Seahawks’ Duane Brown Wants New Deal

Duane Brown is heading into his age-36 season, but the Seahawks left tackle does not sound like he is planning a near-future retirement. Ahead of his fifth season in Seattle, Brown wants another raise.

The contract-year blocker wants a new deal, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). The Seahawks extended Brown in July 2018 — less than a year after trading for him. That $11.5MM-per-year contract was not a top-tier left tackle deal at the time and is well off the pace now.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Brown has provided the Seahawks left tackle stability by giving an annually embattled offensive line a blindside anchor. Brown’s salary, however, ranks 16th among left tackles. Brown is set to earn $10MM in base salary this season.

The 14th-year vet does not intend to hold out, however, per Garafolo, but this is now one of many contract situations to monitor around the league. He is at the Seahawks’ minicamp but not participating in on-field work, per the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (on Twitter). The Seahawks have another of these situations unfolding on their roster, though Jamal Adams is not in attendance.

While Brown’s age stands to limit his earning potential in his final NFL seasons, his request for a second Seahawks extension comes months after Russell Wilson made critical comments about his team’s O-line approach. Although the team traded for guard Gabe Jackson, Brown obviously serves as a key cog in Seattle’s O-line equation. Wilson attempted to walk back some of his winter comments last week, but the franchise QB made the O-line an issue publicly and behind closed doors. Brown moving for more security now makes sense.

Prior to Brown’s arrival, the Seahawks were in their second season without Russell Okung. Brown has provided the team with a reliable left tackle. Despite Brown being 35, Pro Football Focus tabbed him as the league’s fifth-best tackle last season. PFF has slotted Brown as a top-25 tackle in each of his four Seahawks slates. Considering Wilson’s comments and Brown’s recent form, it would not surprise if the Seahawks and Brown agreed on a short- or medium-length extension before the season.

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