Tight end Zach Miller, who seemed a prime target for release with a price tag of $5.8 million for 2014, has agreed to a restructured, two-year, incentive-packed contract worth up to $8 million that will keep him with the Seahawks through 2014. KIRO-AM’s Danny O’Neill first reported the signing and NFL Media Insider Ian Rapport provided contract details.
While the Seahawks have not abandoned the prospect of signing Jermichael Finley, an unrestricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers, they agreed to a base of $3 million for Miller over each of the next two seasons. Miller had a base of $6 million last year.
A valued blocker who played 58 of 60 snaps in the Super Bowl, Miller leads a cast of Seattle tight ends that includes Luke Willson and Anthony McCoy, who recently re-upped with the Seahawks after sitting out all of last season with an injury.
After playing four seasons with the Raiders, Miller initially signed a five-year, $34 million contract with the Seahawks in 2011. Last year, he played in 14 regular-season games, starting 12, and caught 33 passes for 387 yards and five touchdowns. He also started all three of Seattle’s post-season games.
Seahawks Free Agent Tracker
| Date | Player | Action | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/14 | CB Brandon Browner | Signed-NE | 3 years, $17 million |
| 3/7 | OL L. Jeanpierre | Re-signed | 16 games, 3 starts |
| 3/7 | S Jeron Johnson | Re-signed | Joined as undrafted FA in 2011 |
| 3/10 | DE Michael Bennett | Re-signed | 4 years, $16M guaranteed |
| 3/11 | TE Anthony McCoy | Re-signed | Didn’t play in ’13 (Achilles injury) |
| 3/11 | DT C. McDonald | Signed-TB | 4 years, $12 million |
| 3/11 | LB O. Schofield | Signed-NYG (voided) | 2 years, $8 million |
| 3/12 | S Chris Maragos | Signed-PHI | 3 years, $1M guaranteed |
| 3/12 | WR Golden Tate | Signed-DET | 5 years, $13M guaranteed |
| 3/12 | DT Tony McDaniel | Re-signed | 2 years, $6.3 million |
| 3/12 | RT Breno Giacomini | Signed-NYJ | 4 years, $18 million |
| 3/13 | QB Tarvaris Jackson | Re-signed | Played 3 games in 2013 |
| 3/15 | CB Walter Thurmond | Signed-NYG | 3 years, $3.5 million |
Seahawks Cuts / Restructures
| Date | Player | Action | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/28 | WR Sidney Rice | Cut | Saved $7.3 million in cap space |
| 3/11 | DE Red Bryant | Signed-JAX | 4 years, $17 million |
| 3/12 | DE Chris Clemons | Signed-JAX | 4 years, $17.5 million |
| 3/15 | TE Zach Miller | Restructure | Base of $3M, down from $6M |
Unsigned Seahawks Free Agents
| Player | Pos. | Age | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Baldwin | WR | 26 | 50 receptions, 778 yards, 5 TDs in 2013 |
| Kellen Davis | TE | 28 | 15 games, 3 receptions |
| Steven Hauschka | K | 29 | 143 pts led NFC (4th NFL) |
| Paul McQuistan | OG | 31 | 16 games, 14 starts |
| Michael Robinson | FB | 31 | Seahawk since 2010 |
Free Agents Signed By Seahawks
| Date | Player | Pos. | From | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12 | Taylor Price | WR | JAX | 26-year-old injured last two years |
7 Comments
Great news to hear. I’m sure Zach wasn’t thrilled about restructuring his original deal but figured this is the best deal he could get. I doubt he’d get something better on the open market. Plus if the incentives are playoff based he’ll meet those no problem.
This has been in the works awhile, and Miller’s only realistic upgrade would be if the market value of TEs shot up ridiculously. Didn’t happen.
This was great news. I’d love to have Jermichael, but Zach’s blocking is something that can’t be undervalued. The fact that they can keep him in the fold makes it a happy event.
The Seahawks understand the market and their needs better than any of us, but retaining Miller and Hauschka were important deals to anyone’s eyes.
Very good. Finley is a better pass-catcher, but that’s not the prime role of a TE in the Seattle offense, although I’d like to see more throws go Miller’s way…he IS a decent receiver and it never hurts to share the wealth when you don’t really have a go-to guy you can count on.
Miller’s only negative is speed, which is only a minor problem for a TE, whose pass-catching value is about possession beyond the first-down marker. A Finley/Miller tandem would create a serious headache for any defense.
Forget Finley. The Hawks have McCoy and Willson.