Seahawks could be searching for a quarterback
Although Tarvaris Jackson finished 7-7 as a starter in his first season in Seattle, the Seahawks likely will be involved in the Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning sweepstakes.
Seattle's interest in Flynn makes sense - Seahawks general manager John Schneider worked for the Packers for eight years before taking the head personnel job here in the Pacific Northwest.
So the Seahawks have a good, overall evaluation on Flynn and his ability to emerge as a franchise quarterback.
Manning is expected to part ways with Indianapolis and become a free agent in March, and the Seahawks are one of a handful of teams that could make sense for the aging quarterback because of the team's young, emerging talent on offense and defense.
But evaluating Manning's health will be important for any team looking to give him a long-term deal.
While seeking a quarterback through free agency is a possibility, a more likely scenario for Seattle remains selecting a quarterback to groom as the signal-caller of the future in this year's draft behind Jackson, who enters 2012 in the final year of a two-year contract paying him $4 million in base salary this season.
Reserve quarterback Charlie Whitehurst's contract is up and he likely will not return, leaving Jackson and developmental quarterback Josh Portis as the only signal-callers on Seattle's roster.
"My opinion in the last few years has changed on what the quarterbacks can do coming out of college," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said at his end-of-the-year press conference. "I would have told you in years past, as an NFL coach, that young guys can't do it and there were only a couple that ever did, and that wasn't enough to make that an expectation that you could count on. But I think that's totally shifted. I don't think that's the case anymore."
The Seahawks have 21 free agents - 17 unrestricted, two restricted and two exclusive rights free agents.
Re-signing Marshawn Lynch will be at the top of the Seahawks' priority list in addressing the team's own free agents on offense. If the Seahawks cannot get a long-term deal done, they will likely franchise the bruising runner and continue to work on a multiyear deal.
The projected franchise tag for running backs is $7.7 million.
Other impact players on offense Seattle would like back include fullback Michael Robinson and tight end John Carlson.
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