Geno Smith is Seattle’s most important free agent, but general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll also have several other notable players slated to hit the market this offseason. Here’s a rundown of Seattle’s pending free agents, all of whom fall into three categories: unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights. Listed are the player ages at the start of the 2023 regular season, along with analysis of notable players in each category.
All stats provided by TruMedia unless otherwise noted.
Seahawks’ 2023 unrestricted free agents
Geno Smith: Smith, a candidate for the franchise tag, has said he expects to be back in Seattle next season. Carroll wants him back. Schneider said in two radio interviews in recent weeks that he would like to retain Smith. Now it’s all about compensation. Schneider in those radio interviews said that he has a “drop-dead number” in negotiations, meaning he’d like to keep Smith in Seattle but at a salary that benefits both parties. Schneider also said Smith knows the Seahawks’ goal is to build a competent roster around him, implying that they might persuade the quarterback to leave some meat on the bone to upgrade other positions.
The franchise tag window begins Feb. 21 and ends March 7. The one-year salary is projected to be just north of $32 million. If tagged, Seattle has until July 15 to agree to a long-term deal with Smith. If Seattle uses the non-exclusive franchise tag on Smith, Seattle will receive two first-round picks as compensation in the event another team signs the veteran quarterback to an offer sheet.
Notable Geno Smith-related exchanges between @IanFurnessSea and #Seahawks GM John Schneider on:
• Getting Geno re-signed
• building a SB-caliber roster after paying a QB (or any position)
• balancing paying that player versus having a drop-dead number in negotiations pic.twitter.com/tdNmNKHM6r— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) January 25, 2023
Poona Ford: Carroll said Seattle “overplayed” Ford and played him more as a five-technique (outside shoulder of the tackle) and three-technique (outside shoulder of the guard) instead of nose tackle, where Carroll feels Ford is at his best. That’s probably why Ford had an underwhelming season aside from a career-high three sacks.
“We wore him down quite a bit because he did have to play a lot,” Carroll said.
On locker clean-out day, Ford said the scheme change was “different” and “it took me a minute to get adjusted.” Ford said he’d like to play for the Seahawks in 2023 but also said he’s “prepared for whatever.”
Austin Blythe: Seattle signed Blythe because of his smarts and his familiarity playing for Shane Waldron and O-line coach Andy Dickerson. While both those traits proved valuable in 2022, Seattle could potentially use a better road grader at the position. Even if it re-signs Blythe, Seattle still needs a long-term option behind the veteran center, who said Jan. 15 that he’s been mulling retirement.
Will the Seahawks re-sign Rashaad Penny despite his injury history? (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rashad Penny: Seattle would ideally like to have a one-two punch with Penny and Ken Walker III, but Penny’s injury history continues to be a concern. He’s had stints on injured reserve due to issues with his ACL (2019), calf (2021) and tibia (2022), the latter causing him to miss the final 12 games of the season. When healthy, Penny is a powerful, explosive ball carrier. He was 12th in rushing and averaging 6.07 yards per carry at the time of his latest injury.
Walker’s ankle injury late in the season and the subsequent dip in Seattle’s rushing production showcased the value of having a second starting-caliber running back. Penny could return as Walker’s backup if the two sides can agree on a reasonable salary. But that depends on the team’s willingness to invest in a player with durability issues.
Cody Barton: Barton’s first year as a starter was a mixed bag. He started slow, particularly as a run defender, and his playing time was reduced because of it. Barton had an opportunity to self-scout during the bye week, which led to improved play, both against the run and pass. Then he was one of many young defenders who played poorly in the playoff loss to the 49ers.
Jordyn Brooks self-reported a “successful” ACL surgery Jan. 19, and his recovery is relevant to Barton’s situation. It’s unclear whether Brooks, the team’s primary signal caller, will be available to start the season. Even if he’s available, it’ll take time for Brooks to be himself again. Will that make Seattle more likely to bring back Barton? Seattle probably can’t afford to enter training camp having two inside linebackers with no experience in the system. At the same time, inside linebacker could use a talent upgrade in a division with two elite offensive play callers in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Phil Haynes: A fourth-round pick in 2019, Haynes rotated at right guard with veteran Gabe Jackson, who could be traded or released to save $6.5 million. Seattle considers Haynes a starting guard who can play both spots. Considering his age and potential price tag, Haynes could be re-signed at Jackson’s expense.
“We like him,” Carroll said of Haynes on Jan. 16. “He’s physical. Consistent is a good word for him because he’s there. He’s there for you. He’s a great kid.”
Marquise Goodwin: Goodwin caught 27 passes on 42 targets for 387 yards and four touchdowns before suffering injuries to his wrists and shoulders that sidelined him for the final two games of the regular season and the playoffs. He accounted for 7.6 percent of Seattle’s targets, placing him fourth behind DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Noah Fant. Goodwin has WR3 potential if Seattle wants a veteran in that role.
Jonathan Abram: Acquired via waiver claim from the Packers in November, Abram appeared in six games (playoffs included) with starts against the Jets and Rams. He had a handful of splash plays, including a couple of passes defended while playing strong safety. Abram’s skill set is similar to that of Jamal Adams, whose injury necessitated Abram’s signing. Abram’s value to Seattle is tied to how long it takes Adams to recover from that knee injury.
Drew Lock: Lock would like to be a starter in this league, so although Schneider said Seattle would “ideally” like to have both Smith and Lock return this offseason, signing the former would likely dissuade Lock from signing up for more backup duty.
Seahawks’ 2023 restricted free agents
| Player | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|
|
LB |
26 |
|
|
S |
27 |
|
|
WR |
27 |
Ryan Neal: Starting in place of the injured Adams, Neal appeared in 14 games and finished with a career-high 66 total tackles while proving to be one of the team’s most impactful players. TruMedia tracks “splash” plays, defined as sacks, tackles for loss, turnovers, pass breakups, run stuff, pressures leading to throwaways and stops on third and fourth down. Neal finished third with 29 while leading the team with 10 stops on third and fourth down.
Neal is entering his age-27 season after receiving First-Team All-Pro votes for the first time in his career. It’ll be interesting to see whether Seattle uses a $4.3 million second-round tender — meaning any team signing Neal to an offer sheet must surrender a second-round pick in exchange — or sign him to a multiyear extension (similar to Ford’s deal two years ago).
Tanner Muse: Muse started the final game of the regular season and the playoff loss. In those two games he had seven tackles and a pass breakup. If retained, Muse would likely be given a $2.6 million original-round tender, meaning Seattle receives no compensation if Muse is signed to an offer sheet by another team.
Penny Hart: Hart appeared in nine games and caught three passes on four targets for 20 yards. By the end of the year, he was behind Dareke Young, Cade Johnson and Laquon Treadwell on the depth chart. It appears unlikely that he is tendered.
Seahawks’ 2023 exclusive rights free agents
Michael Jackson: Jackson quietly had a strong season despite Artie Burns, Sidney Jones and Tre Brown making runs at his job. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson held opponents to a passer rating of 75.7 when targeting him as the closest defender and totaled 12 passes defended with one interception, two touchdowns allowed and 1.0 yards allowed per coverage snap. For reference, here’s how those numbers stack up against notable, well-compensated corners:
- DJ Reed, Jets: 73.7 passer rating allowed, one interception, 12 passes defensed, two touchdowns allowed and 0.8 yards allowed per coverage snap
- Darius Slay, Eagles: 73.5 passer rating allowed, three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, three touchdowns allowed, 1.0 yards allowed per coverage snap
- Carlton Davis, Buccaneers: 75.4 passer rating allowed, one interception, 12 passes defensed, two touchdowns allowed, 1.4 yards allowed per coverage snap
Jackson can be retained for the league minimum. Having productive, starting-caliber corners like Jackson and fifth-round rookie Tariq Woolen is huge for a Seattle team dedicating more than $36 million to its safeties — not including what it costs to keep Neal — in 2023.
Myles Adams: Adams appeared in 10 games and had four splash plays as a rotational defender across the interior of the line. Adams probably won’t be a starter in 2023, but his versatility and experience in the system can provide depth on a minimum salary. Veteran nose tackle Al Woods entering his age-36 season and backup nose Bryan Mone facing a long road to recovery from that ACL injury make Adams even more valuable in the middle of a defensive line that needs to be retooled.
(Top photo of Geno Smith: Harry How / Getty Images)
.