The 12 Best Free-Agent Signings in Seattle Seahawks History
The NFL's 2012 free-agency period is just a day away.
Two of the biggest free agents to ever hit the market are available this year, giving several teams hope that they can turn their fortunes in 2012.
Peyton Manning and Mario Williams have piqued the interest of NFL teams, and the Seattle Seahawks have been mentioned as having an interest in both. Fans are intrigued, as one of the best pass-rushers and the best quarterback to ever hit free agency would fill their two biggest holes from 2011.
Seattle has expressed great interest in Manning and will most certainly do the same once they are able to talk with Williams.
The odds for securing Manning seem to be slipping, but reports about his lack of interest in Seattle are conflicting. The next few days could be very exciting for Seahawks fans—or a bit frustrating.
Regardless of the direction the 2012 free-agency period takes, the Seahawks have had their share of major signings in years past.
Honorable Mention: Sidney Rice, WR and Zach Miller, TE: 2011
1 of 12Sidney Rice and Zach Miller were both major free-agent signings in Pete Carroll's second year with the Seahawks.
They both are listed in the "to be determined" class, as both were Pro Bowl players before arriving in Seattle.
Zach Miller needs to be freed from his blocking duties to see what he can offer the offense in terms of production.
Both will likely need a different quarterback to show what kind of contributions they can make in Seattle.
For now, though, Seattle targeted and landed two Pro Bowl talents on which to build their current roster.
Olindo Mare, K: 2008 and Rick Tuten, P: 1991
2 of 12Yes, kickers are important signings, too.
It is hard to say exactly where to place these two special teams players, particularly after the treatment Olindo Mare received from Jim Mora in 2009.
Mare hit 73 of 83 attempts (88 percent) as a Seahawk, but his percentages were showing signs of decline at age 38.
He was lost after the 2010 season to the Carolina Panthers, who gave him a $4 million signing bonus as part of a four-year, $12 million contract.
Rick "Bootin" Tuten was the third punter the Seahawks used in 1991. He deserves to make this list simply because he had a league-high 108 punts in 1992.
He is the Seahawks all-time leader in punts (554), yards (24,266) and punts downed inside the 20-yard-line (147).
Chris Gray, OL: 1998
3 of 12Chris Gray set a Seahawks record for consecutive starts with 121 in his 10-year career.
He played in 145 total games.
Gray never managed to make a Pro Bowl, but he was an important part of the offensive line that helped Shaun Alexander win an MVP and that protected Matt Hasselbeck during his Pro Bowl seasons and the team's lone Super Bowl appearance.
Listing him at offensive line is fitting, as he played every position on the front five.
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Robbie Tobeck, C, 2000
4 of 12Robbie Tobeck anchored the Seahawks offensive line in their 2005 Super Bowl season.
The former Washington State Cougar was lured back to the state after spending seven years with the Atlanta Falcons.
Tobeck was a vital member of the Falcons' Super Bowl XXXIII team and was voted to the Seahawks' 35th Anniversary team.
He had his only Pro Bowl selection following the 2005 season.
Joe Nash, DT: 1982
5 of 12Joe Nash joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent from Boston College.
He played in 218 games, a Seahawks record, in his 15-year career.
Nash had 47.5 sacks and appeared in his lone Pro Bowl in 1984.
Warren Moon, QB: 1997
6 of 12For a player who was basically blacklisted by the NFL when he came out of the University of Washington, Warren Moon came to be the most coveted free agent when he opted to join the NFL in 1984.
Seahawks fans were hoping he would come back to Seattle, but Dave Kreig was beginning his run as the club's quarterback.
Seattle did get Moon for two seasons, including his last Pro Bowl season in 1997.
He continues to work with the organization, and Seahawks fans celebrated his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Warren Moon Career NFL Stats:
Year | Team | G | Att-Comp | Yards | Pct. | TD | Int. | Rating |
1984 | 16 | 450–259 | 3,338 | 0.576 | 12 | 14 | 76.9 | |
1985 | Houston | 14 | 377–200 | 2,709 | 0.531 | 15 | 19 | 68.5 |
1986 | Houston | 15 | 488–256 | 3,489 | 0.525 | 13 | 26 | 62.3 |
1987 | Houston | 12 | 368–184 | 2,806 | 0.500 | 21 | 18 | 74.2 |
1988 | Houston | 11 | 294–160 | 2,327 | 0.544 | 17 | 8 | 88.4 |
1989 | Houston | 16 | 464–280 | 3,631 | 0.603 | 23 | 14 | 88.9 |
1990 | Houston | 15 | 584–362 | 4,689 | 0.620 | 33 | 13 | 96.8 |
1991 | Houston | 16 | 655–404 | 4,690 | 0.617 | 23 | 21 | 81.7 |
1992 | Houston | 11 | 346–224 | 2,521 | 0.647 | 18 | 12 | 89.3 |
1993 | Houston | 15 | 520–303 | 3,485 | 0.583 | 21 | 21 | 75.2 |
1994 | 15 | 601–371 | 4,264 | 0.617 | 18 | 19 | 79.9 | |
1995 | Minnesota | 16 | 606–377 | 4,228 | 0.622 | 33 | 14 | 91.5 |
1996 | Minnesota | 8 | 247–134 | 1,610 | 0.543 | 7 | 9 | 68.7 |
1997 | Seattle | 15 | 528–313 | 3,678 | 0.593 | 25 | 16 | 83.7 |
1998 | Seattle | 10 | 258–145 | 1,632 | 0.562 | 11 | 8 | 76.6 |
1999 | 1 | 3–1 | 20 | 0.333 | 0 | 0 | 57.6 | |
2000 | Kansas City | 2 | 34–15 | 208 | 0.441 | 1 | 1 | 61.9 |
Totals | 208 | 6,823–3,988 | 49,325 | 0.584 | 291 | 233 | 80.9 | |
Playoff Totals | 10 | 403–259 | 2,834 | 0.643 | 17 | 14 | 85.8 | |
Bobby Engram, WR: 2001
7 of 12Bobby Engram, known for his drive-extending third-down catches, signed with the Seahawks prior to the 2001 season.
He spent eight seasons in Seattle.
His best statistical year was in 2007. The team had injury issues at the position, and Engram stepped up with 94 catches and 1,147 yards.
Engram set the team record for receptions that season.
Engram's 399 receptions in Seattle puts him fifth in franchise history. He's fourth on the team's books in yards with 4,859.
Ricky Watters, RB: 1998
8 of 12It is hard for some fans to consider the former San Francisco 49er and Philadelphia Eagle a "real" Seahawk.
However, he did spend more time in Seattle than with any other franchise.
The problem is that his most productive years were behind him before arriving in Seattle.
His five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections happened in other uniforms.
Still, Ricky Watters had three-straight seasons with more than 1,200 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving with the Seahawks.
His final full year, in 2000, yielded more than 1,850 yards from scrimmage. He had 26 touchdowns in his four seasons as a Seahawk—a number Alexander would eclipse in one season.
Mack Strong, FB: 1993
9 of 12Mack Strong came to the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent from Georgia.
He played his entire 15-year career with Seattle, busting open holes for the likes of Chris Warren, Ricky Watters and Shaun Alexander.
Strong was selected to his first of two consecutive Pro Bowls following the 2005 season, which was his lone AP All-Pro year.
Known to the 12th Man as "Mack," the rest of the NFL knew him as one of the best blocking fullbacks to play in the NFL.
A herniated disc in his neck ended his career in 2007.
Patrick Kerney, LB: 2007
10 of 12While Patrick Kerney's productive years were limited in Seattle, it doesn't negate the impact he had while on the field.
He came to the Seahawks from the Atlanta Falcons and set a career high with 14.5 sacks in his first season.
Kerney was not able to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl due to injury. His body wasn't quite the same after his first year in Seattle.
He was also an All-Pro and named NFC Defensive Player of the Year following the 2007 season.
Kerney announced his retirement in April, 2010.
Kerney is this high on this list because of the importance of the signing at the time. He was a high-demand free agent at the height of his career.
Julian Peterson, LB: 2006
11 of 12Signing Julian Peterson in 2006 served two purposes.
Not only did they grab a dominating linebacker who would make the Pro Bowl all three seasons in Seattle—they stole him from a division rival.
"The Motor" had 249 tackles as a Seahawk.
His 24.5 sacks in three years were three more than he notched in six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Peterson also had three interceptions.
The Seahawks traded him to the Detroit Lions for Cory Redding and a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.
Chad Brown, LB: 1997
12 of 12Chad Brown was coming off an All-Pro year and was considered the best defensive free agent on the market in 2007.
The Seahawks made him their top priority.
Dennis Erickson made sure he secured the former Pittsburgh Steeler, flying him to Seattle as soon as free agency began.
He signed a six-year contract with a $7 million signing bonus.
Randy Mueller, then vice president of football operations, stated “there’s no question this is the best signing we’ve ever had.”
Brown made two Pro Bowl teams in Seattle, and had one of his two All-Pro seasons (1998) as a Seahawk.
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