According to multiple reports, including this one from CBSSports.com, Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, the top player in free agency, wants to sign with the Seahawks. “This is his number one choice — because Suh is from the Northwest, grew up in Portland, and he’d like to be there (Seattle),” the report said. A Suh-Seahawks pairing, however, isn’t likely to happen.
Seattle enters the free agency signing period in March with approximately $23 million in cap space. That could cover Suh, who likely will be seeking a multi-year deal in excess of $100 million. But the Seahawks already have plans for that $23 million.
They plan to give new contracts to QB Russell Wilson, LB Bobby Wagner and perhaps RB Marshawn Lynch. Coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider already said the Seahawks and Lynch have started talks.
The Seahawks also have CB Byron Maxwell and LG James Carpenter entering free agency, and must budget funds for draft choices.
In addition, defensive tackle is not one of Seattle’s priorities. The Seahawks hope to have healthy Brandon Mebane, Jordan Hill, Cassius Marsh and Jesse Williams, all injured last season.
Suh was selected by the Lions with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft after winning multiple national awards while at the University of Nebraska, including the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award.
But he has been a controversial pro, racking up more than $420,000 in fines for a series of player-safety violations, the most infamous of which occurred in 2011 when Suh shoved Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head to the ground three times and stomped on his arm after the whistle.
Suh is a four-time, first-team All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowler.
11 Comments
Say they could afford him. One part of me would love to have him rushing the QB. The other would always be in fear of the emergence of the inner knucklehead. This would be a tough call. Could he be another Harvin in the locker room, or a total team player?
I’m guessing Harvin. The guy shows little ability to change behavior.
Suh would have to take a pay cut to join the Hawks. A deal similar to what Bennett took when he first joined. However taking care of business in house will be a priority before him and considering how many times the NFL has to discipline him there’s too much chance of repeating what happened with Harvin happening with him.
He could do a one-year deal to prove himself, but he’ll get many long-term offers.
I would be 100% (well, maybe 99%) in favor of signing him to a 1-year deal; possibly one with a team option for a second year. If he REALLY wants to be in Seattle (and win a championship), he’ll do the deal, use it to showcase his “rehabilitation,” then enter free agency again in a year (or two).
For the Seahawks, it’s definitely a risk. But on a 1-year deal (with or without a team option for a 2nd year), the risk is GREATLY reduced.
I don’t know what kind of locker room guy Suh would be, although he’s a known on-field bonehead, but $23 million in cap space won’t be enough to sign Wilson, Wagner AND Maxwell as it is (I’d let Carpenter go, though he showed signs of not being a total wasted pick down the stretch). Russ will take up at least $15-18 million of that alone.
Suh would need the mother of deferred-money contracts to fit under the cap in Seattle, like one of those Dolgoff Plan deals the old ABA used to give out in the Seventies that some former players may still be collecting on. Don’t see that happening in 2015 in the NFL.
Word is he’s a great teammate and a really smart guy. He just enters some other zone on the field.
Kind of a shame for him that’s where the game is played.
Presuming a return to health of roster players, DL isn’t a place of need, especially at his price. On RW, my guess is his cap hit in ’15 won’t be more than $10M.
I’ve watched Suh play. He’s good at rushing and tackling. But he gets stupid and deliberately stomps on arms and ankles. I’ve heard people say things like, “Oh, that kind of stuff goes on all the time and nobody says anything unless it’s an offensive back who gets stomped.” Nope. I’ve been watching football since the early ’60s, including the bench-clearing brawls when the Raiders played the Chiefs. That’s not normal play. The Seahawks are far better off without that kind of nonsense. I keep trying to figure out a way to fit the word “turdburger” into a sentence.
I understand him to be a great locker room guy. He just has a motor that doesn’t stop at the end of the play but his indiscretions have come years apart. I think the media reacted to the Brady and Rogers incidents as his typical play. He’s a beast and if we can sign him, it should be done. Bennett and Suh? Unbeatable.