Caption
Close
DT Chris Baker
2016 team: Washington Redskins
Age: 29
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles (7 for loss), 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
Notes: Baker is a scheme-diverse solid run defender with 39 starts over the last three years.
DT Chris Baker
2016 team: Washington Redskins
Age: 29
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles (7 for loss), 4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
Notes: Baker is a scheme-diverse solid run
RB Le’Veon Bell
2016 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 24
2015 Stats: 261 rushes for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns; 75 receptions for 616 yards and 2 touchdowns
Notes: Perhaps the best overall running back in the game when healthy, there’s no chance Bell hits the open market. Look for him to get tagged if a long-term deal can’t be worked out.
RB Le’Veon Bell
2016 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 24
2015 Stats: 261 rushes for 1,268 yards and 7 touchdowns; 75 receptions for 616 yards and 2 touchdowns
Notes: Perhaps the best overall running back in the
CB A.J. Bouye
2016 team: Houston Texans
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 62 total tackles (2 for loss), interception, 16 passes defensed, sack
Notes: The former undrafted free agent had a breakout campaign in a contract year in 2016, which could mean he’s an ascendant star or buyer beware.
CB A.J. Bouye
2016 team: Houston Texans
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 62 total tackles (2 for loss), interception, 16 passes defensed, sack
Notes: The former undrafted free agent had a breakout campaign in a contract year
CB Stephon Gilmore
2016 team: Buffalo Bills
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defensed
Notes: The former first-round pick is a bit of a boom-or-bust player, but coming off a career high in interceptions, he could command big money on the open market.
CB Stephon Gilmore
2016 team: Buffalo Bills
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 48 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 passes defensed
Notes: The former first-round pick is a bit of a boom-or-bust player, but coming off a
LB Dont’a Hightower
2016 team: New England Patriots
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 65 total tackles (1 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Nagging injuries have been a concern, but Hightower’s play during the postseason showed how much of a difference-maker he could be.
LB Dont’a Hightower
2016 team: New England Patriots
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 65 total tackles (1 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, 2 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Nagging injuries have been a
LB Melvin Ingram
2016 team: San Diego Chargers
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 60 total tackles (10 for loss), 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 5 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles
Notes: Ingram teamed with rookie Joey Bosa to give the Bolts a fearsome pass-rush duo in 2016. He’s a candidate for the franchise tag if a long-term deal can’t be worked out.
LB Melvin Ingram
2016 team: San Diego Chargers
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 60 total tackles (10 for loss), 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 5 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles
Notes: Ingram teamed with rookie Joey Bosa to
SS Tony Jefferson
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 92 total tackles (13 for loss), 5 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: The former undrafted free agent has developed into a top-notch run-stuffing safety in Arizona and could earn a big payday on the open market if the Cardinals let him get there.
SS Tony Jefferson
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 25
2015 Stats: 92 total tackles (13 for loss), 5 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: The former
LB Chandler Jones
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 49 total tackles (15 for loss), 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: After trading away a second-round pick to acquire Jones from the Patriots last offseason, the Cardinals will slap the franchise tag on him this year.
LB Chandler Jones
2016 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 49 total tackles (15 for loss), 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered
Notes: After trading
OG Ronald Leary
2016 team: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 27
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Leary, on the other hand, is a premier run blocker who became expendable in Dallas after they drafted La’el Collins in 2015.
OG Ronald Leary
2016 team: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 27
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Leary, on the other hand, is a premier run blocker who became expendable in Dallas after they drafted La’el Collins in 2015.
DT Dontari Poe
2016 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 27 total tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Poe’s jump-pass touchdown versus Denver in Week 16 may be fans’ overriding memory of Poe, but with Berry likely to be franchised, it’s possible the run-stuffer could enter the open market.
DT Dontari Poe
2016 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 26
2015 Stats: 27 total tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Poe’s jump-pass touchdown versus Denver in
WR Terrelle Pryor
2016 team: Cleveland Browns
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns
Notes: The former quarterback broke out in 2016 and looked like one of the few above average players on Cleveland’s roster. With over $100 million in cap space, expect them to work something out.
WR Terrelle Pryor
2016 team: Cleveland Browns
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and 4 touchdowns
Notes: The former quarterback broke out in 2016 and looked like one of the few above average
DT Kawann Short
2016 team: Carolina Panthers
Age: 28
2015 Stats: 55 total tackles (12 for loss), 6 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Short’s 2016 season didn’t quite live up to his monster 11-sack 2015 campaign, but he’ll likely still earn a franchise tag from the Panthers.
DT Kawann Short
2016 team: Carolina Panthers
Age: 28
2015 Stats: 55 total tackles (12 for loss), 6 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 3 passes defensed, forced fumble
Notes: Short’s 2016 season didn’t quite live up to
OG Larry Warford
2016 team: Detroit Lions
Age: 25
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Warford isn’t a star, but with 57 solid starts over four NFL seasons and still in the prime of his career, he should earn decent money on the open market.
OG Larry Warford
2016 team: Detroit Lions
Age: 25
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: Warford isn’t a star, but with 57 solid starts over four NFL seasons and still in the prime of his career, he should earn decent money on
DT Brandon Williams
2016 team: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 51 total tackles (4 for loss), sack, 2 quarterback hits, pass defensed
Notes: A run-stuffing nose tackle, look for Williams to command a deal similar to the five-year, $46.25 million contract Damon Harrison got with the Giants last year.
DT Brandon Williams
2016 team: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 27
2015 Stats: 51 total tackles (4 for loss), sack, 2 quarterback hits, pass defensed
Notes: A run-stuffing nose tackle, look for Williams to command a deal
OG Kevin Zeitler
2016 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: One of the most balanced guards in the league, the former first-round pick should be highly coveted on the open market, assuming he gets there.
OG Kevin Zeitler
2016 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 26
2015 Stats: NA
Notes: One of the most balanced guards in the league, the former first-round pick should be highly coveted on the open market, assuming he
Wednesday marks the first day the Seahawks and the rest of the NFL can designate unrestricted free agents as either franchise or transition players, with NFC West-rival Arizona Cardinals becoming the first team to announce their plans by confirming Tuesday that they will use the franchise tag on linebacker Chandler Jones.
Like Jones, several of the league’s top unrestricted free agents seem likely to be tagged ahead of the start of free agency on March 9, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t end up elsewhere in 2017. Just look at what happened last year with former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, whom Carolina designated as its franchise player on March 1 before rescinding the tag on April 20, which allowed him to hit the free-agent market and sign a five-year deal with the Washington Redskins.
The Seahawks don’t have many key unrestricted free agents, with tight end Luke Willson and kicker Stephen Hauschka being the biggest names on Seattle’s list. Hauschka was seemingly replaced by former Vikings kicker Blair Walsh last week after the Seahawks signed him to a one-year deal.
With a projected $27 million-plus in salary cap space for the 2017 season and few in-house players it needs to bring back, Seattle could eschew its generally muted presence in the free agent market and make a play for one or two big names as the Seahawks try to get back to the Super Bowl.
So with the caveat that many of these players might not actually hit the open market, check out the gallery above for the league’s top unrestricted free agents in 2017.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
