The Seahawks opened free agency by adding help to the offensive line, signing former Jacksonville Jaguars lineman Luke Joeckel after the new league year began Thursday.
Joeckel, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, started 39 games over four seasons with the Jaguars, spending most of his career at left tackle before moving to left guard last season. Joeckel's 2016 season was limited to four games because of a knee injury. At Texas A&M, Joeckel was a unanimous All-American in 2012 and won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman.
Joeckel brings some experience to a young Seahawks offensive line, something general manager John Schneider said could be a target in free agency.
"I think we'd like to add some experience at that position," Schneider said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "… I think we got in a position where we probably got a little bit too young. With us, that offensive line thing is all about acquisition, and the mix in the room between veteran leadership and talent, but that cohesion that goes along with it. Some of the best offensive lines I've been around, and the best teams, quite frankly, are the ones that have the core group of offensive linemen. We have to have that mentality. We need to bring those young guys along like we did last year. We brought a bunch of rookies, second-year guys, we moved (Justin) Britt to center, that sort of thing. But they have to have that cohesion… That group in particular is a group that played with that cohesion and really had that level of confidence in each other."
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Take a look back at newly-signed Seahawks offensive lineman Luke Joeckel's NFL career.
Tackle Luke Joeckel (76) of the Jacksonville Jaguars blocks defensive end J. J. Watt (99) of the Houston Texans rushes upfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars October 18, 2015 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The Texans won 31 - 20. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Tackle Luke Joeckel from Texas A&M holds up the team jersey after being selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Texas A&M University offensive lineman Luke Joeckel poses for a photograph with Commissioner Roger Goodell during the 2013 NFL Draft on April 25, 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Luke Joeckel #76 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is introduced during an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Photo by Marc Serota/Panini)
Jacksonville Jaguars Luke Joeckel plays in a game against the Miami Dolphins at Ever Bank Field in Jacksonville, FL. August 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (76) of the Jacksonville Jaguars returns a kickoff against the Washington Redskins September 14, 2014 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins won 41 - 10. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (76) blocks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL Game Sunday, October 11, 2015, in Tampa, Fl. (Rick Wilson/ via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Luke Joeckel during NFL football minicamp, Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (76) blocks against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL Game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Nashville, TN. (Rick Wilson via AP Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Luke Joeckel (76) sets to block during a Sept. 11, 2016 opening-week NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Jacksonville, Fla. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (76) blocks New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby Richardson (78) in an NFL Game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in New Orleans, La. (Rick Wilson via AP Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars guard Luke Joeckel blocks San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi (95) Sunday, September 18, 2016, in San Diego, CA. (Rick Wilson/via AP Images)
