PHOENIX—One of the Seahawks' most significant free-agent additions this offseason was the signing of safety Julian Love, who started 16 games for the Giants last season while also serving as a team captain.
Signing a player of Love's caliber, however, led to some speculation about what it meant for the futures of Seattle's Pro Bowl safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. But when Seahawks coach Pete Carroll met with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, he made it clear that Love is joining the team to add to what Diggs and Adams bring to the defense, not to replace one of them.
"I know there's some conversation about what we did with Julian, does that have some impact on Jamal or Quandre?" Carroll said. "It doesn't. We have a clear thought of what we're going to do with our guys and how we want to play them, and we feel very fortunate to have all of our guys."
The Seahawks opened last season planning on using a lot of three-safety looks, but Adams' Week 1 injury changed things for the defense. The addition of Love, along with tendering restricted free agent Ryan Neal, gives the Seahawks the depth and talent to play with three safeties on a regular basis.
Asked if the plan was for Love, Diggs and Adams to all play together, Carroll said, "Oh yeah, absolutely. That's what I'm saying."
And when the follow up was whether that meant something like 25 percent of the team's defensive snaps, Carroll quickly replied, "Oh no, they'll play together a lot more than that."
More than anything, Carroll said, the Seahawks went after Love just because of how much they like what he brings as a player and a leader.
"The opportunity to get Julian, who's a remarkable player, he had a remarkable season last year—I can't remember a guy who played over a thousand snaps and played over 200 snaps on special as well. That's an unusual mix," Carroll said. "That's just one aspect of what Julian brings. He's a really versatile football player, he called their defenses—he had the green dot—he's a captain. It's a very rare opportunity to get a guy like that, so we jumped at it."
Carroll said Love can do everything from play nickel to deep safety to playing run defense in the box, the type of versatility that will make it easier to play with three safeties on the field at once.
"He can do a lot of things," Carroll said. "He was a very dynamic player in their system, he did everything, from the front to the back. He's a really good deep-end player, but he fits into the running the game and pressuring and all of those things. He's a really complete football player. And also, the smarts that he brings, the leadership that he brings, he's going to be a really good addition."
As for Adams' recovery from a torn quadriceps tendon, Carroll said the recent updates have been positive and that Adams is pushing to make it back for the start of camp.
"It sounds really good," Carroll said. "We sent our guys out to see him about 10 days ago, and he's coming in in the next couple of weeks too, so we're keeping track. It sounds like he's doing great. He's pushing it, and he's going to try to bust whatever projections that would keep him from not being ready for the start of the season, he's looking to get that done, and we're counting on it, hoping it."
Carroll did acknowledge that Adams being ready for the start of camp isn't a given right now, and said the Seahawks will be cautious with him.
"That's not what the doctors are saying; they're being more open, allowing more room for that to see what happens," Carroll said. "We'll see what happens. We're going to be really optimistic about it but support him, and we're not going to rush it."
Take a look at photos of safety Julian Love from his first four seasons in the NFL, as well as his time in college at Notre Dame. Love signed with the Seahawks as a free agent on March 17, 2023. Read more.
Notre Dame's Julian Love (27) intercepts a pass and runs it back 69 yards for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame won 35-14. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love, left, is tackled by Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ball State running back Caleb Huntley, center, is tackled by Notre Dame defensive line Daelin Hayes, left, linebacker Drue Tranquill, and cornerback Julian Love, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Adetokunbo Ogundeji (91) celebrates a play with Julian Love (27) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State in South Bend, Ind.,Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New York Giants' Julian Love (37) runs a drill with teammates during an NFL football minicamp at the team's training facility Tuesday, June 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (37) reacts after Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) recovered his own fumble in the end zone for a safety during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (37) watches from the sideline in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) is tacked by Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (24) during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) runs up the field during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 13-7. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants' Julian Love reacts after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants' Julian Love after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) gestures to the fans after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 13-7. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants cornerback Julian Love (20) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Giants' Julian Love speaks to reporters after a practice at the NFL football team's training facility in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, June 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants' Julian Love speaks to reporters after a practice at the NFL football team's training facility in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, June 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants safety Julian Love signs an autograph for a fan after the NFL football team's practice in East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) celebrates after the Giants defeated the Tennessee Titans 21-20 in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Nashville. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) defends against the Carolina Panthers during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants' Julian Love (20) reacts during the second half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) takes the field to face the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) wears decals of the American and Cuban flags on his helmet during an NFL football game, against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) arrives before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. The New York Giants won 27-22. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) huddles with teammates against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts the ball intended for Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard (42) during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) returns an interception over Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20), left, and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Kendric Pryor (14) pose after an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
New York Giants cornerback Rodarius Williams, right, celebrates with Julian Love (20) after intercepting a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants defensive back Julian Love (20) returns an interception during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, November 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) takes the field for an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, December 12, 2022 in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) in action against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) talks with New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) after an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 27-24. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) warms up before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) leaves the field after winning 31-24 against the Minnesota Vikings following an NFL wild-card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
