Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ off-season needs. Up next is the team with the 22nd overall pick in the draft, the Seattle Seahawks.
2006 Results: 9-7 (1st in NFC West)
2007 Projected Cap Status: $91,800,000 or $17.2 million under the Cap
2006 Season Recap:
QB Matt Hasselbeck played the final eight games of the season with broken fingers on his non-passing hand, and the Seahawks still made it to the NFC divisional playoffs where they lost to the Chicago Bears in overtime. Seattle had quite a few players playing hurt last season, SS Michael Boulware needed shoulder and ankle surgeries, LT Walter Jones had shoulder and knee surgeries, RB Maurice Morris needs to have ankle surgery and new starting C Chris Spencer will have both shoulders worked on before camps open. Injuries also played a part in Shaun Alexander rushing for less than 1000 yards for the first time since his rookie season. Maurice Morris filled in during Alexander absence but never got the ball into the end zone.
Team needs:
1. Safety
Free safety Ken Hamlin had a pretty good year but only had three interceptions, he also had two safeties, and the former second-round pick hit the market on March 1st. If he signs elsewhere, the team will need a replacement. If he re-signs, they could still use depth at the spot. The Seahawks did sign free-agent safety Deon Grant on March 10th.
2. Offensive Line
Lack of depth and poor play hurt this unit in 2006 and must be address in the off-season. Center Robbie Tobeck missed a lot of time with injuries last year, as did All-Pro tackle Walter Jones. Jones will be 33 and had a sub-par season on top of the injuries. Floyd “Porkchop” Womack who recently re-signed with the team, was forced to move to left guard to try and replace Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson (who moved on to the Vikings in the previous off-season). Tobeck ended up retiring, and right Guard Chris Gray will be thirty-seven when next season opens. This line needs an injection of youth.
2007 draft picks:
Rd. 2 (55th)
Rd. 3 (85th)
Rd. 4 (116th)
Rd. 5 (151st)
Rd. 6 (182nd)
Rd. 7 (213th)
Free Agency Status:
Franchise Player:
PK Josh Brown: Tendered at $2.078M
Players Signed/Re-signed:
TE Will Heller (Re-signed)
DB Pete Hunter (Re-signed)
FB Josh Parry (Re-signed)
LS Derek Rackley (Re-signed)
OG Floyd Womack (Re-signed)
DE Patrick Kerney: UFA Falcons
Un-Restricted Free Agents:
WR Bobby Engram
OG Chris Gray
S Ken Hamlin is
LB D.D. Lewis
DE Kemp Rasmussen
RB Josh Scobey
TE Jerramy Stevens
DE Joe Tafoya
CB Jimmy Williams
S Oliver Celestin
Restricted Free Agents:
DB Jordan Babineaux (tendered at $1.35M with 2nd-round pick as compensation)
WR D.J. Hackett (tendered at $1.35M with 2nd-round pick as compensation)
LB Niko Koutouvides (tendered at $850,000 with 4th-round pick as compensation)
OT Sean Locklear (tendered at $1.85M with 1st-round pick as compensation)
DT Craig Terrill (tendered at $850,000 with 6th-round pick as compensation)
Players Lost:
LS J.P. Darche: (UFA Chiefs)
C Robbie Tobeck: retired
DE Grant Wistrom: (released)
Check out more at THN’s exclusive 2007 NFL Draft section.
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Bernie Marshall