James Carpenter: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent OG

James Carpenter finally seemed to find a comfort zone during the Seattle Seahawks' second straight run to the Super Bowl. The guard's increased level of play couldn't have come at a better time heading into free agency, and he reportedly will sign with the New York Jets.     

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Carpenter Reportedly Expected to Sign with Jets

Tuesday, March 10

"It'll be a four-year deal for OG James Carpenter and the Jets worth roughly $4.75M per year," reported Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin, citing a source, which supported an earlier report from Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo.

Carpenter was a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2011. He struggled to reach the high expectations associated with going that high in the draft. A lot of that was due to him being unable to keep his weight under control for extended stretches.

Eventually, the team moved him from tackle to guard. The switch wasn't an immediate success, but it did allow him to face less matchups with speed-rushers on the edge. That was a major area of concern early in his career.

This season, he was plugged in as the starting left guard. He played 13 games and showed some of the upside Seattle was expecting when it drafted him.

Ryan Divish of The Tuscaloosa News provided comments from the lineman, who talked about the 20 pounds he lost and his overall improvement: "I feel like it definitely paid off losing that weight. I feel healthy. I feel quicker. I feel like I'm a better player. ... I've improved a lot. I'm definitely a better player. I understand what it takes."

The question for teams is whether they think he can build off of his 2014 campaign. The outlook is certainly far more promising than it was one year ago. At 25, there's still plenty of time for him to showcase his value.

It starts with staying in shape. He looked far more agile on the interior without those extra pounds. Keeping them off has often been a tricky task, though. Teams may prefer a short-term contract as a result to ensure the motivation level doesn't change.

Ultimately, Carpenter could end up providing terrific value as a free agent. His signing just comes with some risk.