SATURDAY, 8:40am: Sources told ESPN’s Adam Caplan that Evans had a “good visit,” but no contract has been signed (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets that the Seahawks made the veteran an offer, although it wasn’t a “big one.”
THURSDAY, 4:13pm: Free agent guard Jahri Evans will visit the Seahawks on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The soon-to-be 33-year-old Evans has been on the open market since the Saints released him in February.
Evans would bring vast experience to Seattle, having appeared in and started 153 games with the Saints from 2006-15. The 316-pounder racked up four first-team All-Pro nods in New Orleans, so he’d easily be the most accomplished O-lineman on the Seahawks’ roster. Evans only logged 11 appearances last year, though, as a result of arthroscopic knee surgery. Notably, Evans’ performance during an abbreviated campaign earned him plaudits from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 27th among 81 qualifying guards.
Despite losing stalwart left tackle Russell Okung and No. 1 right guard J.R. Sweezy in free agency, the only starting-caliber veteran the Seahawks added during the winter was right tackle J’Marcus Webb. While the team did use its first-round pick on Germain Ifedi, who’s slated to start at right guard, its leading option on the left – Mark Glowinski – has a less impressive pedigree. Glowinski was a fourth-rounder in 2015 who recorded nine appearances and one start as a rookie. Interestingly, Evans has primarily played on the right side, so it’s unknown what signing him would mean for Ifedi or the rest of the Seahawks’ O-line. It’s worth pointing out, of course, that Ifedi was a right tackle during his Texas A&M tenure.
Thanks to the departures of Okung and Sweezy, the Seahawks could clearly use more proven veteran aid along their line. The unit surrendered the sixth-most sacks in the league (46) and ranked 30th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted sack rate metric, so adding a healthy Evans would seem to be a step in the right direction. It’s up in the air how much Evans is capable of contributing at this point, however, evidenced by the fact that he has drawn minimal interest since the Saints released him.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sorry Jahri, your time has come and gone. you was great as a Saints but injuries have taken its toll on your body. You was a shell of your former self last year. Perhaps an offseason has helped your knee somewhat. You should take the vet minimum because the big payday days are over.