The Seahawks Friday agreed to terms with four rookies selected in last month’s NFL draft — S Tedric Thompson, OT Justin Senior, WR David Moore and RB Chris Carson — and announced the signings of eight undrafted rookie free agents ahead of this weekend’s rookie camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
“It’s great to have 11 guys coming on this draft class, and we’re really excited about what happened in free agency as well,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. “We’re always trying to make this roster more and more competitive in every way we can.”
The eight undrafted free agents are BYU FB Algernon Brown, West Virginia QB Skyler Howard, Mississippi DT Jeremy Liggins, Louisiana-Lafayette LB Otha Peters, USC WR Darreus Rogers, Purdue G Jordan Roos, Texas TE Tyrone Swoopes and UTEP LB Nick Usher.
“These guys that come in after the seventh round is over are just as valuable to us as anybody that we take in the draft, and we treat them with that thought,” said Carroll. “The care that John (Schneider) goes through with all of his guys to figure out the eighth-round pick, the ninth-round pick, the tenth, all those guys.”
The undrafted free agents:
Algeron Brown, FB, BYU (6-1, 250): Switched from running back in 2016 and started all 13 games . . . Blocked for an offense that averaged 201.2 rushing yards per game . . . Had 16 carries for 47 yards and caught six passes for 67 . . . Native of Salt Lake City, was recruited by Washington . . . Told the Provo Daily Herald that he agreed to sign with the Seahawks immediately following the draft.
Skyler Howard, QB, West Virginia (6-0, 207): Howard threw 52 touchdown passes and ran for 16 more in his two years as a starter. He threw 10 interceptions during his senior season and led West Virginia to its first 10-win season since 2011 . . . Passed for 3,328 yards and 23 TDs, completing 61.6 percent . . .Will compete with Trevone Boykin for the backup job . . . “He’s a mad bomber, man,” Pete Carroll said after draft. “He threw a ton of deep balls. He goes downtown.”
Jeremy Liggins, DT, Mississippi St. (6-3, 310): Native of Oxford, MS played junior college ball at Northeast Mississippi . . . Has played tight end and even quarterback in short-yardage situations . . . Originally signed with LSU out of high school.
Otha Peters, OLB, Louisiana Lafayette (6-2, 228): Second-leading tackler with 94 stops last season . . . 11 tackles for loss with two sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, five quarterback pressures and three pass breakups . . . Had a career-high 18 tackles with a sack vs. New Mexico State Oct. 1 . . . First-team All-Sun Belt Conference . . . Native of Covington, LA.
Darreus Rogers, WR, USC (6-1, 215): Made honorable mention All-Pac-12 last season after catching 56 balls for 696 yards and four touchdowns, including one against Washington . . . Big receiver Seahawks have long sought . . . Biggest knock: ran a 4.90 40 on USC’s Pro Day.
Jordan Roos, OG, Purdue (6-5, 301): Reportedly received $20,000 for joining the Seahawks . . . “We were very excited to get him,” Seattle GM John Schneider said after the draft. “He’s a guy who was a draftable player” . . . Wowed the NFC combine with 41 bench presses, six more than any other offensive lineman . . . Named All-Big Ten honorable mention last season . . . Made 87 career starts for the Boilermakers.
Tyrone Swoopes, TE, Texas (6-4, 249): Made 14 starts at quarterback for the Longhorns last season, but is projected as a tight end in the NFL despite never having played one snap at that position . . . Also drew interest from Tampa Bay, Dallas and Chicago . . . Ran a 4.65 40 at the Texas Pro Day.
Nick Usher, LB, UTEP (6-5, 245): Started all 12 contests . . . Earned Conference USA honorable mention after leading team in tackles for loss (8.0-41), sacks (5.5-31) and quarterback hurries (five) . . . Ranked third on team with 77 tackles (35 solo) … added two pass breakups and a blocked kick . . . Converted defensive end.