Another free agent Seahawk is staying in Seattle — punter Jon Ryan tweeted Friday morning that he is returning, thanks to a deal worth up to $10 million, with $2.4 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com.
With the departure of Brandon Mebane to San Diego, Ryan, 34, is the longest-tenured Seahawk. His 2008 arrival in Seattle makes him the only player who pre-dates coach Pete Carroll.
Found out this morning that I will have the honor of playing in front of the greatest fans in the world for 4 more years. #12’s @Seahawks
— Jon Ryan (@JonRyan9) March 11, 2016
Ryan made $1.5 million last season in the final year of a six-year deal he signed in 2010 that paid him $9.1 million total.
Ryan, who also holds on field goals — from where he threw a touchdown pass to RT Garry Gilliam to jump-start the Seahawks’ win over Green Bay in the 2014 NFC Championship — is among the NFL’s best punters because he kicks well directionally as well as vertically, dropping balls frequently inside the opponent 20-yard line.
He holds most of the Seahawks career punting records, including the longest punt of 77 yards.
He becomes the fourth Seahawks free agent to re-sign, joining DT Ahtyba Rubin, CB Jeremy Lane and WR Jermaine Kearse.
Free agent Okung visiting Giants, Lions, 49ers
NFL.com reported that LT Russell Okung, the final starter on the Seahawks’ unrestricted free agent list who is undecided, will take visits this weekend with the Giants and Lions. The 49ers reportedly are also interested. It was reported earlier in the week by NFL.com that he received an”aggressive” offer from the Seahawks to stay.
Okung, 28, is representing himself in negotiations, with some assistance from his former agent. His effort is being watched by other NFL players to see whether the unusual maneuver is feasible.
Okung had a shoulder dislocation in the final playoff game against Carolina that required surgery last month and obviously needs to prove to prospective employers that he is healthy.
The Seahawks have lost RG J.R. Sweezy in free agency (Tampa Bay) and are reluctant to lose a second starter from a line that struggled mightily in the first half of the past season.
Okung’s return could mean that the only personnel change in the line would be the advancement of Mark Glowinski, a fourth-round draftee in 2015, to replace Sweezy.
NFL.com also reported that the Seahawks will get a visit from Steelers LT Kelvin Beachum.
A seventh-round draft pick in 2012 from Southern Methodist, he worked his way into a full-time starting job in 2014, but played just six games in 2015 before tearing an ACL. He’s considered among the top remaining unsigned free agent tackles, along with Okung.
SEAHAWKS FREE AGENT TRACKER
Unrestricted free agents retained
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9 | Ahtyba Rubin | DL | 2.6M | 3 years, $12M, $5.5M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | Jeremy Lane | CB | 660K | 4 years, $23M, $11M guaranteed |
| Mar 10 | Jermaine Kearse | WR | 2.3M | 3 years, $13.5M, $6.3M guaranteed |
| Mar 11 | Jon Ryan | P | 1.5M | 4 years, $10M (1M annual raise) |
Unrestricted free agents lost
| Date | Player | Pos | New Team | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9 | Bruce Irvin | LB | Raiders | 5 years, $37M, $19M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | Brandon Mebane | DT | Chargers | 3 years, $13.5M, $5.5M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | J.R. Sweezy | G | Bucs | 5 years, $32.5M |
| Mar 9 | Ricardo Lockette | WR | None | Seahawks declined to offer, now FA |
Remaining unrestricted free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | 2015 Season/Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| —– | Russell Okung | T | 4.8M | 2010 No.1, 15 starts, 2 in playoffs |
| —– | Tarvaris Jackson | QB | 1.3M | 33 in April, mopped up in 4 games |
| —– | Michael Morgan | LB | 750K | 14 games with 2 starts |
| —– | Will Tukuafu | FB | 745K | 14 games, 1 touchdown |
| —– | Demarcus Dobbs | DE | 745K | 11 games, no starts |
| —– | Fred Jackson | RB | 870K | 16 games, 2 rec. TDs |
Restricted free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7 | Patrick Lewis | C | 585K | Tendered $1.67M |
| Mar 7 | Cooper Helfet | TE | 510K | Tendered $600,000 |
| Mar 9 | Alvin Bailey | G | 585K | Received no offer; signed with Clev. |
| Mar 9 | Derrick Coleman | FB | 585K | Seahawks declined to offer, now FA |
| Mar 9 | Christine Michael | RB | 208K | Seahawks declined to offer, now FA |
| —– | Nick Moody | LB | 413K | 3 games, no starts |
Exclusive rights free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 | Eric Pinkins | LB | 180K | Tendered |
| Mar 7 | DeShawn Shead | DB | 660K | Tendered $760,000 |
| Mar 8 | Marcus Burley | CB | 510K | Tendered $600,000 |
| Mar 8 | A.J. Francis | DT | 6.6K | Tendered $600,000, signed |
| Mar 8 | Jesse Williams | DT | 393K | Waived; never played |
| Mar 9 | Steven Terrell | CB | 600K | Tendered |
| Mar 9 | Moh. Seisay | CB | 333K | Tendered |
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2216133 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2216133">3 Comments
Next year they will have about 6 million tied up in kicking. I am actually a BIG fan of both Jon and Steve…great guys whom you
would never expect to shame the team off the field and they produce
right up there with the best.
Their stories of how they got here are also good.
You got to marvel at how good a gig kicking is in the NFL esp if your special like our kicking troops are.