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21 January 2025

• What should the Seahawks do with their 2025 free agents?

  Reviewing the Seahawks’ 2025 free agent class, from the unrestricted to the exclusive rights free agents.

  As of this writing, the Seattle Seahawks have 60 players under contract for 2024. That’s a small number considering the roster could reach 90 players. With a new league year set to begin on March 12, the team will have 16 free agents, including UFAs, ERFAs, and RFAs.

  The purpose of this article is to analyze who the Seahawks should and should not keep.

  Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA)

  ERFAs are players who are completely under the team’s control. They only need to pay the minimum based on the years played, and the players don’t even have the chance to try for another spot. To qualify as an ERFA, a player must have FEWERthan three accrued seasons. An accrued season is a season in which the player was on the 53-player roster for AT LEAST 6 games.

  If the tender is not placed, the ERFA becomes a UFA.

  Brady Russell, TE

  Russell was a standout in the preseason and managed to keep his spot on the roster. He produced much more than rookie AJ ​​Barner during camp and preseason. However, a foot injury caused Russell to miss almost half the season. He was used as a blocker, fullback and on special teams. Given his utility and low cost, it is almost certain that he will be back in 2025.

  Cody White, WR

  White has been in the NFL since 2020. He was on the practice squad for much of the season. He was elevated against the Rams and was a standout. He blocked a punt, caught two passes for almost 50 yards and forced a DPI that was crucial to the survival of the drive.

  In the final games of the season, he lost his spot among the active players to Dareke Young. Again, special teams work and a low cost should lead Seattle to bring in White for 2025.

  Joshua Onujiogu, EDGE

  He came from unknown Framingham State, but made a good impression in his rookie preseason. He was elevated in a few games, but spent most of the last few years on IR. He is unlikely to return.

  Josh Ross, LB

  He came off waivers from the Ravens midseason. He was an important part of the practice squad and his familiarity with MM should certainly give him some advantage. With a low cost, he should be back.

  Restricted Free Agents (RFA)

  To keep these players on the roster, the team needs to set a tender. Here are the estimated values, which will only become official when the cap is released for 2025:

  First-round pick - $7.28 million.

  Second-round pick - $5.22 million.

  First refusal - $3.19 million.

  If a player receives a First Round Tender and signs with another team, the player’s new franchise must send a first round pick to his old team. The same reasoning applies to the Second Round Tender. The First Refusal Tender gives a team the option to match any offer signed by a player with another team.

  To become an RFA, a player must have EXACTLYthree accrued seasons. If the tender is not placed, the RFA becomes a UFA.

  Josh Jobe, CB

  He started the year on the practice squad after being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was elevated a few times due to injuries to the CB group and had an up-and-down season. However, considering that he was a practice squad player only, the team should probably use the First Refusal Tender. It is also possible that the team could try to sign him as a UFA for a lower amount than the $3M tender.

  Jaelon Darden, Returner

  Darden was brought in on waivers to replace Laviska Shenault as the primary returner. I believe his work has been solid at best (which already makes him infinitely better than Shenault and Dee Williams). Maybe the team would rather bring him in for a lower price than the tender.

  Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA)

  UFA are the majority of Free Agents. They are players with more than 3 accumulated seasons. As soon as the league allows them, they can sign with any team, that is, their most recent team has no control over them.

  Ernest Jones, LB

  No Brainer. Sign him as soon as possible. It was reported that negotiations with him were paused. It is always good to remember that the team spent a fourth rounder on him, and sent a player worth $7M with almost all of his contract absorbed by Seattle in the transaction.

  Jones changed the Seahawks defense, he is still a young player who can still improve under Mike Macdonald. Something that is a little worrying is the fact that three teams have tried to renew with the LB and no one has reached an agreement. Could his agent have been asking for an exorbitant amount? Maybe he’s trying to capitalize on an elite value at the position and teams see Jones as “just” a very good player, but not elite.

  Jarran Reed, DT

  I have to be honest. I was totally against Reed returning to the team. He didn’t make a good impression in his last season in his first stint. A contract that was clearly more expensive than it should have been, a suspension, and he even “complained/publicized” about his cut on social media, preventing the team from trying to make a trade (not that I believed John Schneider would have been able to achieve anything).

  He arrived and became a leader and one of the best players on defense. Whether in the running game or pressuring the QB, Reed was physical and aggressive, posting excellent numbers. He finished 13th among DTs with 48 pressures and 11th with 10 hits on the quarterback, in addition to 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

  At 32 years old, if he doesn’t ask for anything exorbitant, he would also be a priority along with Jones.

  Laken Tomlinson, G

  He was brought in selling the idea that he was a solid veteran. However, if you were to watch half a dozen of his games with the Jets, you would see that he was a total disaster. While he played almost every snap and was one of only two starters to not miss a game, Tomlinson gave up 38 pressures and six sacks in 17 games, ranking among the six worst in both categories. He was also inconsistent in the running game, unable to impose himself at the line of scrimmage and lacking the explosiveness to reach the second level.

  The team should not re-sign him. It is worth remembering that due to the number of snaps he has played, he will earn a bonus in 2025, even without being on the roster.

  Johnathan Hankins, DT

  I do not rule out his return to the team, but I do not think he has been able to impact the nose tackle position as expected, especially in the first few games where the defense had a lot of problems against the run game. I think the team may look for another option for the role, but the fact that he played for Aden Durde on the Cowboys may help him get a spot on the team.

  Tre Brown, CB

  Brown gave some hope of being a starter in his first few years, when he was healthy. However, this year he had some very bad games. See the Giants, Vikings where a foul of his turned a FG into a TD, and the final game against the Rams where he missed important tackles before leaving to injury. This decline allowed Josh Jobe to have a lot of games. Therefore, I think the best thing for both of them is for Brown to have another team in 2025.

  K’Von Wallace, S

  Wallace had a very good game against the Broncos in the team’s regular season debut. This gave hope that the team would play in 3-safety packages. However, his performance declined and he had fewer and fewer snaps, helping only on special teams. He suffered an ankle injury and was placed on IR. The team opened the window to bring him back, but he ended the year on IR. If he accepts the veteran’s minimum, he could be an interesting option for depth, since I expect Rayshawn Jenkins to be cut.

  Pharaoh Brown, TE

  He came in to be a blocking TE. He finished the year with more holds than three Seahawks OLs combined (Cross, Tomlinson and Lucas). He also suffered a turnover against the Bears, in addition to taking snaps from rookie AJ ​​Barner. It was a “gamble” that went very wrong, so he shouldn’t return.

  Artie Burns, CB

  Burns had his moments when he was elevated and promoted to the 53-man roster. He’s been with the club for a while now and has been a reasonable backup when healthy. If the team can get the veteran minimum value again, he could come back since he’s used to the scheme.

  Trevis Gipson, EDGE

  Seattle traded Darrell Taylor and soon after Uchenna Nwosu got hurt. Thinking about strengthening the sector, the team traded for Gipson. The trade backfired. Gipson couldn’t be active in many games and ended the year on IR. His biggest highlight was a blunder in coverage on JARED GOFF against the Lions.

  He won’t be back and probably won’t find a team that will pay him anything more than the veteran minimum.

  Stone Forsythe, OT

  Injuries struck again and he had a long stint on IR. He became a starter in Week 2 after Abe Lucas and George Fant got hurt. Forsythe gave up 35 pressures in six weeks, the worst OT in the league by a long shot. He was even able to return from IR, but the team decided to give the starting job to sixth-round rookie Mike Jerrell. I don’t think the team will bring him back.

• This Week in Seahawks History: ‘I’m just here so I won’t get fined’

  Are you ready for a weekly blast from the Seahawks teams of the past?

  This will be a weekly article series throughout the season looking back on what happened for the Seattle Seahawks 40, 30, 20, and 10 years ago this week.

  It was a fun media day for Super Bowl 49. We’ll take a look back at that this time.

  ---

  40 Years Ago

  *Final 1984 record: 13-5. Lost in AFC Divisional Round*

  30 Years Ago

  *Final 1994 record: 6-10*

  20 Years Ago

  *Final 2004 record: 9-8. Lost in NFC Wild Card Round*

  10 Years Ago

  Super Bowl 49 Media Day

  The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots were getting ready for Super Bowl 49. With a week off between the championship games and the Super Bowl, media day and the surrounding stories take center stage.

  First and foremost was Marshawn Lynch and his famous “I’m here so I won’t get fined” quote which it still quite popular today.

  "I'm just here so I won't get fined."
  
  Four years ago, Marshawn Lynch stole the show at Super Bowl Media Day without saying much of anything. @MoneyLynch pic.twitter.com/4TxbplBiCT

  — NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 28, 2019

  Doug Baldwin got in on the fun, talking about how he was looking forward to going to “Revis Island”, a nod to Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis.

  “I’m going to bring my sunblock, my shades, and a hat and I’m going to go to Revis Island and see what I can do. And I’ll let you know after the game,” he said.

  Richard Sherman, never one to shy away from the spotlight, got in on the fun by dancing the salsa during his availability.

  .@RSherman_25 broke out the salsa steps during #SBMediaDay!
  
  MUST-SEE: http://t.co/EnaAc4E0jj pic.twitter.com/CpjNoiAd7S

  — NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2015

  There were a few other stories, but let’s be honest, none of them are nearly as entertaining as Beast Mode! In his honor, here’s a video of Lynch revisiting that media day and his history of fines with Shannon Sharpe.

  Marshawn Lynch is absolutely a national treasure!

  Next week is the day I’ve been dreading…I’ve never rewatched Super Bowl 49, so maybe this will be cathartic?

  We’ll all find out together in any case.

• Seahawks set up another offensive coordinator interview with Lions’ Hank Fraley

  The Detroit Lions are out, which means Fraley’s time has freed up.

  The Seattle Seahawks’ first reported interview for their vacant offensive coordinator job is getting a second look.

  ESPN’s Dan Graziano said on Tuesday that Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley will meet in-person with Seattle. The first meeting was virtual, as is standard when meeting with assistant coaches on playoff teams. Detroit is no longer in the postseason, so Fraley is free to interview with whomever for an OC job.

  While the Lions might have suffered a devastating Divisional Round upset loss, there’s no denying their offense has been electrifying and built behind a dominant offensive line. Fraley, a former NFL offensive lineman who reached a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, has only ever been an assistant or head offensive line coach. He’s been with the Lions coaching staff since 2018, preceding head coach Dan Campbell.

  As you can imagine, Detroit’s star offensive linemen Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell want Hank to stay.

  “You refuse to let Hank leave,” Ragnow said (via Pride of Detroit). “I haven’t played in this league without Hank and I don’t plan on doing it. I’ll sabotage him, I’ll leak stories, whatever it takes.”

  “Yeah, it’s the same as me,” Sewell said minutes later. “He’s not going nowhere at the end of the day. He’s not going nowhere.”

  Even if Fraley isn’t the choice, keep in mind that the Chicago Bears are closing in on hiring Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn looks to be the main target for the New York Jets. Fraley could just as easily join one of their staffs as offensive coordinator instead of join Seattle. Alternatively, he may remain in Detroit.

  Seattle’s other “Round 2” candidates are New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and 28-year-old Minnesota Vikings assistant OC/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski.

• How the Sam Howell trade played a role in the Commanders landing rising star cornerback

  The Commanders used the picks acquired in the Seahawks’ trade for Sam Howell to get an additional second-rounder from the Eagles, with Mike Sainristil selected with one of those

  The Washington Commanders defense is still a work in progress under Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr, but not only are they in the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years, they’ve found themselves a rising star at cornerback.

  Former University of Michigan standout Mike Sainristil started as a wide receiver before switching to cornerback—sound familiar, Seahawks fans?—quickly going from an unremarkable receiver to an All-American First-Team selection in his senior season. His draft stock rose all the way to the second round, where the Commanders selected him.

  In last Saturday’s upset win over the Detroit Lions, Sainristil had a critical interception before halftime to prevent the Lions from scoring again, then had effectively the game-clinching pick off of a Jameson Williams trick play gone wrong.

  Goff is PICKED in the end zone!
  
  : #WASvsDET on FOX
  : Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Ds9DhjRAEG

  — NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025

  COMMANDERS PICK OFF JAMESON WILLIAMS.
  
  : #WASvsDET on FOX
  : Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JmlEg6jdVC

  — NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025

  Sainristil now has four interceptions on the year to go along with his 11 passes defensed. He’s had his ups and downs like any rookie but he’s been a net positive for Washington.

  An interesting side story is how the Commanders got Sainristil in the first place. I suppose nothing was stopping them from taking him at No. 40, but Washington moved down in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before we get into that, let’s rewind to when the Seahawks traded for Sam Howell.

  Revisiting the Sam Howell trade

  Seahawks received

  2024 fourth-round pick (No. 102)

  2024 sixth-round pick (No. 179)

  QB Sam Howell

  Commanders received

  2024 third-round pick (No. 78)

  2024 fifth-round pick (No. 152)

  The Commanders used both of those Seahawks picks in a separate deal with the Eagles that netted them an additional second-round pick.

  Commanders trade with Eagles

  Commanders received

  2024 second-round pick (No. 50) - CB Mike Sainristil

  2024 second-round pick (No. 53) - TE Ben Sinnott

  2024 fifth-round pick (No. 161) - S Dominique Hampton

  Eagles received

  2024 second-round pick (No. 40)

  2024 third-round pick (No. 78) - Via Seahawks

  2024 fifth-round pick (No. 152) - Via Seahawks

  Washington had its own third-rounder but that extra third from the Seahawks meant they could fetch a bonus second-rounder and still stay in the third round of the draft. Sainristil was selected at No. 50. Philadelphia, incidentally, got do-it-all DB Cooper DeJean at No. 40, wide receiver Ainias Smith at No. 152, and traded down from No. 78 to No. 86, then flipped No. 86 to the San Francisco 49ers, who selected guard Dominick Puni.

  Before you think this is a “John Schneider sucks” article, it has to be noted that the Seahawks used their sixth-rounder on guard Sautoa Laumea, who’s showed considerable promise after his insertion into the starting lineup over the final month of the season, while the fourth-rounder led to a trade down with the Denver Broncos to get tight end A.J. Barner, cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, and tackle Michael Jerrell. Barner might be the best of those four picks both short- and long-term.

  The Howell trade looks to be a a damn good piece of business for Commanders GM Adam Peters if his big Day 2 trade nets him a franchise cornerback in addition to the franchise quarterback he seemingly already has in Jayden Daniels.

• Pre-Snap Reads 1/21: What will become of Christian Haynes?

  Read!

  In Today’s Links: more on John Schneider and his subjectively crucial moves this offseason, how our Geno Smith stacks up against the QBs that remain in the playoffs, season awards/reviews, and more from the land of the Seattle Seahawks.

  #np Haenim by Kim Jung Mi

  Seahawks News

  Is Christian Haynes one-and-done? - Seaside Joe
  The Seahawks haven't found OL bargains like other teams

  Seahawks GM John Schneider faces most crucial offseason | The Seattle Times
  After missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, this is John Schneider's opportunity to lift the Seahawks out of the doldrums

  Huard: How Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith ranks with playoff QBs - Seattle Sports
  Brock Huard compares the Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith to the eight quarterbacks who played in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

  Seattle Seahawks 2024 Season Awards: Starting RT Wins Comeback Player of the Year - Sports Illustrated Seahawks News, Analysis, and More
  A long rehabilitation process led Seattle Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas to a strong finish late in the 2024 season.

  NFC West News

  49ers news: Robert Saleh has a second interview with the Jaguars - Niners Nation
  The Jaguars are bringing in multiple coaches for a second round, and the 49ers defensive coordinator candidate is one.

  Five Things the 49ers Should Take Away from the Playoffs So Far - Sports Illustrated 49ers News, Analysis, and More
  For the first time in four years, the 49ers aren't in the playoffs -- they're sitting at home watching like the rest of us. Hopefully, they learn something from this experience so they don't repeat it next year. The league has changed considerably.

  Cardinals Awards: Coach of the Year - Sports Illustrated Cardinals News, Analysis, and More
  The Arizona Cardinals' young defensive coordinator helped turn a weakness into a strength in 2025.

  Red Rain Podcast 175: How close are the Cardinals to competing for NFC West title and the Super Bowl? - Revenge of the Birds
  With special guest Marcos Labrada

  Rams-Eagles: L.A. fumbles away opportunity in Philadelphia with loss - Turf Show Times
  Rams fumble away big opportunity against the Eagles

  Los Angeles Rams Insider Podcast: Players the Rams Need to Re-Sign - Sports Illustrated Rams News, Analysis, and More
  While the Rams are set to lose over ten players to free agency, the team needs to prioritize the return of these two players

  Around The NFL

  Playoff Asked & Answered: We’re all tired of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs by now - Yahoo Sports
  By every measure, Mahomes has struggled this year, and yet he has the Kansas City Chiefs one win away from another Super Bowl appearance.

  Patrick Ricard: Lamar Jackson will win a Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it - NBC Sports
  Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard is slated to become a free agent in March, but he wants to stay in Baltimore and keep playing with Lamar Jackson.

  What will Bears hiring Ben Johnson mean for Caleb Williams? - ESPN
  Johnson helped turn the Lions' offense into the league's top scoring unit, but can he revive the Bears?

  NFL playoffs: 10 plays that decided the divisional round - ESPN+
  Here's how the Commanders, Eagles, Chiefs and Bills won this weekend, through the lens of 10 important plays.

  Texans' Will Anderson prioritizing home field in 2025: 'We can’t lose to these teams like the Titans and Jets' - NFLcom
  The Houston Texans reached the AFC Divisional Round for a second consecutive season but lost to a higher seed on the road. Pass rusher Will Anderson told reporters on Monday that Houston needs to beat the teams it should if it wants home field.

  Most concerning flaw for each Divisional Round winner; top offseason need for each eliminated team - NFL.com
  In this edition of The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha reveals the biggest flaw for each of the NFL teams that advanced to Championship Sunday and the most pressing offseason need for each of the squads that lost during the Divisional Round.

  With shades of Magic, Jayden Daniels steals spotlight on wild NFL weekend: Sando’s Pick Six - The Athletic
  No rookie QB has ever lifted his team like Daniels, prompting a cross-sport comparison. Plus, Mahomes and the refs, Lamar's legacy and more.

  What we learned from 2025 NFL divisional round: Saquon Barkley owns Rams, Travis Kelce can still flip switch - CBSSports.com
  Here's a look at some of the things we learned from the divisional round

  Early 2025 breakout candidates for every NFL team - PFF
  From players returning from injury to rookies who showed flashes in a short span, let’s take an early stab at a player to watch on every team entering 2025.

• CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame open thread

  One game to decide who will be the 2025 national champion!

  When college football ditched the BCS for a playoff system, the first national champion of the four-team playoff era was Ohio State, who beat Oregon by a score of 42-20 behind Ezekiel Elliott’s 246-yard, four-touchdown masterclass. Now we’re in the 12-team playoff era, and Ohio State is in the title game again. They smashed Tennessee, stunned No. 1 overall Oregon in a romp, and pulled away from Texas to brush off an embarrassing loss to Michigan and make it this far.

  Ohio State will be heavy favorites against Notre Dame, whose only loss was an early-season shocker against Northern Illinois. Marcus Freeman’s team ran the table and then took apart Indiana, vanquished Georgia, and sealed their spot in the championship game with a thrilling comeback win over Penn State. It’s been 36 years since Notre Dame could last call themselves national champions. Is this the night the drought ends? Or will this title game be as lopsided as the one they dropped to Alabama 12 years ago?

  If you want a quick rundown of potential Seattle Seahawks draft prospects, please check out Alexandre Castro’s article from Monday morning.

  ESPN has the broadcast at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT. Enjoy!

• Bears’ Ben Johnson hire could impact Seahawks’ offensive coordinator search

  The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is now going to the Chicago Bears. How many of his staff will he bring with him?

  The Detroit Lions’ latest bitter end to a tremendous season will not have the same offseason outcome of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson staying with the team. After not taking a head coach job last year, Johnson is staying in the NFC North to be the Chicago Bears’ next head coach.

  Bear down: Chicago is finalizing a deal to hire Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Bears are getting their man. pic.twitter.com/UwlLk3wNJZ

  — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2025

  Johnson won’t have to search for his franchise quarterback when his keycard is activated in Chicago. Caleb Williams was the Bears’ No. 1 overall pick and had a fine season under difficult circumstances, which included the midseason firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus.

  This hire may, and I stress may, be relevant to the Seattle Seahawks’ ongoing offensive coordinator search. It only makes sense to believe that Johnson will be bringing on some members of the Lions’ offensive coaching staff along to Chicago.

  Last season, the Seahawks have interviewed Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand before ultimately hiring Ryan Grubb. With Grubb fired, the first reported interview was with Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley. For the moment, Engstrand is still Detroit’s PGC but could just as easily be promoted in-house to replace Johnson as the OC. Fraley is more of a question mark and could even be an OC option in Chicago, where Johnson would still be the playcaller.

  Unlike Klint Kubiak and Grant Udinski, Fraley has not yet been given a second interview by the Seahawks, but keep in mind that the other two were already on teams whose respective seasons ended. Fraley would’ve been unavailable for another interview given the Lions were in the Divisional Round, but we’ll see if he’s one of the “Round 2” candidates for the Seahawks now that Detroit is out of the postseason.

• Pete Carroll takes you through ‘The Game is Life’

  Pete Carroll has some wisdom still to impart on aspiring college kids.

  Pete Carroll will indeed return to lead 20-somethings in 2025. In the classroom!

  Regardless of how theChicago Bears or any other head coach search goes, Carroll will be taking his talents back to USC.

  Pete Carroll has teamed up with Varun Soni, the Dean of Religious and Spiritual life to co-teach the 400-level class “The Game Is Life”. It’s a new Business class at USC’s Marshall School of Business designed to help graduating seniors craft a gameplan for life after college.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by USC Marshall School of Business (@uscmarshall)

  To be honest, Carroll feels pretty qualified for the gig.

  And to make it even better: the only required reading for the course?
  A little novella titled Win Forever, written by Pete Carroll.

  Here is a graph.

  Coach Pete Carroll’s “Win Forever” Pyramid pic.twitter.com/pLjQdmfZw1

  — Pace N Space (@PaceNSpace2) October 18, 2023

  I’m going to go on a limb and say that certain adjustments will likely be made from time to time, perhaps finding a suitable replacement for “it’s all about the ball”.

  USC Dean Geoff Garrett calls the course “Leadership in action.”

  Enjoying his newfound freedom, Pete Carroll returns to the school that made him a national name. You had to know he couldn’t stay away from teaching forever.