jenkins to save $5.4m, you could look at Jevon Holland, Andre Cisco, Talanoa Hufanga, Tre’Von Moehrig, Cam Bynum and Julian Blackmon.
Safety is a position that has seen a decreasing market in recent years. There might be some good opportunities here.
There are plenty of intriguing defensive line free agents. DJ Jones, BJ Hill and Bobby Brown could be good interior additions. Marquez Valdez-Scanting excelled with Kubiak in New Orleans. Could he be your new third receiver?
Finally, with Kubiak declaring a desire to have a fullback on the roster, Baltimore’s Patrick Ricard is a free agent and could be added. Adam Prentice was his fullback in New Orleans, he’s also available.
There are players here who can help the Seahawks take the next step and there could be some good value to be had.
Best player available with your top draft pick
Address your biggest needs in free agency then let the draft come to you. This is the best approach to take and it’s one the Seahawks have seemingly committed to since the dreaded start of the 2019 draft.
It’s possible the best player could be an offensive or defensive lineman. In particular, if one of Tyler Booker, Armand Membou or Kelvin Banks Jr lasts to #18, they’d be excellent picks. Similarly, it’s easy to imagine the Seahawks having interest in some of the defensive linemen projected to go in round one.
However, it’s also very possible the best player available won’t be a lineman. It could be a defensive back. Texas’ feisty Jahdae Barron has the football character, toughness, intelligence and playmaking to warrant consideration as a possible cornerback or ‘STAR’ hybrid. If Azareye’h Thomas tests well at the combine, he could be seen as a plug-and-play corner. Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks could be intriguing additions to Macdonald’s defense, while some see Jihaad Campbell as a viable top-20 pick.
The Seahawks will likely stick to their board and rightly so. At #18 they might have an opportunity to draft a good player. It might not be at a position most are currently projecting. They will hope — as with last year — players with legit first round value last into the middle of round one.
One thing is for sure though — football character will play a significant part in their final decision.
Draft a quarterback on day two
Contrary to what many other people say, this feels like the time to do it. There’s a middle class of players with upside talent and success in college with high character and leadership qualities.
At #50 or #82 (or in-between if they move around the board) they could be in the market for Will Howard, Quinn Ewers, Riley Leonard and perhaps Jaxson Dart or Tyler Shough. I wouldn’t even totally rule out Jalen Milroe, despite the extremely disappointing end to his Alabama career and Senior Bowl performance.
I talked about why I think Howard, Ewers and Leonard could be targets in more detail here.
Jalen Hurts wasn’t viewed as a sure-fire future starter when he was drafted by the Eagles. He started the draft process viewed by many as a likely fourth round pick. He gradually built his stock up until he was drafted 53rd overall by the Eagles. I think the quarterbacks in this class can repeat that process and can equally come into the league, develop (Hurts only started four games as a rookie) and potentially work into a lead role in the future.
Build the team you want to be
The key to fixing the offensive line isn’t just adding veterans and drafting first rounders. It’s about finding the kind of players who ‘fit’ the mentality and style of team you want to be. They’ve passed on too many players who felt like good fits. They might not like that assessment but the proof is in the archive. Several good linemen with physical, gritty playing styles — that we and others talked about — have gone elsewhere and succeeded.
Even if the Seahawks add veterans before the draft, they should still be adding younger players with the idea of succession plans, depth and development. That’s how the Eagles have built a champion line.
If you want to run the ball effectively with good quality zone blockers, target someone like Iowa’s Connor Colby. A reminder — the Hawkeyes ran for 200+ yards in eight games in 2024. Wisconsin’s highly underrated Jack Nelson can be a swing-tackle or guard. Grey Zabel at North Dakota State has every chance to make it as a starting guard, even if the Senior Bowl hype has been a bit over the top. Someone who had an underrated week in Mobile was Clay Webb — a former 5-star recruit from Georgia with an impressive wrestling background who transferred to Jacksonville State and excelled. After re-watching his Senior Bowl tape, I thought he had an excellent week.
All four of these players grade highly for zone-blocking:
Jack Nelson — 86.4
Clay Webb – 84.9
Grey Zabel – 84.8
Connor Colby – 81.3
Chuck in Wyatt Milum (90.3), Dylan Fairchild (77.2) and Tate Ratledge (74.3) too. All of these players compete with a physical edge, they are scheme fits, some are expected to test well at the combine and you can build the kind of interior O-line you want with these types of players.
Seattle’s best plan for their line will be to sign two good veterans, allowing them the opportunity to draft for the future outside of the first round — freeing them up to go best player available at #18 (which could still be an offensive lineman).
I’d also be very prepared to trade down in round one if a suitor was available to acquire extra stock so you can take multiple shots at players like Nelson, Webb, Zabel, Colby, Milum, Fairchild and Ratledge in rounds three and four.
If you want to be nasty and physical up front, make it happen
Fix the O-line with physical gritty players who excel in your scheme. Sign a full back like Patrick Ricard. Then go and get a devastating blocking tight end.
The best one in this class is Jackson Hawes of Georgia Tech. If you’re keeping Noah Fant, he and AJ Barner can be your top-two pass-catching options at the position. Hawes can be the muscle. Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans is underrated and a complete tight end with plus blocking and receiving skills. He’s a good alternative option.
For too long the Seahawks have talked about being physically dominant up front. Now make it happen. It’s time to finally be a team nobody wants to play again. It’s time to actually be physically dominant up front. It’s time Lumen Field was a dreaded place to visit once more.
For more on the offensive line options, watch my new video below:
