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Brady HendersonESPN
NFL free agency is over, and we’re keeping track of every signing, trade and release of the big 2023 season, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year begins at 4 pm ET on March 15, which means free agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2023 NFL draft will begin on April 27 on ESPN.
The Seattle Seahawks decided not to let Geno Smith hit free agency. The Seahawks have reached a three-year, $105 million contract agreement with their Pro Bowl quarterback, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter on Monday. Smith’s backup, Drew Lock, is set to enter free agency. The Seahawks have said it would be an “ideal situation” to re-sign both quarterbacks, though Lock may want to test the free agency waters and see if a starting job is up for grabs.
The Seahawks will have to address their inconsistent defense in the offseason, even though they are loaded with draft capital — including the No. 1 overall pick. 5 – thanks to the Wilson trade. The team has already re-signed Jason Myers, right guard Phil Haynes and special teams captain Nick Bellore.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2023 NFL free agent signed by the Seahawks and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Geno Smith, QB
The Seahawks and Smith have agreed to terms on a three-year, $105 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter on Monday.
What it means: Smith’s remarkable comeback story continues with a massive deal from the Seahawks. The timing suggests there was a push to get it done before Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline. By doing it now, the Seahawks avoid two undesirable options – they have to tag Smith or let him hit free agency, which would make it difficult to sign other free agents without knowing how which would solve Smith’s case. The full details haven’t surfaced yet, but it’s a safe bet that Seattle is committed to Smith for at least the next two seasons. However, that doesn’t necessarily stop the Seahawks from spending a first-round pick on a quarterback next month. No. 5 overall, however, appears to be a front-seven defender — especially if Seattle re-signs Drew Lock to remain as Smith’s backup.
What is the risk: It’s not yet clear how much the Seahawks are guaranteeing Smith or whether the $105 million includes incentives, in which case his actual average per year would be lower than $35 million. Either way, it’s a risk to commit big money to Smith based solely on his stellar 2022 season and not a larger body of work as a starter. But as impossible as it was to see it coming, there was nothing about Smith’s play last season that looked unsustainable. He was the NFL’s most accurate quarterback, leading the NFL in completion percentage. Some of his mistakes late in the season could be attributed to trying to do too much to account for a struggling defense. Whether Smith can replicate his 2022 play remains to be seen, but it’s also reasonable to think he’ll be better off with a full season of No. 1 reps. 1 (he shared them with Lock in 2022) and a year as a starter in Shane Waldron’s. offense under his belt.
Phil Haynes, G
Haynes signed a one-year contract worth up to $4 million, the team announced on February 21.
What it means: When Haynes is paid $4 million for 2023, he will most likely be a full-time starter and it is almost certain that actor Gabe Jackson will be released. Jackson was the starter at right guard, but he and Haynes split time last year as part of a planned rotation. Sticking with the 27-year-old Haynes over Jackson is the smart move because he’s younger, healthier and had the better season in terms of ESPN’s Hit Block Rate. Re-signing him to a one-year deal wouldn’t necessarily prevent Seattle from spending a Day 2 pick on a guard, since he and left guard Damien Lewis are unsigned beyond 2023.
What is the risk: Haynes hasn’t been a full-time starter in any of his four NFL seasons and has only made five career starts, so the Seahawks are betting he can step forward in an expanded role. It’s a worthwhile gamble, given that they’re only guaranteeing him $3.49 million for one season (he has to stay healthy to get the remaining $510,000 in roster bonuses per game). Releasing Jackson would save $6.5 million in cash and cap space and incur nearly $4.8 million in dead money, so going from Jackson to Haynes is a net savings.
Jason Myers, K
Myers signed a four-year deal, the team announced on January 18. The deal is worth up to $22.6 million with incentives, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
What it means: Myers is coming off the second Pro Bowl season of his career, and he’s doing so with a nice lift. His four-year, $21.1 million deal makes him the second-highest paid kicker in the NFL behind Justin Tucker based on his $5.275 million average (up from $3.8625 APY on his last deal). The fact that this is the first order of offseason business for the Seahawks, coming together less than a week after their playoff loss, shows how much of a priority it was. They weren’t going to let Myers sniff free agency after hitting 34-of-37 field goals in 2022, including 6-of-6 from 50-plus yards.
What is the risk: If Myers’ career trend doesn’t change, he will have a down season. Kickers’ performances are often volatile from year to year, and Myers is a prime example. He has alternated between strong and relatively poor seasons every year since he made the Pro Bowl in 2018. The Seahawks are betting big on him bucking the odd trend. They could opt out of his contract after one season if he struggles in 2023, but the cap penalties they would incur suggest they are committed to Myers for at least two more years.
