LT Options

[jakedog56]

So with Okung a FA, our OL looks to possibly get even weaker if something is not done to solidify the key LT position.

The Seahawks currently have about $30 million in cap space, which could go up to $35 million plus if Lynch leaves via retirement or getting cut

Options:
*Resign Okung:
He is generally a good LT with solid athletic ability for the position. But he comes with baggage in the form of being injury prone (he has missed 24 of of 96 possible regular season games in his career so far, or 25%). It is notable that he has missed "only" 5 games of the last two seasons though.
It has been reported that Okung is going into the offseason expecting to get Trent William's money (5 years, $68 million with $41.25 million guaranteed for an average of $13.6 million a year) but I think that this is entirely unrealistic on his part because he:
-rather crazily decided to represent himself instead of hiring an agent.
-Just sent an email to all 32 teams yesterday announcing that he will have shoulder surgery .
The timing of his surgery is unfortunate for Okung but maybe it might work to the Seahawk's advantage. By the time he is recovered (circa late June in accordance to the estimated 5 month recovery period) the FA signing frenzy will have cooled down somewhat. Even a recovery status estimate will probably not be reasonable until sometime in mid-May.
If the Seahawks do resign him, I expect it to be because his market dries up and he is forced to come back on a 1 year deal in the $7-9 million range. Even this would be taking up a large chunk of our cap room.

*Other FAs:
The LT crop is looking fairly weak beyond the top guys. Glenn (Buffalo) is the top FA and I don't see any realistically possible way the Seahawks could sign him. After that there is Okung, Penn (Oakland), and Beachum (Pittsburgh).
Penn is solid but turning 33 in November so the clock is beginning to tick a bit. Beachum is coming off of a torn ACL and may not be ready to start the season.
Beyond that you are looking at journeymen level players like Jake Long (great talent but huge injury problems), Micheal Harris, Ryan Harris, Ben Ijalana, J'Marcus Webb, Charles Brown, Bryce Harris, Donal Stephenson, Chris Hairston, Jordan Mills, Mike McCants, Ryan Seymour, etc. etc.

*Draft:
I expect the Seahawks to draft a LT at some point regardless of if Okung or a FA is signed. But the question is who and where in the draft?
Tunsil (Ol'Miss) is a possible #1 pick in the whole draft so he will be gone, as will Stanley (Notre Dame) who project #4-8 in the mocks/evaluations I have seen. After that there is some seperation of opinions. I have seen Decker (Ohio State) go as high as #12 in mocks/evaluations and fall as far as the mid-second in others. Conklin (Mich. State) seems to go somewhere in the #20 to early 3rd range and some have him above Decker. Others typically in the 2nd to 4th round range include Coleman (Auburn), Hawkins (LSU), Spriggs (Indy), Theus (Georgia), Ifedi (TA&M), Murphy (Stanford).
Some intriging small school guys in 3rd-6th round include Beavers (Western Mich.), Haeg (North Dakota St), Toner (Harvard).
After that there are 20-25 guys whose names appear in the 4th to 7th to UDFA range.

My best case scenerio would be to resign Okung on a fairly inexpensive short term deal and then have a Decker or Conklin fall to us in the draft (or one of the 2nd-4th round prospects).

Second option would be to resign Okung on a short/relatively cheap deal and draft a prospect to develop.

Third option would be to let Okung walk, draft a player in the 1st - 4th range and sign one of the journeymen FA guys listed above.

I would love to get a player like Penn for a 3 year, $18-20 million deal (if Okung walks) but I can't see us being competitive in the early FA market when teams like the Jags and the Raiders (and a few others) are swimming in cap space.

 

[blstoker]

Right now, I am operating on the assumption that Russell Okung will be back at LT.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Your listing guards as a possible starting LT for the Seahawks? Some are not even starters, guess that shows how bare the free agent market is for LT position. Think the Seahawks would try to find a trade for a LT before trying most of these free agents. For sure they are drafting at least one LT, but actually starting him at LT would seem unlikely. My guess is they would move Gilliam to LT and insert the rookie at RT. Can't say that would make for a decent OL. Don't believe Gilliam would excell at that position. A former TE he doesn't have the power to anchor down against a good DE. I just don't see how the Seahawks can improve if Okung walks. A trade may be possible, but that would be costly also IMO.

 

[jakedog56]

Right now, I am operating on the assumption that Russell Okung will be back at LT.

The question is can we afford him and, if so, how many games is he going to miss.

If he gets $10 million a year from the Seahawks and misses 4 games a year it is highly debatable if his is worth it.

I also question if he should be our #1 priority to bring back. I think that Rubin and Lane could easily be brought into that discussion as they are both very important and also significantly cheaper.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

The question is can we afford him and, if so, how many games is he going to miss.

If he gets $10 million a year from the Seahawks and misses 4 games a year it is highly debatable if his is worth it.

I also question if he should be our #1 priority to bring back. I think that Rubin and Lane could easily be brought into that discussion as they are both very important and also significantly cheaper.

If they can't afford him, then brace for another painfull OL next season, perhaps worse then what we saw the first half of this season. There are no affordable OT worth starting on the free agent market and the college ranks have been painfully lacking in OL in general. As for Rubin, well run stopping DT are easier to find then good OL, Seahawks have been able to find cheap vets to fill that role over the years. Lane should be resigned, but the college ranks have lots of good candidates at CB and the Seahawks have a eye for picking talent at that position.

 

[blstoker]

The question is can we afford him and, if so, how many games is he going to miss.

If he gets $10 million a year from the Seahawks and misses 4 games a year it is highly debatable if his is worth it.

I also question if he should be our #1 priority to bring back. I think that Rubin and Lane could easily be brought into that discussion as they are both very important and also significantly cheaper.

I don't know. Actually, the announcement he made to the teams that he is having surgery and won't be available until at least July, coupled with his injury history will most likely destroy his value - costing him probably millions. You would think that anyone outside of Seattle would be more interested in a prove me deal - to see if they could get him to get through 1 season without injury. I'm not sure anyone offers him much more than 3 years $20 million.

 

[jakedog56]

If they can't afford him, then brace for another painfull OL next season, perhaps worse then what we saw the first half of this season. There are no affordable OT worth starting on the free agent market and the college ranks have been painfully lacking in OL in general. As for Rubin, well run stopping DT are easier to find then good OL, Seahawks have been able to find cheap vets to fill that role over the years. Lane should be resigned, but the college ranks have lots of good candidates at CB and the Seahawks have a eye for picking talent at that position.

Good points. It is easier to find a run DT and CB. No doubt about that.

 

[jakedog56]

I don't know. Actually, the announcement he made to the teams that he is having surgery and won't be available until at least July, coupled with his injury history will most likely destroy his value - costing him probably millions. You would think that anyone outside of Seattle would be more interested in a prove me deal - to see if they could get him to get through 1 season without injury. I'm not sure anyone offers him much more than 3 years $20 million.

Yes. It certainly would be to the Seahawks advantage if they can get him back on a reasonable short term deal, and draft a guy who they can groom for his departure.

The rest of the OL is a bit of a shambles at times. Losing Okung certainly would not help that.

 

[jakedog56]

Could a guy like Decker or Conklin be an immediate answer if they fell to the Seahawks?

I don't get to watch much CFB being overseas, so I really have not seen them play much and I am relying on the scouting reports.

 

[blstoker]

There is also the concern that Okung may not be able to play LT much longer himself. With the injuries he's sustained, he's not too far gone from having to be moved to RT and/or retirement. He's gonna want the best deal possible, obviously, but he made $666,666 per game played on his $48 million rookie deal. Teams know this. He's brittle at times - his shoulder injury just looked like his body gave out for no reason, it's a concern - even 3 years could be a huge gamble.

 

[blstoker]

Could a guy like Decker or Conklin be an immediate answer if they fell to the Seahawks?

I don't get to watch much CFB being overseas, so I really have not seen them play much and I am relying on the scouting reports.

Conklin - Looks nice - and he blocks college defenders well - but he doesn't have the strength to really push people around consistently. He looks stiff to me - and plays a little high, so stronger defenders can get under his pads and push him back. He plays through the whistle, and won't end a block until it's out of the play. Lots a good stuff from him - but will need some work. Could be a decent starter out the block - but will need to improve a great deal to be a top LT.

Decker - All I know right now is what I've read - haven't found much video as of yet. He appears to have a lot of the same things I said about Conklin - but that's someone else's opinion.

If Seattle goes T in the first round, you almost have to expect that he'll start somewhere on the line come next season.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

There is also the concern that Okung may not be able to play LT much longer himself. With the injuries he's sustained, he's not too far gone from having to be moved to RT and/or retirement. He's gonna want the best deal possible, obviously, but he made $666,666 per game played on his $48 million rookie deal. Teams know this. He's brittle at times - his shoulder injury just looked like his body gave out for no reason, it's a concern - even 3 years could be a huge gamble.

Where have you heard this concern about Okung having to move to RT?

 

[blstoker]

Where have you heard this concern about Okung having to move to RT?

Just my concern. No telling if anyone else shares it. Probably should have posted it better - but, hell, it was 4:00 in the morning - I'm not exactly at my best....

 

[flyerhawk]

No question that Okung comes with a lot of question marks depending on how much he is demanding.

Hard to see how he could more than 10 mill a year and even that is a big nut.

 

[JMR]

No question that Okung comes with a lot of question marks depending on how much he is demanding.

Hard to see how he could more than 10 mill a year and even that is a big nut.

Yesterday the guys on 710 were speculating that with him representing himself + scheduled shoulder surgery is going to knock his price tag down quite a bit and may turn his next contract into a 1 year thing for pretty small money so he can prove health for a year.

 

[dude82]

Yesterday the guys on 710 were speculating that with him representing himself + scheduled shoulder surgery is going to knock his price tag down quite a bit and may turn his next contract into a 1 year thing for pretty small money so he can prove health for a year.

That would be ideal. I'd like to get him back so we don't have a situation similar to the one we had at center this year happen at left tackle next year, but I also don't want to overpay for a guy who hasn't played a full season in his career. His newest injury situation should keep them from having to overpay this time, but it could also mean we're sitting here talking about what to do at left tackle again next year at this time.

 

[Uhsplit]

Lots of speculation and questions. It is a heck of a situation isn't it?
IMO, our only chance with Okung is a 1 year prove it to the NFL deal. That would be ideal as it gives us one more year to find our permanent LT.
Would not be surprised to see a Gilliam, Glowinsk-can he play LG?,Britt line if we can resign Sweezy.
If we can't sign Sweezy, and Okung departs it could be Gilliam, (best of Britt, draft pick, Soloki), Lewis, Glowinski, (best of Britt, draft pick).
Yes, I know it looks lame but I would expect the OL to improve like last year but I also think whatever line we put out will have a better start than our OL.
Harold, I don't think any of us think the line will improve once Okung departs-if he does. I'm sure there would be a drop off, at least initially.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Lots of speculation and questions. It is a heck of a situation isn't it?
IMO, our only chance with Okung is a 1 year prove it to the NFL deal. That would be ideal as it gives us one more year to find our permanent LT.
Would not be surprised to see a Gilliam, Glowinsk-can he play LG?,Britt line if we can resign Sweezy.
If we can't sign Sweezy, and Okung departs it could be Gilliam, (best of Britt, draft pick, Soloki), Lewis, Glowinski, (best of Britt, draft pick).
Yes, I know it looks lame but I would expect the OL to improve like last year but I also think whatever line we put out will have a better start than our OL.
Harold, I don't think any of us think the line will improve once Okung departs-if he does. I'm sure there would be a drop off, at least initially.

I'm all for a one year deal, that is ideal. However I don't see it as the Seahawks only chance to resign him.

As for the second part, of course the OL won't improve with Okung leaving. There are no decent options on the free agent market ( for a OT ) and picking near the bottom of the draft makes it a long shot to find OT in the draft. Britt looks like a bust, Sweezy and Lewis are alright, but not special, Gilliam has a chance to be good, but that remains to be seen. After watching the OL blow up the offense the first half of the season I just don't want that to happen again. If it does, your risking your franchise QB. I know Okung is not the future, so folks don't want to give him the big bucks, the problem is the Seahawks don't have the player to replace him. #1 priority for the Seahawks should be to find their next OT in the draft ( or trade ), in the mean time doing without OKung until that player arrives is waving the white flag on next season and putting the QB at risk IMO.

 

[Uhsplit]

I truly doubt we have any luck at trading for someone who could bring it every game at any position along the OL. I bet one half of NFL OL's are damned near desperate for help.
We do not have one old man on the line sans Okung. They are all young and have not reached their ceiling.
Not having lots of capitol for an OL is the hand we dealt to be able to pay the team's stars. I am good with keeping most of the resources steered towards the D. With Russell as QB we should normally be able to put up 25 points a game. With a solid D that can pencil out to 11 and 12 win seasons.
What I expect to see for the near future is a young, inexpensive, reliable OL that will get better as time moves along. It will realistically be a couple of years before these guys can be superb assuming the parts work out. Then the great ones leave in FA and we get to do it again.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I truly doubt we have any luck at trading for someone who could bring it every game at any position along the OL. I bet one half of NFL OL's are damned near desperate for help.
We do not have one old man on the line sans Okung. They are all young and have not reached their ceiling.
Not having lots of capitol for an OL is the hand we dealt to be able to pay the team's stars. I am good with keeping most of the resources steered towards the D. With Russell as QB we should normally be able to put up 25 points a game. With a solid D that can pencil out to 11 and 12 win seasons.
What I expect to see for the near future is a young, inexpensive, reliable OL that will get better as time moves along. It will realistically be a couple of years before these guys can be superb assuming the parts work out. Then the great ones leave in FA and we get to do it again.

Yeah a trade is a long shot for sure. However I don't think Pete is OK with the crappy OL last year and expect the Seahawks to focus on correcting that. You seem to think that team went cheap on the OL on purpose, I don't. It ended up that way because nobody they drafted was worthy of a second contract on the OL.