Seattle Seahawks: What Is Their Real Need at Linebacker in the 2012 NFL Draft?

The Seattle Seahawks opted to let David Hawthorne leave during free agency. Leroy Hill played well last season, particularly in run support, but still isn't signed. This has left an apparent hole in the linebacker corps, and left many fans clamoring for Luke Kuechly with the 12th selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.

The valuation of the middle linebacker position in Seattle's defensive scheme would make this selection a reach, though. It also ignores the possibility that Seattle already has a plan in place at middle linebacker.

General manager John Schneider has made it clear the team will do everything it can to tie up their own players that are critical to their success, witnessed by the long-term contracts given to Marshawn Lynch and Red Bryant. Seattle's willingness to let Hawthorne walk is reflective of two items.

First, Hawthorne lacks the speed and instincts to be effective in Seattle's pass defense. He had difficulty getting out on tight ends and running backs he was responsible for in passing routes, leading to several big passing plays.

The other reason Hawthorne's value wasn't as high as many fans believe is that the middle linebacker will have inflated tackling stats in this defense. The heart of Seattle's run defense is standing up offensive linemen and blocking run lanes. The defensive linemen will be recipients of some of these tackles, but the idea is the back three of the front seven, and particularly the middle linebacker, will fill the remaining gaps and finish plays.

Hawthorne was solid in that role, but certainly wasn't elite. I've often asserted that Aaron Curry would have led the team in tackles had he been starting at "Mike."

Looking forward, it is possible there is another reason Kuechly isn't on the radar of the Seahawks. Seattle could already have come to terms with their future Mike linebacker.

Yes, Barrett Ruud is signed under a one-year deal, but Seattle could have other ideas for him. He may be best served taking over for Hill on the outside.

There is another free-agent middle linebacker with a positive outlook but that has been under the radar to this point. Larry Grant, a restricted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, was given an original-round tender. According to the NFL's CBA, a team must surrender their seventh-round draft pick (or better) to the 49ers to sign him.

The issue facing the Seattle Seahawks is they traded their Round 7 pick to acquire Tyler Polumbus. To sign Grant, they would either need to surrender their sixth-round pick in 2012 or acquire a seventh-round pick at, or higher than, 12th in the round.

There is a third option, though. Two days prior to the draft, picks revert to 2013. However, offer sheets have to be signed by April 20th. There is a slim chance a team could time the offer to reach the former club inside the two-day window.

Article 9, Section 2(b)4 of the CBA states:

"

(i)  Promptly upon but no later than two business days after the signing of any Restricted Free Agent to a Player Contract, or the extending to any Restricted Free Agent of a Qualifying Offer, the signing or  extending Club shall notify the NFL, which shall notify the NFLP A of such signing or offer.

"

April 20th is a Friday. Should a team and a restricted free agent sign the agreement on the 20th, they would have until April 24th to submit the paperwork. By timing the submission, the player's current team would not be notified of the transaction until they were inside the two-day window.

Thus, by sitting on the agreement with the player's agent, the Seahawks could acquire Grant using a seventh-round pick from 2013.

This may be a stretch, but little else makes sense with Grant. He's a quality backup for the 49ers and showed some solid capacity when pushed into starting action. He was almost a one-man show when he came into Seattle.

There are also several other restricted free agents that were expected to be signed. Short of accusations of collusion, there are few other explanations on why players are not being signed.

Grant is well worth surrendering a seventh-round pick and $5-6 million over two or three years. There is little sense in him not being signed to this point, leaving one to wonder what might be transpiring with his suitors.

Seattle has played against Grant more than any other team (except Arizona), as he has spent the last three-plus seasons with San Francisco and the St. Louis Rams. They have seen the skill set that could make him a very good linebacker in their system.

It will be interesting to see if there is a flurry of restricted free agent transactions on April 24th...and if the Seahawks' signing of Grant is one of them.