Something about the 2013 draft, generally regarded one of the worst in NFL history, continues to intrigue the Seahawks. Like miners late to the 1898 Klondike gold rush, they sift through the tailings in search of the overlooked nugget.
According to Pro Football Talk, general manager John Schneider pulled another hopeful out of the gravel and mud Sunday, signing free agent guard Chance Warmack, the 10th pick in 2013’s first round from Alabama.
Terms weren’t disclosed yet, but it’s likely a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, since injuries limited him to seven snaps in 2019 in Philadelphia, where he played two seasons after his first four years in Tennessee.
He also fits the apparent age requirement for this year’s O-line signees B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi, all 28.
Warmack becomes the seventh player from the top 13 in the star-crossed draft to have drawn a Seahawks paycheck. They are OL Luke Joeckel (second), DL Dion Jordan (third), DL Ezekiel Ansah (fifth), LB Barkevious Mingo (sixth), Warmack (10th), D.J. Fluker (11h), Sheldon Richardson (13th).
Drifting into the second round finds QB Geno Smith and RB Christine Michael.
Only Fluker remains under contract. That year, the Seahawks traded their first-round pick (25th) to Minnesota in the ill-fated Percy Harvin deal. The Vikings used it on CB Xavier Rhodes, who was an All-Pro selection in 2017 but was released last week and is a free agent.
It may be only a matter of time before Rhodes gets his Class of ’13’s graduation requirement of a season in Seattle.
Regarding Warmack, if healthy, he will get a shot at left guard, a spot that was occupied by Mike Iupati, 33, a free agent that the Seahawks aren’t likely to ask back. It’s also likely the Seahawks won’t re-sign RT Germain Ifedi, meaning at least a 40 percent turnover in the starting unit, possibly 60 percent if the Seahawks decide they can’t afford C Justin Britt’s $8.5 million salary.
The Seahawks’ largest off-season story, the fate of DE Jadeveon Clowney, remains unresolved. There were media reports that the Seahawks have offered Clowney deals of $13.5 million up to $18 million for a season, but nothing better so far from another team.
The Seahawks were also reported to have interest in another pass rusher, four-time Pro Bowl selection DE Everson Griffen, released last week by the Vikings. A former star at USC under coach Pete Carroll, Griffen is 32 but played 78 percent of the Vikings’ snaps last season.
11 Comments
This is the Carroll/Schneider m.o. to a tee, right? The “I see something no one else sees” style that also insures surprises among UFAs and head-scratchers among 1st round picks. Tends to work for the former and fail for the latter. Good thing they trade down as often as they do.
C/S have a hard time talking around their first-round draft history. This new OL group is not taking anyone’s breath away.
With genome mapping these days you can create almost anything. The new plan is to take the best remaining parts of all these lame retreads and cobble together a super combo right tackle. That’s why they are sticking to the 2013 model year — fewer compatibility issues to resolve. The only missing component apparently is a Sumo wrestler from Japan who has yet to clear quarantine. But of course these things take time. I’m beginning to miss George Fant already. Please kick me if I start to miss Ifedi.
Franken-tackle. I like it. I can’t wait until Gene Wilder teaches him to sing, “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”
Quite a few free agents the Hawks have signed. So how many compensatory picks will they give up?
I don’t think any are of the caliber that will generate compensatory picks.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Hope Warmack is more of a DJ Fluker kind of a free agent and not an Eddie Lacy type.
I trust John (and Pete), but ….
— B.J. Finney …. 2 years, $8M ($4M average)
— Brandon Shell …. 2 years, $11M ($5.5M average)
— Cedric Ogbuehi …. 1 year, $3.3M
— Chance Warmack … TBD (but assume 1 year, ~$1M)
Total = ~$13.8M this season
To put that into perspective, George Fant’s 3-year, $30M contract has $13.7M guaranteed (and obviously averages $10M per season). I liked Fant, but I don’t think he’s earned a $10M/year contract.
And it’s reasonable to assume (and yet incredibly insane) that Germain Ifedi will top Fant’s contract numbers.
So while I think there’s some logic in replacing 2 guys with 4 guys (and saving a boatload of money in the process), for “just a few dollars more” ….. we could have signed someone like Jack Conklin (3-years, $42M from Cleveland) or Bryan Bulaga (3 years, $30M from the Chargers). We also could have gone after Matt Feiler (although he’d have cost us a 2nd round pick if we signed him).
Instead we seem to just be throwing bodies against the wall and hoping one of them sticks. But who knows, maybe it will work this time.
Fair point, but it’s hard to know now about the health status of backups Jones, Pocic and even starter Britt. I doubt John is spending cap space for giggles. I doubt much of the salaries for OL FAs is guaranteed.
Art, did you mean “tailings?”
Yes. Fixed. Thanks.