Is this a case of lurk but don’t sign for the Seahawks, though?
We’re t-minus one week until the start of the “legal tampering” portion of NFL free agency. For Seattle Seahawks fans, all eyes are on John Schneider to see how he’ll handle this particular offseason given the state of the offensive line. It’s clear that it’s a big need regardless of who the starting quarterback is. Under Schneider (and Pete Carroll), Seattle has historically shied away from splashing even moderate money in FA, let alone on the offensive line. Will this year be any different?
ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano provided some insights and rumor mill material from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, there’s close to nothing regarding the Seahawks, but the one morsel of intel we’re allowed to get does involve the o-line.
The sense is Chicago will sign at least one interior offensive linemen. Drew Dalman, 49ers guard Aaron Banks and Colts guard Will Fries are among players on the radar. Like Dalman, Banks and Fries are in line for sizable contracts. Guards dominated free agency last year and will do well once again. The Giants, Cardinals and Seahawks are lurking in this market, too.
Of course, Seattle has lurked in this market before and signed Luke Joeckel, Laken Tomlinson, Austin Blythe, etc. over the years. Occasionally they get some decent stopgaps like D.J. Fluker and Mike Iupati, but no one worth a long-term dela. I suppose there is something to note regarding Dalman, the top available FA center from the Atlanta Falcons. It seems like he’s unlikely to return to the Falcons and would likely be paid very handsomely upon departure.
Graziano: The Falcons are prepared to lose center Drew Dalman in free agency. They’d like to have him back but are concerned he can get more money elsewhere. They feel good, though, about tendering restricted free agent center Ryan Neuzil and making him the Dalman replacement, which he was during the 2024 season when Dalman missed time due to injury.
Fowler: Dalman will easily top the free agent center market and should post a strong number. While Creed Humphrey’s four-year, $72 million deal is tough to top, Dalman will do very well.
That seems like enough reason to believe the Seahawks won’t be going after Dalman, but another name to keep an eye on is Josh Myers of the Green Bay Packers. Myers has started at center since 2022 and is still only 26 years old, although his PFF grades (for what they’re worth) are not good and have rarely been good.
It’s hardly unreasonable or surprising to think Seattle wants to fix its interior offensive line. It’s a matter of identifying the right players in FA and/or the draft to fit what Klint Kubiak and OL coach John Benton want.