Open Rants by beaniid

I have been a Seahawks fan since 1999 when I was 8 years old playing Madden with my dad, and (thankfully) I chose pretty well for a favorite team, since most of the Seahawks successes have come after that time, I have been living pretty high.

If you read ESPNs commentary on the Seahawks season it seems that the sky is falling, and the defense is old and decrepit and they seem to suggest that major changes are neccesary to continue to compete for a Super Bowl bid in the NFC. While I agree that some changes will be needed to continue into the future, I do not think that they are that major, also, I don't see any major changes being done, given the continuity of the coaching staff and their philosophy, don't expect to see a major shift in spending or allocation.

Without further rambling, here is what I want to happen this offseason contrasted with what I think will happen.

Resigning

What I want:

Deshawn Shead: Resign - He would have received a large contract on the open market (see Byron Maxwell), but the major knee injury to end the year means that he will get a smaller contract, and I would like that to be from the Seahawks

Steven Hauschka: No - I think it is time to find a new kicker. He has been reliable from distance, but you can't miss that many extra points and just skate by. We can get a younger player or a rookie for a fraction of what he will want.

Luke Willson: Resign - This is a hard decision. But I think we should release Jimmy Graham, and let Willson and Vannett run the TE position, as he has shown that he can make big catches and has alot of experience in our system.

Steven Terrell: Resign - Obviously he is no Earl Thomas, but he is a quality backup safety and won't command a high salary. A deal with low guaranteed money would be ideal as he could get outplayed by a rookie draft pick or UDFA in camp. Resign, but he has to perform to keep his job.

Mike Morgan: No - He played the run fine, but he also took over Bruce Irvin's spot and provided little to no pass rush forcing the Seahawks to blitz Wagner more, an effective move, but imagine the possibilities if we could get pass rush from both positions. It looks like Cassius Marsh will stay as a reserve DE, so we would need to look for a replacement

Marcel Reece: Resign - Only for the minimum salary. At least he is better than Tukuafu. Could be replaced by a younger player in camp

Tony McDaniel: Resign - For depth and only for the minimum. We really need to find a pass rushing DT this offseason to pair with Reed as the run stuffer.

John Jenkins: No - Spot will go to a younger player

Garry Gilliam: Resign - While I don't want to see him starting unless he improves, he is a young cheap swing tackle and would provide depth if not called on to start again.

Bradley Sowell: No - Just no. Let's get some talent infused into this O-Line. Sowell is not talented enough to have upside and not experienced enough to be a veteran mentor, so he needs to go.

Damontre Moore: Resign - For depth. May be supplanted in camp.

Brandon Williams: No - Look younger for 3rd TE

Will Tukuafu: No - Reece took his position as a veteran FB

Brock Coyle(RFA): Tender - Has been around our system for 3 years now, and is a quality backup at Wagner or Wright's position

Dewey McDonald(RFA): No - I honestly don't know who this is

Mohammed Seisay(RFA): Tender - For depth and competition only as I expect him to be cut after camp

What the Seahawks will do:

Deshawn Shead: Resign - He would have received a large contract on the open market (see Byron Maxwell), but the major knee injury to end the year means that he will get a smaller contract which I see the Seahawks offering

Steven Hauschka: Resign - I think the team will resign him, but will not give a long contract or much guaranteed money and will bring in competition for camp

Luke Willson: No - I think Graham is retained, and that makes Willson a too expensive backup, so unless he can be had on the cheap I think he goes elsewhere

Steven Terrell: Resign - Obviously he is no Earl Thomas, but he is a quality backup safety and won't command a high salary. I think they may give him more than I would offer, but we'll see

Mike Morgan: Resign - I think they will resign him, but it will be another camp battle for the position.

Marcel Reece: No - I think the Seahawks will wait until later in the offseason to address FB if they don't draft one. If Reece is still available and wants to play I could see him resigning closer to camp

Tony McDaniel: Resign - I think the 'Hawks give him a 2 year contract

John Jenkins: Resign - Until he gets cut in camp

Garry Gilliam: Resign - As a low salary starter or swing tackle if another Tackle is signed/drafted

Bradley Sowell: No - I think they move on from this bad signing

Damontre Moore: Resign - For depth. May be supplanted in camp.

Brandon Williams: Resign - But may lose his job as TE3 if another player is brought in

Will Tukuafu: No - Reece took his position as a veteran FB, and neither will be resigned right away

Brock Coyle(RFA): Tender - Has been around our system for 3 years now, and is a quality backup at Wagner or Wright's position

Dewey McDonald(RFA): Tender - I assume that the Seahawks know who this is and extend the lowest tender.

Mohammed Seisay(RFA): Tender - For depth and competition only as I expect him to be cut after camp

Release/Renegotiate

What I want:

Release or Trade Jimmy Graham for a pick - He showed this year that he is a very good TE, but to pay 10m at a non premium position at the expense of fortifying our O-Line or D-Line or paying an experienced backup QB just doesn't work for me

Negotiate a 3 year deal with Kam Chancellor - Preferably one that would reduce his cap hit this year and give him enough guaranteed money to make a deal possible.

Designate Jermaine Kearse a post June 1 cut - I like Kearse, but we have quite a few young receivers that showed up this year while he didn't do much.

Remove playcalling duties from Darrell Bevel - Bevel's playcalling is maddeningly inconsistent. For some stretches he calls great games (or quarters at least), but it seems like he reverts to the run-run-pass format over and over and over again. He is great for one drive, especially a the end of a game or in a 2 minute drill, but over the course of a whole game it seems like he falls asleep or something. I think he does a great job developing our offensive personnel, so I would want to keep him as OC but bring someone else in to call the plays. I know this will not happen, and even if it did it would probably be because he was fired, but one can hope.

What will happen:

Contract extension for Graham - hopefully will still involve lowering the 10m dollar cap hit this year

Kam Chancellor deal - will probably happen later in the offseason

Post June 1 cut for Kearse - I think this probably happens

Free Agency

What I want:

With my plan the team would have about 37m in cap room, so let's use a little for outside signings

Kawann Short DT CAR - Just kidding, he's not leaving Carolina (But if he does, I would gladly pay him the 10m that Graham would be making this year)

Dominique Easley, DT - A young player that provides good interior pass rush, yes please. Hopefully his character concerns will keep the price a little lower, say 3 years 15m with 6m guaranteed ( I am certainly not an expert on contracts, so please feel free to correct my contract values and lengths in the comments)

Austin Pasztor, OT - He has the size and athleticism that Cable looks for in O-Linemen, and played OK at right tackle for the Browns. He is still young, so bring in another young tackle for competition would be a good plan without any top of the line tackles available in FA this year. 3y 8.5m 1.5g

Nick Perry, OLB - I kind of doubt the Packers will let him hit the market as they tend to keep their players, but he would provide a pass rush threat as Irvin did before he left, just another weapon for our defense. 4y 32m 18g

Mychal Rivera, TE - I am thinking a small contract as he would be TE 2 or 3, but would provide a young option as a backup. 2y 3m 750k g

Geno Smith, QB - A backup QB with NFL experience, but only at a low salary, which may not happen if someone sees starting potential in Geno and pays him accordingly. 2y 4m 1g

What will happen:

The team will have around 27m with the moves I think they will make.

Barkevious Mingo, OLB/DE - I could see the Seahawks bring him in to compete with Morgan at OLB. 2y 3m 1g

Abry Jones, DT - A rotational player who could fill in as a run stopper or stop gap pass rusher, hopefully doesn't get overpaid. 3y 9m 2g

I expect the Seahawks to use most of the cap space for front loaded extensions of key players.

Draft

What I want:

Seahawks 2nd round probably will be taken by the NFL, so I will assume that happens

Expected compensatory picks in [], numbers will change once compensatory picks are released

1-26 Seahawks trade pick to the Bears for 2-36 and 4-100

2-36(CHI)TJ Watt LB Wisconsin - Replaces Morgan at LB, providing length and pass rush (I have the team signing Nick Perry, so in this scenario he actually would provide depth at both LB spots and maybe some 3rd down pass rush packages)

3-90 Kevin King CB Washington - Tall CB with long arm from the area

[3] Taylor Moton OT Western Michigan - It is quite obvious that the team needs more talent at the Tackle position

4-100(CHI) Vincent Taylor DT Oklahoma State - Bringing in a DT who can provide some inside pressure seems like a good idea

5-154 Josh Harvey-Clemons S Louisville - Another tall DB prospect to start bringing along for the future

[5] Josh Dobbs QB Tennesee - The Seahawks haven't drafted a QB since Wilson, and it's time to bring in someone on a rookie contract to develop at least as a backup.

6-184 Chad Wheeler OT USC - Off the field problems haven't bothered the Seahawks in the past, and he is an big mean athlete, and has experience on the blind side at a high level.

7-197(CARviaOAK) Antony Auclair TE Laval - I don't know if he reaches this low due to his playing in the EW shrine game, but if he does the Seahawks would seem a likely landing spot, having brought in a TE from Canada before with Luke Willson

Draft Summary: I realize that the Defense is considered the strength of this team, but unless we keep maintaining it through the draft it will not continue to be. A great defense can keep the team in games even if the offense is lagging, and I think the team should continue to invest in the D. (Oh, and get a few more OL talents to throw into our mashup line. It is what it is)

What will happen:

For these mock picks I am not going to predict a trade down (which I think will happen) and since the NFL has yet to take the 2nd round pick for sure, I will leave that as well. I will predict up to the 4th round since beyond that is really just a guessing game for a mock.

1-26 Malik McDowell DT Michigan State - If he is still here at this point, which many mocks show that he will be, I think the Seahawks snap him up

2-58 Julien Davenport OT Bucknell - Big, tall, mean and athletic. Sounds like a Tom Cable man to me. Plus, kinda fits a huge need.

3-90 Ryan Anderson OLB Alabama - Replaces Mike Morgan at OLB

[3] Kevin King DB Wahsington - I think this is a match that should and could happen

I haven't seen a rant for the Seahawks offseason, so please let me know what you see happening for them if you read this.

Go Hawks!