Free-agent offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, who started 14 games for the Seahawks last season between left guard and left tackle, agreed to join the Cleveland Browns on a two-year deal worth $3 million with $750,000 guaranteed, according to ESPN. The 30-year-old McQuistan, who played for Seattle since 2011, counted $3.35 million against its 2013 salary cap, reducing his value to the club.
McQuistan becomes the second offensive line starter to leave the Seahawks in free agency, following right tackle Breno Giacomini, who signed with the New York Jets March 12 on a four-year, $18 million deal.
McQuistan and former first-rounder James Carpenter often alternated in the left guard spot. The Seahawks also had two 2013 rookies, Michael Bowie and Alvin Bailey, impress in limited playing time. The Seahawks are also expected to use a high draft choice on an offensive lineman.
The Seahawks have seen 11 players who were part of the Super Bowl team leave for new jobs. Eight left in free agency and three — DEs Red Bryant and Chris Clemons and WR Sidney Rice — were cut.
Seahawks Free Agent Tracker
| Date | Player | Action | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 3/14 | CB Brandon Browner | Signed-NE | 3 years, $17 million |
| 3/15 | CB Walter Thurmond | Signed-NYG | 1 year, $3.5 million |
| 3/17 | K Steven Hauschka | Re-signed | 3 years, $9.15 million |
| 3/24 | OL Paul McQuistan | Signed-CLE | 2 years,$3 million, $750K guar. |
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 | Restructured | Base of $3M, down from $5.8 M |
Unsigned Seahawks Free Agents
| Player | Pos. | Age | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Baldwin | WR | 26 | 50 receptions, 778 yards, 5 TDs (restricted FA) |
| Kellen Davis | TE | 28 | 15 games, 3 receptions |
| 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 |
| 3/20 | Stephen Schilling | OG | SD | Bellevue High, U. of Michigan grad |
3 Comments
Hard position to fill. The Hawks can go after a free agent OL but they won’t know the offense. Sometimes it takes a year before they’re fully aclimated to what their new team runs. Would still like to see a solid free agent pick up though.
Wow – we are seeing first hand the results of free agency parity – there really never will be any more “dynasties” in the NFL.
As mentioned, the OL takes awhile to learn the system and mesh, which will make Wilson’s scrambling most important the first half of the season.
Understanding that he was plugged into a lot of spots, I won’t miss him being blown up and beat. Dynasties can still be done, it’s just harder. You’re going to have churn as part of any success. It’s when you hang on to parts, sometimes just for the sake of hanging on (say to a mediocre member of the OL) that you run into trouble.