Seattle Seahawks: Five Free Agents They Need To Re-Sign

With an impending lock out, serious holes in the roster and 24 free agents the Seattle Seahawks will have a busy and interesting off season.

The possibility of a lock out makes any off season predictions, guesses at best. One thing Seattle is able to do is look at the list of their own free agents and make some decisions on who to bring back.

With 24 free agents, it's obvious that the Seahawks roster will probably look drastically different in 2011.  This is nothing new for general manager John Schneider and Pete Carroll who last year changed the roster as often as Brett Favre changes his mind about retirement. 

The Seahawks will probably be players in the free agent market, but there are some good free agents who were with them last year they need to look to lock up.

They avoided the possibility of losing break out wide receiver Mike Williams before the season ended by signing him to a new three-year deal.  With that in mind, here is a quick look at five more players the Seahawks must re-sign.

QB Matt Hasselbeck

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during their game against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Ge

Whether to sign or not sign Hasselbeck maybe the most hotly contested topic in the Seattle sports circles.  Local talk radio could probably fill their entire broadcast days debating this topic alone.

Hasselbeck clearly had his worst season as a Seahawk last year and is on the tail end of his career.  He showed some of the magic Seattle fans came to know over the years in last year’s playoffs which indicate maybe there’s still a little gas left in the tank.

Despite his struggles last year they need to re-sign him.  He is a veteran player who is familiar with and has flourished in the West Coast offensive system that new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell runs. 

Signing Hasselbeck alone however, is not the answer to their quarterbacking issues.  At this point in his career and the development of the team he is not the long term answer.

If they re-sign Hasselbeck they also need to find a quarterback to develop to take over for him.  In other words, they should bring him back to be a bridge to the next guy.

They went out and traded for Charlie Whitehurst to possibly be the next guy but Whitehurst has shown nothing that indicates he is capable of being anything but a back up.  Whitehurst under-performed in Training camp where he had a chance to compete for the top spot and was spotty when he did get to play.

Pete Carroll said signing Hasselbeck was the top priority for the franchise which is a clear indication that the team doesn’t see Whitehurst as the successor.  They need to get someone.

That most likely will be done by drafting a quarterback this year.  Whether that happens in the first round or later rounds is debatable and probably depends on which players are on the board. 

They need to do it and have that young player sit behind Hasselbeck for a year or two before taking over the reigns.   

DT Brandon Mebane

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 08: Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane #92 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after sacking the quarterback against the Detroit Lions on November 8, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Lions 32-20. (Photo

Brandon Mebane has been a solid player in the middle of the defensive line for the past four years.  He is good against the run and can get some push up the middle on pass plays.

Last year the Seahawks came out of the gates stuffing the run with a stout defensive line.  As the season wore on however they suffered some injuries which exposed a lack of depth and suddenly they couldn't stop the run any more.

By the time the season ended they were ranked 21st against the run.

This is a key part to any defense and Mebane, while not pro bowl material, is a solid player who will help provide the Seahawks with much needed depth.  Not to mention that Mebane is familiar with the Seahawks defensive schemes and with the possibility of a prolonged lock out and less training camp time having some familiarity will be a big plus to teams.

It appears that if he hits the market Mebane will get offers from other teams.  Because of that there have been some reports swirling around that the Seahawks may possibly end up using their franchise tag on Mebane to ensure he stays in Seahawks blue for at least another year.

Mebane is someone Seattle can ill afford to lose.

K Olindo Mare

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Jon Ryan #9 and Olindo Mare #10 of the Seattle Seahawks react against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Im

Since signing with Seattle in 2008 to replace favorite son Josh Brown, Mare has simply been great.

Mare has hit at a 88 percent clip on field goals, including a solid 76 percent from outside 40 yards with Seattle and is the model of consistency.

When Brown left Seahawks fans were distraught, but in many ways Mare has been better.  Brown was never a great kick off guy, but Mare has been.

With Seattle last year Mare kicked off for a touchback 20 times which was among the league best.  Making the other team have to go the long way to score is a tremendous help to a defense.

Mare is another candidate for the franchise tag which is exactly what Seattle did last year to ensure they had that consistency in their kicking game.

KR Leon Washington

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Running back Leon Washington #33 of the Seattle Seahawks returns a punt for 84 yards against the Carolina Panthers at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. Washington was down at the 2 yard line on the play, and t

Sometimes it feels like kick returners are a dime a dozen.  Anyone can return punts and kicks right? 

Leon Washington showed the Seahawks and the NFL what an elite returner can do for a team’s special teams.  Washington was special last year and helped the Seahawks tremendously.

One of the biggest wins of the season for Seattle was their Week 3 upset of the San Diego Chargers in which Washington returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.  Would the Seahawks have won that game without those?

Most likely not.

Beyond that one game,  Washington averaged 25.6 yards on kickoff returns and 11.3 yards on punt returns.  That kind of production leads to great field position.

Washington can also be used coming out of the backfield on third downs, something Carroll kept saying he wanted to more of, but never seemed to work in.  Re-signing Washington should come with more of him in the backfield.

OL Tyler Polumbus

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: Tackle Tyler Polumbus #78 of the Seattle Seahawks pass blocks against Travis LaBoy #54 of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL season opener at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/G

Polumbus will not make anyone forget about Walter Jones or Steve Hutchinson and it may seem strange to say he is a must re-sign with the Seahawks.

But he is.

Last year it felt like Seattle trotted out a different offensive line each series due to injury and poor play.  Polumbus ended up starting in seven games last year and played decently

The Seahawks line is still a work in progress that is far from being sorted out.  Polumbus, while may not be Canton bound, is a solid fill-in who can play both guard and tackle. 

He may not be someone you want to have to rely on for 16 games, but if needed for a couple games here and there he is a great option for a patchwork line.  Having spent two years in Denver prior to this last season he has played in a zone blocking scheme that new line coach Tom Cable is a disciple of.

Polumbus is coming into his fourth season in the NFL and is still young with some upside and could possibly be a starter in years to come.