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Seattle Seahawks News & Rumors

Jets, Giants Eyeing CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner

March 31st, 2022 at 6:21pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like the two New York teams could be eyeing the best cornerback in the draft. According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv, both the Giants and Jets have “strong interest” in Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Both organizations will host the cornerback on a top-30 pre-draft visit.

The Giants and Jets were present for Gardner’s Pro Day last week, with the Giants going as far as to take the cornerback out for dinner. The two organizations also met with the player at the NFL scouting combine earlier this month. Of course, the Jets and Giants aren’t the only teams to show interest in Sauce; per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, the Eagles, Lions, and Seahawks will also host the player on a top-30 visit.

Gardner is one of the draft’s top prospects, and for good reason. Standing at 6-foot-3, the cornerback ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash, and after allowing only 6.6 yards per reception last season, he earned consensus All-American and conference Defensive Player of the Year. In 33 games with Cincinnati, the cornerback had nine interceptions.

As Vacchiano notes, many believe Sauce won’t get past the Giants at No. 7. That means there’s little chance that he falls to the Jets at No. 10, so the team may need to use pick No. 4 if they hope to roster the best cornerback in the draft.

Seahawks Open To Re-Signing Carlos Dunlap

March 31st, 2022 at 2:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Carlos Dunlap found himself in familiar territory earlier this month. The team released him in a cost-cutting move, as they had one year earlier. Another reunion between the two parties is possible, though, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Seahawks Release Dunlap, Hyder]

Dunlap, 33, has played 25 total games during his time in Seattle. After more than a decade with the Bengals, he was traded there in October 2020. The Seahawks cut him at the end of the season, but brought him back not long after. The move didn’t come as a surprise, and Dunlap signed a two-year deal. Halfway through that pact, however, he finds himself a free agent once again.

In eight games after the trade, Dunlap totalled five sacks, demonstrating his continued ability to help a teams’ pass rush into the latter stages of his career. Even though he only started two of 17 contests in 2021, he improved on his previous numbers. The former Gator posted 35 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14 QB hits despite playing only 38% of defensive snaps.

While Henderson reports that another new contract between Dunlap and Seattle “isn’t out of the question”, he is quick to note the schematic changes the team has undergone this offseason. At six-foot-six and 285 pounds, Dunlap profiles better as a 4-3 defensive end than the 3-4 outside linebacker he would need to be in Seattle going forward.

Henderson further states that there is “nothing imminent” regarding a contract for Dunlap, either with the Seahawks or any other team. Despite being let go in two straight seasons, that next deal could still come from Seattle, if both sides are willing and able to agree on yet another new pact.

Latest On Seahawks’ QB Situation, D.K. Metcalf

March 29th, 2022 at 11:00am CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks feel as though they have their next starting quarterback in Drew Lock, but they are one of few remaining teams expected to make another move of some kind at the position. It comes as no surprise, then, that head coach Pete Carroll says the team is “still in the quarterback business” as noted by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. 

Which veteran the team would prefer to bring in isn’t a mystery, either. Carroll confirmed they are still trying to re-sign Geno Smith, who has been with Seattle for the past two seasons. The former Jet, Giant and Charger started three games in Russell Wilson‘s absence last year, throwing for 702 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception.

“It just hasn’t happened” Carroll said of Smith. “It’s a negotiation.” It became clear even before the Wilson trade that Seattle wanted to retain the 31-year-old, who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January. As Condotta notes (on Twitter), Smith is likely trying to leverage a more lucrative deal from Seattle “knowing they plan for him to compete to start and not just be a backup”.

Meanwhile, Carroll also addressed the contract status of receiver D.K. Metcalf. “We intend for him to be with us”, he said (Twitter link). The former second-rounder’s rookie contract expires at the end of the 2022 campaign, making him eligible for an extension – which would keep Metcalf in Seattle, something he expressed a desire for towards the end of the season.

While Carroll stated that “we have not gotten to that topic yet”, he added that “there’s no way I could imagine playing without him”. Included in some trade rumors, especially after the departures of Wilson and Bobby Wagner, Metcalf being signed long-term would provide some significant stability on an offense facing questions at the game’s most important position. In his three seasons, the Ole Miss alum has averaged 72 catches, 1,057 yards and just under 10 touchdowns per year.

Browns To Sign C Ethan Pocic

March 29th, 2022 at 9:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after parting ways with J.C. Tretter, the Browns are set to add to the interior of their offensive line. The team is signing center Ethan Pocic, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz (on Twitter). 

[RELATED: Browns To Cut Tretter]

Pocic, 26, played five seasons in Seattle after being drafted in the second round by the Seahawks in 2017. Over that time, he played at both guard and center. In total, he registered 57 appearances and 40 starts with the team.

Pocic’s heaviest workloads in terms of snaps percentage have come in the past two campaigns. In 2020, he was on the field for every offensive play in the 14 contests he suited up for, and last season, that figure was 79%. The 2021 campaign was the first in which the LSU alum didn’t commit any accepted penalties. That helped him earn a PFF grade of 67.3, the highest of his career.

Pocic’s days in Seattle were likely numbered when the team signed Austin Blythe at the start of free agency. The former Ram returned to the NFC West after one season as a backup in Kansas City. Given the absence of Tretter in Cleveland, though, Pocic has an opportunity to compete for the starting center job with Nick Harris. The latter has played sparingly in two seasons with the Browns.

With Pocic, the Browns have gotten younger in the middle of their offensive front while adding accomplished depth at a minimum. If the deal is similar in value to his career earnings, it also shouldn’t use up too much of the Browns’ roughly $21MM in cap space.

Latest On Seahawks' Austin Blythe Deal

March 26th, 2022 at 3:02pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The one-year, $4MM deal the Seahawks gave Austin Blythe comes with a $2.5MM signing bonus and a $1.5MM base salary, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Blythe can earn up to $500K in playing-time incentives. With Ethan Pocic unsigned, Blythe has a clear path to becoming a starting center again. The ex-Rams guard and center starter backed up Creed Humphrey throughout last season with the Chiefs.

Latest On Baker Mayfield’s Status With Browns

March 25th, 2022 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

We updated recently how Cleveland was intent on giving quarterback Baker Mayfield a fresh start immediately. Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Browns are not likely to release Mayfield should they fail to find a trade partner for the 26-year-old. 

According to Rapoport, Cleveland has had talks with squads who have interest in trading for Mayfield, but the 2022 salary due to Mayfield of $18.86MM is currently preventing a deal from being made. Rapoport posits that perhaps a deal could get worked out by Mayfield’s agent and a potential new team wherein a portion of his salary is covered by the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported days ago that Cleveland is not interested in paying part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary to facilitate a trade.

The Seahawks still appear on the radar after inquiring about the disgruntled quarterback, but they are looking for a certain price point and the assumption is that the Browns have not yet come close to it. When the Browns informed Mayfield that they would attempt to accommodate him with a trade deal, Baker mentioned the Colts as a team of interest, while also stating he had no interest in going to Detroit, Carolina, or Houston. The Colts, though, took the route of acquiring Matt Ryan in a trade with the Falcons.

Another team that’s communicated interest in Mayfield is the Steelers, who Cabot mentioned would “pounce” on Mayfield if the Browns were to release him. Newly acquired quarterback Mitchell Trubisky‘s relatively low-cost deal averaging $7.14MM per year makes it extremely feasible for Pittsburgh to go after a big name quarterback in the free agent market.

Two more factors possibly obstructing a deal from being reached are the availability of another proven starter Jimmy Garoppolo and the surgery Mayfield underwent on his non-throwing shoulder just after the 2021 NFL season. Also, Cleveland doesn’t expect a first-round pick in exchange for Mayfield. They know they’ll have to look elsewhere to recoup any of the first-rounders lost acquiring Deshaun Watson from Houston.

The Brown’s will likely continue working towards finding a new home for Mayfield, but Rapoport warns us not to expect them to cut him in an attempt to help. If an ideal trade partner fails to emerge, the Browns could be well-served in holding on to their starter of the last four years should their new quarterback, Watson, face a suspension to start the 2022 season.

Contract Details: Koo, Armstrong, Whitehead, McKissic, Seahawks, Gladney

March 23rd, 2022 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the details from the latest agreed-upon contracts around the league:

  • Younghoe Koo, K (Falcons): Five years, $24.25MM. Koo received a $6.25MM signing bonus and will earn a fully guaranteed $1.75MM 2022 base salary, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. The final three years of Koo’s deal are nonguaranteed; none of Koo’s cap hits exceed $6MM.
  • Jordan Whitehead, S (Jets): Two years, $14.5MM. The Jets fully guaranteed Whitehead $7MM and, according to OverTheCap.com, the veteran safety’s cap hits will be $4.2MM and $10.2MM.
  • Austin Johnson, DL (Chargers): Two years, $14MM. Initially reported as having a max value of $14MM, Johnson’s deal carries a base value of that amount. It comes with $10.6MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
  • Dorance Armstrong, DE (Cowboys): Two years, $12MM. The Cowboys fully guaranteed Armstrong $6MM, and Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets his 2022 cap figure checks in at $3.38MM. The deal also features a $1MM sack incentive.
  • Quinton Jefferson, DL (Seahawks): Two years, $9.5MM. The Seahawks guaranteed Jefferson $5.2MM to return. This includes a $1.2MM 2022 base salary, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • J.D. McKissic, RB (Commanders): Two years, $7MM. Enticing him to renege on a Bills agreement, the Commanders guaranteed McKissic $3.6MM. The deal includes $1.5MM in performance incentives for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
  • Jeff Gladney, CB (Cardinals): Two years, $6.5MM. The former first-round pick will receive $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Howard Balzer tweets. In addition to his $2MM signing bonus, the Cards guaranteed Gladney’s 2022 base salary ($1.5MM) and $500K of his 2023 base ($2.5MM). Gladney will count just $2.5MM against Arizona’s cap this year.
  • Rashaad Penny, RB (Seahawks): One year, $5.75MM. To keep Penny, the Seahawks guaranteed him $5.07MM. Penny will carry a $5.51MM cap number, Henderson tweets. Incentives for rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns could take the deal to $6.5MM.

Latest On Browns’ Baker Mayfield Trade Talks, Deshaun Watson Deal

March 23rd, 2022 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The flurry of quarterback moves has left the Browns with few options regarding their previous starter. The team is not planning to hold onto Baker Mayfield in hopes of an injury changing the marketplace, preferring to give him a fresh start immediately.

Cleveland hopes to unload Mayfield soon, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes in an expansive piece, but the team should not be expected to receive a great return. In addition to the reduced market, the Browns are not interested in paying part of Mayfield’s fifth-year option salary ($18.9MM) to facilitate a trade, Cabot adds. Mayfield requested a trade shortly before the Browns made their historic offer to Deshaun Watson.

Despite Sam Darnold fetching three draft choices — including a 2022 second-rounder — from the Panthers last year, the Browns have limited options for their more proven starter. Darnold’s disappointing season notwithstanding, the Panthers are not believed to be interested in Mayfield. The Seahawks do still appear on the radar, with Cabot indicating they have inquired on the disgruntled QB and may become more open to a deal at a certain price point. The Browns are not expecting a first-round pick here; they would need to explore another avenue to recoup one of the first-rounders they lost by trading for Watson.

While this saga is not at the point where the Browns are considering releasing Mayfield, Cabot adds if that were to happen the Steelers would be interested (video link). Pittsburgh gave Mitchell Trubisky a two-year contract, but his barely $7MM-per-year salary leaves the team open to exploring other options or drafting a passer early.

Although the Watson-to-Cleveland buzz picked up after the Combine, Cabot reports the Browns informed Mayfield’s camp in Indianapolis they would only attempt to replace him with an elite QB like Watson or Russell Wilson. After the Browns informed him they would aim to accommodate Mayfield in a trade, the QB did not list the Lions, Panthers or Texans as desirable spots and was instead intrigued by the Colts. Indy discussed Mayfield with Cleveland but made a deal to acquire Matt Ryan.

Additionally, Cabot reports Mayfield’s trade request did not spur the Browns to make their monster offer for Watson, who is now signed to a $230MM fully guaranteed contract. Watson did narrow his list to the Falcons and Saints, but his camp is believed to have brought the Browns back into the mix. Cleveland’s fully guaranteed proposal partially surfaced to convince Watson to play in a cold-weather city.

That process — and the subsequent QB decisions from Indy, Atlanta and New Orleans — has left Mayfield and with few options. Jimmy Garoppolo‘s status further complicates the Mayfield matter, as does the surgery Mayfield underwent on his non-throwing shoulder. The coming days could determine how much the Seahawks truly like Drew Lock, as they have indicated at every turn since acquiring him, or if they are willing to part with modest draft capital for a more experienced option.

Seahawks Sign CB Justin Coleman

March 23rd, 2022 at 5:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Justin Coleman is back in Seattle. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have agreed to terms with the free agent cornerback. Coleman is signing a one-year deal.

Coleman had two previous stints with the Seahawks. He spent time on their practice squad as a rookie, and he returned to the organization via trade in 2017. Coleman ended up spending two seasons with the organization, seeing time in all 32 games (10 starts). Coleman had three interceptions and two sacks during his two years in Seattle.

Since leaving Seattle, Coleman has had stints with the Lions and Dolphins. He made his NFL debut with the Patriots, and he earned a Super Bowl ring during the 2016 season.

The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with Miami last offseason. He got into 16 games (four starts) for the Dolphins, collecting 27 tackles, three passes defended, and two interceptions while appearing in 35 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

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