Exactly two weeks from today, the free NFL agency is officially underway. The Seattle Seahawks has a boat full of unrestricted free agents ready to test the market soon, and the ceiling situation is not ideal. Not to mention Russell Wilson’s drama that may well influence the moves the team will make in the coming months.
To prepare you for the start of the free agent frenzy, here is a list of players whose contracts are in effect, as well as their free agent designations.
Unrestricted free agents
Offense: Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde, Jacob Hollister, Luke Willson, Cedric Ogbuehi, Ethan Pocic, Nick Bellore, Geno Smith, Philip Dorsett, David Moore
Defense: KJ Wright, Bruce Irvin, Benson Mayowa, Shaquill Griffin, Quinton Dunbar, Neiko Thorpe, Damarious Randall, Damontre Moore, Jonathan Bullard, Lano Hill
Restricted free agents
Jordan Simmons, Poona Ford, Shaquem Griffin
Exclusive rights-free agents
Ryan Neal, Bryan Mone, Linden Stephens, Kyle Fuller, Patrick Carr, Jayson Stanley
Retired
Mike Iupati, Greg Olsen
I would say that UFAs are self-explanatory, but here’s the detail on RFAs and ERFAs via NFL.com:
Restricted Free Agents:
A player with three accumulated seasons and an expired contract. The RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of several qualifying offers (“proposals”) that come with the right of first refusal and / or compensation for draft selection. If the proposal is withdrawn by a team, the FRG becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Exclusive rights-free agents:
Any player with less than three accumulated seasons and an expired contract. If your original team offers you a minimum one-year contract in the league (based on your credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
In front of the RFA, the Seahawks can offer Simmons, Ford and Shaquem to a first round bid, second round bid or an original round bid. Griffin is the only one of the three who has been summoned, whereas an original bid for Simmons and Ford would mean no compensation in return for Seattle. If Ford gets a second-round proposal, for example, the Seahawks will be given a second-round draft choice if they choose not to match another team’s offer sheet. All proposals are for one year.
We still do not know the monetary value of the RFA contests, but the deadline for extending these offers is March 17th at 1 pm PT. Seattle can also choose not to offer any of these players and, as a result, they would become unrestricted free agents.
As you can see when reading the ERFA definition, it shouldn’t be difficult to retain Bryan Mone or Ryan Neal, the two most notable names on that list.
All eyes, of course, will be on the future of UFAs, such as Wright, Shaquill Griffin and Chris Carson. Keep this article handy for when March 17th arrives.