Seahawks Contracts
With all this talk about free agents and the combine lately, I thought it might be helpful to take a quick look at who the Seahawks still have under contract. To make the data more useful for our purposes, I've broken the list down into position groupings so that you can see how much money the team has invested in each position, along with the salary (including bonuses) each player is scheduled to earn in 2011 and how many years (and how much money) is left on the remainder of their contracts. And just for the sake of completeness, I've also included free agents who played the final year of their contracts in Seattle last season, as well as all the players who are known to have signed futures contracts with the team.
To continue reading, please click on "Read More" below.
Quarterbacks:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Nate Davis | - | Futures Contract |
| Matt Hasselbeck | - | Free Agent |
| JP Losman | - | Free Agent |
| Charlie Whitehusrt | $4 mil | 1 year, $4 mil |
| Total | $4 mil |
You're reading that correctly -- as of right now, Charlie Whitehurst is the only quarterback on the roster currently scheduled to get paid in 2011. Davis will have his chance to earn a spot in training camp, contract talks are still ongoing between Hasselbeck and the front office, and the team may very well pick up a QB at some point in the draft, but in the meantime looking at this mostly empty table makes me nervous.
Running Backs:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Justin Forsett | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Chris Henry | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Marshawn Lynch | $1.14 mil | 1 year, $1.14 mil |
| Leon Washington | $3 mil (?) | 4 years, $12.5 mil |
| Michael Robinson | - | Free Agent |
| Total | $5.25 mil |
The yearly breakdown of Washington's newly-signed contract has yet to be released, so $3 million for 2011 is a rough estimate. His multi-year deal also lessens my concern over Forsett and Lynch being scheduled to hit free agency at the same time, which increases the likelihood that at least one of them will sign elsewhere in 2012, but that's a topic to worry about a year from now.
Oh, and just in case you needed more evidence that the traditional fullback position is slowly edging toward joining the wingback and spinner positions in pro football obsolescence, the only fullback on the roster, Michael Robinson, is currently a free agent.
Wide Receivers:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Deon Butler | $480k | 2 years, $1.05 mil |
| Chris Carter | - | Futures Contract |
| Dominique Edison | - | Futures Contract |
| Ruvell Martin | - | Free Agent |
| Ben Obomanu | $2.1 mil | 4 years, $6.4 mil |
| Isaiah Stanback | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Brandon Stokley | - | Free Agent |
| Golden Tate | $405k | 3 years, $1.47 mil |
| Mike Williams | $3.1 mil | 4 years, $10 to $10.3 mil |
| Patrick Williams | - | Futures Contract |
| Total | $6.64 mil |
(Mike Williams will have the opportunity to earn $150k workout bonuses in 2012 and 2013)
In the wide receiver corps, Stokley is the only major 2010 contributor who is not curently under contract. I would put 50-50 odds on him returning to Seattle next year. He's a solid player and a great mentor for the younger receivers (just look at the impact he had on Eddie Royal in Denver), but he's also old and injury-prone, plus now that Jeremy Bates is gone he no longer has the added benefit of being intimately familiar with the team's offense.
Given the seriousness of Butler's late-season leg break, it's anyone's guess as to when he'll be able to play again. Which is awful news for him, but it also opens up an opportunity for someone currently on the fringes to step up in camp and earn a roster spot. It also means there's a greater possibility that Martin could be re-signed, especially given his rapport with QB Whitehurst. I wouldn't mind seeing Martin in a Seahawks uniform again, but I'm probably just blindly rooting for an underdog here. After all, we're talking about a guy who was cut twice by Seattle last year, and in 2009 he only managed six catches in eight games on a Rams team whose other wideouts were all either injured or legally dead.
Tight Ends:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Chris Baker | $1.5 mil | 1 year, $1.5 mil |
| Dominique Byrd | - | Futures Contract |
| John Carlson | $620k | 1 year, $620k |
| Jameson Konz | $330k | 3 years, $1.4 mil |
| Anthony McCoy | $405k | 3 years, $1.47 mil |
| Cameron Morrah | $480k | 2 years, 1.045 mil |
| Total | $3.335 mil |
I love the Seahawks' tight end group. Not only are there some pretty great talents on this list, they're all disgustingly affordable, too.
Offensive Linemen:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Stacy Andrews (G/T) | $5.25 mil | 4 years, $23.5 mil |
| Paul Fanaika (G) | $480k | 1 year, $480k |
| Breno Giacomini (T) | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Mike Gibson (G) | $480k | 1 year, $480k |
| Lemuel Jeanpierre (G) | $330k | 3 years, $1.245 mil |
| Sean Locklear (T) | - | Free Agent |
| Paul McQuistan (G) | - | Futures Contract |
| Russell Okung (T) | $2.9 mil | 5 years, $20.3 mil |
| Chester Pitts (G/T) | - | Free Agent |
| Caz Piurowski (T) | - | Futures Contract |
| Tyler Polumbus (T) | - | Free Agent |
| William Robinson (T) | $480k | 1 year, $480k |
| Chris Spencer (C) | - | Free Agent |
| Max Unger (C) | $480k | 2 years, $1.045 mil |
| Chris White (C) | $640k | 1 year, $640k |
| Ray Willis (T) | - | Free Agent |
| Total | $12 mil |
Before you looked at this list, would you have guessed that the highest paid offensive lineman on the team was Stacy Andrews? Andrews did not look good at right guard last season, especially in pass protection, but guard is also not his natural position. He earned his way into a fat contract as a right tackle, and now that Locklear is a free agent he'll likely be given a legitimate shot at earning the starting job this offseason. It'd be nice to see Ray Willis re-signed and let the two compete for the job, along with any other tackles who emerge as legitimate pro talents in camp.
The players currently under contract for the interior line positions do not strike me as being a deep, talented bunch. There are some unknowns on the list who could turn out to be viable starters, but I'd expect the team to add some more promising talent (especially at guard) in the draft this year.
And in case you're wondering why I didn't list Ben Hamilton, it's because the team waived him off the Injured Reserve list in late December.
Defensive Linemen:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Jay Alford (DT) | - | Futures Contract |
| Kentwan Balmer (DE) | $622k | 2 years, $1.3 mil |
| Raheem Brock (DE) | - | Free Agent |
| Red Bryant (DE) | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Chris Clemons (DE) | $2.3 mil | 2 years, $5.3 mil |
| Colin Cole (DT) | $3.75 mil | 3 years, $13.15 mil |
| Dexter Davis (DE) | $405k | 3 years, $1.47 mil |
| Amon Gordon (DT) | - | Free Agent |
| Brandon Mebane (DT) | - | Free Agent |
| Barrett Moen (DT) | - | Futures Contract |
| Jay Richardson (DE) | - | Free Agent |
| AJ Schable (DE) | - | Futures Contract |
| Craig Terrill (DT) | - | Free Agent |
| Junior Siavii (DT) | - | Free Agent |
| Total | $7.632 mil |
There are a lot of names on this list, but not a lot of signed contracts. Mebane is the main priority on the d-line to be re-signed, and by all accounts a deal should get done with him sooner rather than later. Brock would also be a nice player to see return, especially since it would reinforce the team's image as a place where performance is rewarded, but he will also be 33 before the beginning of the 2011 season. Depth behind Bryant at the strong-side DE position and Cole and Mebane at the tackle positions remains a concern, and I would expect them to address one or both of these positions in the draft.
Linebackers:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Aaron Curry | $10.076 mil | 4 years, $29.89 mil |
| David Hawthorne | $900k - $1.7 mil | 1 year, $900k - $1.7 mil |
| Will Herring | - | Free Agent |
| Anthony Heygood | $330k | 1 year, $330k |
| Leroy Hill | - | Free Agent |
| Matt McCoy | - | Free Agent |
| Joe Pawalek | $330k | 3 years, $1.245 mil |
| Lofa Tatupu | $4.35 mil | 5 years, $23.4 mil |
| Total | $15.985 mil |
(Aaron Curry's base salary for 2011 is $5.076 mil, but he is also due to receive a $5 mil roster bonus. Hawthorne's base salary is $900k, but his contract also allows him to earn a roster bonus of $50k per game.)
By now, I think we're all intimately familiar with how much money the team has sunk into the linebacker position. Curry has yet to live up to his #4 overall billing, but he showed enough flashes of ability last year to keep me optimistic about his continued development headed in to the 2011 season. Heygood was a promising talent who landed on IR last year before the season began, and I'm excited to see that he'll get another year to earn a spot on the team. Both Herring and McCoy are valuable contributors (Herring as a versatile backup and McCoy as a special teamer) and hopefully both will be re-signed for next season.
I have no idea how Joe Pawalek managed to sign a three year contract. I can only assume that blackmail was involved.
Defensive Backs:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Jordan Babineaux (S) | - | Free Agent |
| James Brindley (S) | - | Futures Contract |
| Marcus Brown (CB) | $330k | 2 years, $745k |
| Brandon Browner (CB) | - | Futures Contract |
| Kam Chancellor (S) | $405k | 3 years, $1.47 mil |
| Kennard Cox (CB) | $555k | 1 year, $555k |
| Kelly Jennings (CB) | - | Free Agent |
| Roy Lewis (CB) | $480k | 1 year, $480k |
| Lawyer Milloy (S) | - | Free Agent |
| Josh Pinkard (CB) | $330k | 4 years, $1.565 mil |
| Earl Thomas (S) | $625k | 4 years, $4.75 mil |
| Walter Thurmond III (CB) | $405k | 3 years, $1.47 mil |
| Marcus Trufant (CB) | $5.9 mil | 3 years, $21.2 mil |
| Total | $9.03 mil |
I don't expect Milloy to return to the team, at least not as a starter. Babineaux would be nice to see return and get a shot at making the team; Jennings, not so much. There is a lot of developing, promising talent under contract here, but not a lot of veteran experience.
Specialists:
| Player | 2011 Salary | Remainder of Contract |
| Clint Gresham (LS) | $405k | 2 years, $895k |
| Olindo Mare (K) | - | Free Agent |
| Jon Ryan (P) | $1.1 mil | 5 years, $6.5 mil |
| Total | $1.505 mil |
Obviously, getting Mare and his reliable field goal kicking re-signed is a priority for the team. Granted, he'll be 38 before the start of next season, but kickers have a longer shelf life than most positions, plus Mare hasn't shown any signs of losing distance on his field goals and kickoffs, which is the usual sign that a kicker's career is winding down.
And just because I'd already put them together for my own benefit, here's all the current Seahawks players grouped according to which year they're scheduled to hit free agency:
2012
TE Chris Baker
DE Red Bryant
TE John Carlson
CB Kennard Cox
G Paul Fanaika
RB Justin Forsett
T Breno Giacomini
G Mike Gibson
LB David Hawthorne
RB Chris Henry
LB Anthony Heygood
CB Roy Lewis
RB Marshawn Lynch
T William Robinson
WR Isaiah Stanback
C Chris White
QB Charlie Whitehurst
2013
DE Kentwan Balmer
CB Marcus Brown
WR Deon Butler
DE Chris Clemons
LS Clint Gresham
TE Cameron Morrah
C Max Unger
2014
S Kam Chancellor
DT Colin Cole
DE Dexter Davis
G Lemuel Jeanpierre
TE Jameson Konz
TE Anthony McCoy
WR Ben Obomanu
LB Joe Pawalek
CB Josh Pinkard
WR Golden Tate
CB Walter Thurmond III
CB Marcus Trufant
WR Mike Williams
2015
G Stacy Andrews
LB Aaron Curry
S Earl Thomas
RB Leon Washington
2016
T Russell Okung
P Jon Ryan
LB Lofa Tatupu
(A big thanks to Rotoworld for the contract figures.)
