NFL free agency is underway, and the Seahawks are making moves to try to improve their roster for the 2020 season. We here at Seahawks.com plan to keep you informed on all the latest Seahawks news, but bear with us in these unusual times—the COVID-19 crisis is restricting travel and limiting teams' ability to finalize deals with some players, so at times there will be a delay between when you see news reported and when it can be officially announced by the team.
Keep checking back here throughout the spring for updates on the Seahawks' free agency comings and goings.
Retained
DT Jarran Reed
OG Jordan Simmons
CB Neiko Thorpe
OL Kahlil McKenzie
OL Mike Iupati
TE Luke Willson
WR David Moore (restricted free agent)
TE Jacob Hollister (restricted free agent)
OL Jordan Roos (exclusive rights free agent)
CB Ryan Neal (exclusive rights free agent)
Added
TE Greg Olsen
C B.J. Finney
OT Cedric Ogbuehi
OT Brandon Shell
CB Quinton Dunbar (trade)
WR Phillip Dorsett
OL Chance Warmack
DE Benson Mayowa
CB Linden Stephens (waiver claim)
Signed Elsewhere
OT George Fant
DE Quinton Jefferson
OT Germain Ifedi
DT Al Woods
April 22
David Moore Signs RFA Tender
David Moore came into the NFL as a relative unknown, a seventh-round pick from Division II East Central University in Oklahoma. Over the past two seasons, however, he has made a name for himself as a big contributor in Seattle's offense, and after signing his restricted free agent tender this week, Moore will be back for another year with the Seahawks.
Moore, 25, was the 226th overall pick in the 2017 draft and spent almost his entire rookie year on the practice squad before a late-season promotion to the 53-man roster. In 2018, Moore established himself as a big part of Seattle's offense, starting seven games while catching 26 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns, one of which was one of Seattle's top offensive plays of the season, a 35-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-3 that tied the score late in an eventual win at Carolina. Last season Moore had 17 catches for 301 yards and two scores, including a 60-yard score in Seattle's Week 13 win over Minnesota.
Moore was fourth in playing time last year among Seahawks receivers behind Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Jaron Brown. He figures to again compete for the No. 3 job, though the Seahawks did already add Phillip Dorsett II in free agency, and they're looking for 2019 seventh-round pick John Ursua to make a jump this year. There's also the possibility of adding more players in the draft, so there should be good competition for that spot.
April 21
Seahawks sign TE Luke Willson and OG Mike Iupati; Jacob Hollister and Jordan Roos sign tenders
The Seahawks made official on Tuesday the re-signing of tight end Luke Willson and guard Mike Iupati, a pair of players who had big roles on offense in 2019.
Willson, a fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft, spent his first five seasons in Seattle before signing with the Lions in 2018. After one year in Detroit, and after spending training camp with the Raiders last year, Willson returned to Seattle early in the 2019 season after the Seahawks traded fellow tight end Nick Vannett to Pittsburgh.
Willson appeared in eight games last season, starting seven, and caught eight passes for 79 yards. When discussing the team's depth at tight end during the NFL Scouting Combine, general manager John Schneider said, "We'd love to have Luke back as well."
Willson, a big part of Seattle's offense on two Super Bowl teams, has 110 career receptions for 1,295 and 11 touchdowns, and was on the receiving end of the most famous 2-point conversions in franchise history, a catch that played a big role in Seattle's NFC championship game victory over Green Bay. But Willson is beloved in Seattle not only for his on-field play, but for being one of the most unique characters in recent franchise history.
In re-signing Iupati, the Seahawks continued an offseason trend of bolstering their offensive line. The team's starting left guard last season, Iupati, a former Pro-Bowler, is the sixth offensive lineman signed this offseason.
Iupati, a 2010 first-round pick who was a four-time Pro-Bowler with the 49ers, joined the Seahawks last season as a free agent and started 15 games. He worked with Seahawks offensive line coach Mike Solari during his best seasons in San Francisco, and was a Pro-Bowl alternate last year. Prior to retaining Iupati, the Seahawks added four linemen in free agency—tackles Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi, center B.J. Finney and guard Chance Warmack—and re-signed guard Kahlil McKenzie, who spent last season on their practice squad.
In addition to those two free-agent signings, tight end Jacob Hollister signed his restricted free agent tender, while guard Jordan Roos signed his exclusive rights free agent tender. Hollister, who was acquired last year in a trade with New England, began the 2019 season on the practice squad, but eventually emerged as a big contributor, leading Seattle's tight ends in receptions (41) and receiving yards (349). Roos, who first joined the Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017, appeared in seven games on special teams duty.
CB Linden Stephens Claimed Off Waivers
The Seahawks added more depth at cornerback Tuesday, claiming cornerback Linden Stephens a day after he was waived by the Miami Dolphins.
Stephens, 25, was on Seattle's practice squad last season before the Dolphins signed him to their 53-man roster, appearing in three games late in the season.
Stephens went undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2018 and initially signed with New Orleans where he spent training camp and the preseason. He also spent time with the Rams and Broncos before joining Seattle's practice squad.
April 20
Seahawks Re-Sign OL Kahlil McKenzie; Ryan Neal Signs Tender
The Seahawks continued to add to their offensive line depth Monday, signing offensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie, a player who spent last season on Seattle's practice squad.
McKenzie, 23, was a defensive tackle at the University of Tennessee and was a sixth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. The Chiefs moved McKenzie to guard and kept him on the roster in 2018, though he did not appear in a regular-season game. McKenzie was waived by Kansas City prior to the 2019 season, then signed to Seattle's practice squad.
McKenzie is the son of longtime NFL executive Reggie McKenzie, who worked closely with Seahawks general manager John Schneider for more than a decade while the two were in Green Bay. The elder McKenzie went on to become the general manager of the Oakland Raiders from 2012-2018, and now serves as a senior personnel executive for the Miami Dolphins.
Another player who spent much of last season on the practice squad, cornerback Ryan Neal, signed his exclusive rights free agent tender on Monday. Neal signed to Seattle's practice squad on the same day as McKenzie last fall, then was added to the 53-man roster for the final three weeks of the season.
April 15
Seahawks Re-Sign CB Neiko Thorpe
Neiko Thorpe, one of the Seahawks' top special teams players over the past four seasons, is staying in Seattle, having re-signed on Monday after becoming an unrestricted free agent last month.
Thorpe, 30, has never started a game in his four years with the Seahawks while serving as a backup cornerback, but he has still been a very important player thanks to his role on special teams.
"Neiko Thorpe has just been the spirit of the special teams for a number of years now, and it's great that the guys recognize him again," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last year after Thorpe was voted the team's special teams captain for the second straight year. "He's got a great presence in our room and with our guys."
Thorpe began his NFL career in 2012 with the Chiefs after going undrafted out of Auburn, then spent time with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and the Oakland Raiders before joining the Seahawks in 2016. Thorpe has appeared in 48 games over the past four seasons and accumulated 28 special teams tackles, the most on the team over that span.
April 8
Seahawks Re-Sign Guard Jordan Simmons
The Seahawks are bringing back Jordan Simmons, a guard who has shown potential in limited playing time with Seattle.
Simmons, who went undrafted out of USC in 2017, spent his rookie season on the Raiders' practice squad, then was claimed off of waivers by Seattle prior to the start of the 2018 season. Simmons started three games that season in place of an injured D.J. Fluker, including making his NFL debut in his hometown of Los Angeles, a game that saw the Seahawks rush for 273 yards against the Rams.
Simmons unfortunately missed the 2019 season due to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. He became an unrestricted free agent earlier this month when the Seahawks declined to tender him as an exclusive rights free agent.
April 6
Seahawks Bring Back DE Benson Mayowa
Seven years after taking part in Seahawks rookie minicamp as an undrafted tryout player, Benson Mayowa is returning to Seattle, this time as an established veteran who the Seahawks hope can help their pass rush.
The Seahawks signed Mayowa Monday, bringing back a player who first signed with the Seahawks after an impressive showing in that rookie minicamp. After that rookie minicamp came to an end, Pete Carroll asked if any tryout players had made an impression, and the Seahawks coach singled out Mayowa, saying, "The kid from Idaho did a nice job."
Seven years later, "the kid from Idaho" is still enjoying a successful NFL journey. Mayowa was active for only two games as a rookie thanks to an incredibly deep defensive end rotation that included the likes of Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Chris Clemons and Red Bryant. Mayowa was waived prior to the start of the 2014 season and claimed by the Oakland Raiders, and been a regular contributor for multiple teams over the past seven seasons, appearing in at least 12 games every year since his rookie year while playing for the Raiders, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Raiders again last year.
During his second stint with the Raiders, Mayowa recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks last season, as well as 10 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles. Mayowa did that while playing only 29 percent of defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.
March 31
OT Germain Ifedi Reportedly Signs With Bears
Germain Ifedi, a former first-round pick and a four-year starter for the Seahawks, is heading to Chicago, according to reports.
Ifedi, Seattle's first-round pick in 2016, began his career as the Seahawks' starting right guard, then moved to right tackle in 2017 where he was the starter for the past three seasons.
While the Seahawks have lost Ifedi and George Fant in free agency, they have added reinforcements at tackle, signing former New York Jets starting right tackle Brandon Shell and former first-round pick Cedric Ogbuehi.
March 30
Yes, you've seen moves reported already, but as mentioned above, world events far more significant than football have caused a delay in signings being finalized.
Seahawks Sign WR Phillip Dorsett
The Seahawks bolstered their receiving depth Monday by signing speedy former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound Dorsett started four of 14 games played for New England last season, catching 29 passes for 397 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Dorsett, 27, was a first-round pick out of Miami in 2015 and spent his first two seasons in Indianapolis before being traded to New England in 2017. Dorsett has 124 career receptions for 1,634 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf were the clear-cut top two receivers in Seattle's offense last season, but in an offense that runs a lot of three-receiver sets, the competition should be pretty open for that No. 3 spot between the likes of Dorsett, David Moore, John Ursua and Malik Turner. Jaron Brown, who last season saw the third most playing time at receiver behind Lockett and Metcalf, is currently an unrestricted free agent.
Seahawks Sign Guard Chance Warmack
The Seahawks added more offensive line depth Monday, signing guard Chance Warmack, a former first-round pick out of Alabama.
Warmack, 28, was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Tennessee Titans after a college career in which he was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, earning unanimous All-American honors as a senior as part of a repeat national championship team. Warmack was teammates at Alabama with Seahawks guard D.J. Fluker, who was taken one pick after Warmack in the 2013 draft.
Warmack was Tennessee's starting right guard in his first three seasons, starting 46 games from 2013-2015, but played only two games in 2016 before landing on injured reserve with a hand injury. Warmack spent 2017 and 2018 in Philadelphia, where he won a Super Bowl, serving mostly as a reserve lineman, starting three games and appearing in 20. Warmack was out of football last season, but will look to make a successful comeback with Seattle in 2020.
Warmack is the fourth offensive lineman added by Seattle early in free agency after center B.J. Finney and tackles Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi.
March 24
Seahawks Acquire CB Quinton Dunbar In Trade With Washington
OK, so technically this isn't a free-agent move, but it is still a potentially significant addition for the Seahawks in the early stages of the new league year. The Seahawks added cornerback Quinton Dunbar, a starter last year in Washington, for a fifth-round pick, sending to Washington the pick they acquired last year for Nick Vannett in a trade with Pittsburgh.
A former receiver at the University of Florida, Dunbar went from undrafted rookie in 2015 to a starting cornerback in Washington who, in 2019, was Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded cornerback in the NFL.
Following this trade, the Seahawks currently hold seven picks in the 2020 draft.
Round 1, 27 overall
Round 2, 59
Round 2, 64 (from Kansas City)
Round 3, 101*
Round 4, 133
Round 4, 144*
Round 6, 214*
*—Compensatory selections.
Seahawks Sign Offensive Tackle Brandon Shell
The Seahawks added more offensive line help, signing former New York Jets starting right tackle Brandon Shell.
Shell, a 2016 fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, became the Jets' starting right tackle in 2017, and has started 37 of 41 games played over the past three years. Shell is the third offensive lineman signed by Seattle so far in free agency, joining center/guard B.J. Finney and tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, whose additions both became official on Monday.
He gives the Seahawks added depth at tackle with George Fant reportedly reaching a deal with the Jets last week, and with Germain Ifedi currently an unrestricted free agent.
March 23
Seahawks Add Former Steelers Center B.J. Finney
The Seahawks signed versatile interior lineman B.J. Finney, adding a player who can help at center and both guard spots.
Finney, who came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State, has appeared in 59 games for Pittsburgh over the past four seasons, starting 13. He has seen action at center, left guard and right guard.
Finney's addition will give the Seahawks interior depth with centers Justin Britt and Ethan Pocic both coming off of season-ending injuries, and with last year's starting left guard Mike Iupati currently an unrestricted free agent.
Seahawks Sign OT Cedric Ogbuehi
The Seahawks added help at tackle, signing tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, a former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ogbuehi, the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Texas A&M, started 25 games at both left and right tackles between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, then spent the past two seasons as a reserve lineman, spending last year in Jacksonville.
Ogbuehi gives Seattle tackle depth following the reported departure of George Fant to the Jets, and with Germain Ifedi currently a free agent.
March 18
Defensive End Quinton Jefferson Agrees to a Deal With Buffalo
Jefferson, a fifth-round pick out Maryland in 2016, played a big role on Seattle's line last year, recording career highs with 3.5 sacks and 26 tackles while starting 12 of 14 games played. His strong play over the past two seasons—he had 3.0 sacks and started 12 games in 2018—made him a sought-after free agent, and the Bills were able to retain his services.
Seahawks Make Qualifying Offers to Four Restricted Free Agents
The Seahawks tendered four restricted free agents Wednesday, March 18: tight end Jacob Hollister, center Joey Hunt, receiver David Moore and defensive end Branden Jackson. The Seahawks used the second-round tender on Hollister, who led Seahawks tight ends in receiving last year, original-round tenders on Moore and Hunt, and the right of first refusal tender on Jackson.
Cornerback Jeremy Boykins, cornerback Kalan Reed, guard Jordan Simmons and tight end Tyrone Swoopes all became unrestricted free agents after the Seahawks did not make qualifying offers to them.
March 17
Tackle George Fant is Headed to New York
OK, so the Jets technically play in New Jersey, but either way, No. 74 is no longer eligible, at least not in Seattle having agreed to a deal with the Jets this week. A former college basketball standout Western Kentucky, Fant went from undrafted to starting left tackle, to, after a torn ACL and the addition of Duane Brown, a big part of Seattle's offense as a sixth lineman/big tight end. With the Jets, Fant figures to get his shot as a full-time starting tackle.
March 16
Seahawks Re-Sign Defensive Tackle Jarran Reed
Reed, a 2016 second-round pick, has been a mainstay on Seattle's defensive line since his rookie season, and the Seahawks made sure he didn't hit the open market by signing him to a new two-year deal before the start of the new league year.
Reed is coming off of a suspension-shortened 2019 season that also saw him deal with injuries, but they're banking on him getting back to his 2018 form when he had 10.5 sacks, making him one of three defensive tackles in team history to record double-digit sacks along with a pair of Hall of Famers, Cortez Kennedy and John Randle.
