Seattle Seahawks: Offseason 2014, predictions. (updated 3/28/2014)

As a long suffering Seattle Seahawks fan (since 1987, when I was seven), last season was the sports highlight of my life. Everything came together and my team finally got to hoist the Lombardi trophy after one of the biggest thrashings in Super Bowl History.

The problem, of course, is that no team can stay together forever and tough decisions must be made. Since John Schneider and Pete Carroll took over four years ago, Seattle has had over 1,000 player transactions, tops in the league. While I trust Carroll and Schneider to make the right moves, that doesn’t mean that some of my favorite players will be in Seahawks blue next season… but I have filled with excitement that the 2014 batch will be even better.

With the free agency period set to begin on March 11^th, here’s my offseason predictions regarding free agency and the draft for the Seahawks.

When a player signs a contract to play for an NFL team, he signs for a specific duration. When that duration concludes, that player becomes a free agent and may either reign with his former team or seek a new team to play for.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB
Michael Robinson, FB
Arceto Clark, WR
Sidney Rice, WR (released)
Golden Tate, WR
Bryan Walters, WR
Kellen Davis, TE
Michael Bennett, DL
Red Bryant, DL (released)
Breno Giacomini, OL
Paul McQuistan, OL
Chris Maragos, S
O'Brien Schofield, LB
Brandon Browner, CB
Anthony McCoy, TE
Steven Hauschka, K
Walter Thurmond, CB
Clinton McDonald, DL

Chris Clemons, DL

Doug Baldwin WR- RFA

Tarvaris Jackson— (resigned, 1 yr $1.25 million) Seattle loves his leadership and he has a similar skillset to starter Russell Wilson. If he can sign a multi-year deal for cheap, Seattle will take him.

Michael Robinson—with the emergence of Derek Coleman, Robinson is expendable at fullback. But, with his veteran leadership and legal troubles of the other fullback, Spencer Ware, I could see Robinson staying with a one year deal.

Red Bryant— (I was wrong. He signed with former defensive Gus Bradley in Jacksonville)I know they released him, but with Bennett wanting to test the market and a deep Defensive line class, I see Red Bryant coming back to Seattle.

Chris Maragos— (signed a three year, $4.2 million deal with the Eagles) a valuable asset on special teams. He works hard and showed some flashes in his limited playing time.

Anthony McCoy—(resigned w/ Seattle on a one year deal) He’s a better receiver than starter Zach Miller, though the emergence of rookie Luke Willson could reduce the amount Seattle is willing to offer McCoy.

Steven Hauschka— (re-signed for 3 years, $9 million) he emerged as a top kicker in the NFL last season. He’s staying put.

Doug Baldwin- (tendered with a second round, $2.1 million tender. ) With Sidney Rice gone and Tate likely going elsewhere, Baldwin becomes the top offiensive priority for Seattle. They’ll resign him to a long term deal and with the emergence of Jermaine Kearse and Percy Harvin, he will anchor a solid receiving core.

Arceto Clark – there’s too many young receivers available on Seattle’s practice squad, on the open market and on futures deals in Seattle.

Golden Tate—(signed with Detroit for five years, $31 million)he said he would stay for a hometown discount, but, with him being projected as the number two WR free agent on the market, he’s going to come with a hefty price tag and I don’t think Seattle is willing to pay it. I see him in New York Jets green next season.

Bryan Walters—there’s too many young receivers available on Seattle’s practice squad, on the open market and on futures deals in Seattle.

Kellen Davis—Seattle is very deep at tight end and Davis didn’t do much to stand out. He’s likely out.

Michael Bennett—(signed a four year, $28.2 million dollar deal to stay in Seattle) he’s going to test the market and I don’t see Seattle paying him what he wants to stay. I see him in Chicago playing with his brother.

Breno Giacomini—(signed with the Jets) Giacomini is good, not great. He commits too many silly penalties. He’ll latch on somewhere else

Paul McQuistan—there are dozens of guys in free agency and the draft better than McQuistan. He’s been lackluster at best.

O'Brien Schofield — (signed with the New York Giants, however, failed his physical and now a free agent)) I’m on the fence about Schofield, but my hunch is that he’ll be gone. With big deals coming up next year for Bruce Irvin and most of the Legion of Boom, Schofield is a likely cap casualty.

Brandon Browner— (got an astounding three year, $17 million deal with the Patriots) This one is a no-brainer. Not only did he have a down year, but he’s suspended indefinitely. He may latch on somewhere on a one year deal for next to nothing. I could see him rejoining former Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley in Jacksonville, but he’s gotta keep his head on straight.

Walter Thurmond—(signed with the Giants) He’s not gonna be around. Too many character issues and a price tag that doesn’t warrant his performance, I see the Niners taking a flier on him and it makes sense. He’ll have a big chip on his shoulder and going to the arch enemy will only add fuel to his fire.

Clinton McDonald—(signed with the Buccaneers) I’m leaning towards gone, but if Red Bryant does not come back and Avril restructures his deal, I’d like to see him come back.

Sidney Rice—he’s been released and won’t come back. I think he’ll be playing for the Cleveland Browns next season, because they need some veteran leadership in their receiving corps.

Who’s coming:

Jared Allen (DL)— (signed a four year deal with the Bears) it makes sense for him to finish his career in Seattle. He is still athletic and could fill the void left by Bennett and Bryant. With Seattle a prime locale for free agents this off season, he may be willing to sign for less to play for a winner.

Julian Edelman (WR) – (resigned with the New England Patriots) Reports indicate he won’t be resigned in New England and he could fill the void vacated by Tate and be a true slot receiver and another multi-dimensional threat.

Captain Munnerlyn (CB)—(signed with the Vikings) it’s a deep DB free agent class and with a good amount of cap space and vacancies caused by Browner’s and Thurmmond’s likely departures, Munnerlyn makes sense, even though he’s not the Prototypical DB for the Legion of Boom. I see him in Seahawk blue next year.

Round One: Xavier Su'a-Filo (Guard) Left guard was one of the few weak points for Seattle last year. I see Su-a Filo falling to Seattle in round one.

Round Two: Michael Sam (DL) Seattle has been known to reach for athletic defensive players and Sam is no exception. I see Seattle snagging him at the end of the second round to bolster a defensive front that is suddenly aging.

Round Four: Jared Abbrederis (WR): the sixteenth ranked receiver in the draft, he could fall to Seattle and Seattle would be wise to snag him here.

Round Five: John Halapio (OG): Seattle needs depth at offensive line to protect Russell Wilson. Halapio would be a great late round steal.

Cody Lattimer (WR) he’ll be the best available here at this spot and Seattle should take him. At 6-2, he makes a nice target for the diminutive Wilson.

Round Six: Shamar Stephen (DT): at 6-5, 309 lbs, he makes a beastly pick here at the end of the sixth round. Look for Seattle to swipe him up with glee if he’s available here.

Round Seven: Colt Lyerla (TE) He has character issues which caused his stock to drop, but he’s a powerful force and he played at Oregon… which runs a fast pace offense much like Seattle. If he’s here as the last pick in the draft, Seattle should take him.

Here’s to a killer 2014 season! Go Seahawks.

Thanks for Reading.

A FREELANCE WRITER, HONORS STUDENT AND GOVER PRIZE FINALIST, JUSTIN W. PRICE (AKA, PDXKARAOKEGUY)IS A POET, SHORT STORY, BIOGRAPHY AND HUMOR WRITER. HIS POETRY COLLECTION,DIGGING TO CHINA, WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 BY SWEATSHOPPE PUBLICATIONS AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM, BARNES AND NOBLE AND THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

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