Seattle Seahawks: 6 Recently Released Players the Hawks Should Consider Signing

The Seahawks roster is finished undergoing the first cuts of the 2011 preseason, and they've been making moves; already trading Kelly Jennings to the Bengals as they make changes for the last preseason game.

Various veterans have already been linked to Seattle and with the release of many other players around the league, a few more could make sense as the Seahawks look to fill holes. 

While there's no guarantee Seattle signs any players before Friday's game, head coach Pete Carroll is already saying they need more reps as it is to evaluate their talent.

Seattle's front office is known for taking a no-stone-unturned approach; here are six guys to keep an eye on in the coming days. 

Andre Gurode, C/G

Unwilling to restructure his $5.5 million salary for 2011, Gurode decided to part ways with the Dallas Cowboys; Gurode was contacted by six teams and chose to visit Seattle first. The center is a five-time Pro Bowler and was coached by Tom Cable in college.

Gurode has played center but can also play guard, theoretically allowing for Max Unger to move around and find a comfortable position. 

The big question here is health, as Gurode had knee surgery in June and was beaten out for the starting center spot in Dallas; he arrived to camp and was put on the PUP list, Dallas citing his injury as a factor in his release--but he hasn't missed a start in three years. 

As Seattle invested in Chester Pitts in 2010, (a guard in his early 30's coming off microfracture knee surgery, a worse surgery than Gurode's arthroscopic procedure), it's worth wondering if this is the right move for Seattle.

The Seahawks' second unit has been solid this preseason and presumably they have depth to try on the first team...such as Breno Giacomini splitting reps with James Carpenter in practice. 

The line is extremely young and one abbreviated off-season is not an adequate amount of time to judge whether they can gain continuity.

Seattle must weigh potential, price and health; the upside being it's not as though adding Gurode would disrupt the continuity that Seattle's line has gained thus far; the downside is overpaying for a Pro Bowl player who can't recover enough to contribute consistently for a young line.

Gurode left Seattle without a deal; Zach Miller arrived and never left. I think it's possible they were far apart in terms, and Seattle needs health on the offensive line--already having to endure losing Okung this preseason.

The front office has shown they will spend big for free agents they value highly, and look for value in many other cases.

Gurode has been to five straight Pro Bowls; it's possible he finds better money elsewhere, given Seattle's already significant investment on the offensive line. I wouldn't rule it out, but I think it's unlikely he makes it back to Seattle.  

Jovan Haye, DL

Haye reportedly put on 45 pounds, to get up to 315, to try and find a spot in the Titans new defense; he was released and a bit blindsided by the move after playing with the first team to this point.

Haye has missed only four games the past four seasons, his best season coming as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer in 2007; he recorded six sacks for a defense that had both Gus Bradley and Todd Wash on the staff.

We already saw the organization give former Buccaneer Ryan Sims a chance, a player whose ties to Tampa Bay and Wash were cited as a reason for his signing; Jimmy Wilkerson's signing followed a similar logic, as he had 11 sacks in two years under the direction of Wash.

Haye was slated to make $3 million in 2011, which could have played into his release. His durability and production in the presence of Wash and Bradley make Haye an intriguing fit, especially if Seattle is looking for veteran size and versatility up front.

A situation similar to Gurode, the price may not match the fit; but Haye's familiarity with the former Buccaneers coaches could put him on the Seahawks' radar. 

Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB

Gholston came into the league with high expectations as a top 10 pick in the 2008 draft, but he has failed to live up to expectations.

Gholston was a defensive end/outside linebacker type who came into the league with impressive combine numbers and physical tools at 6'3", 266.

He had 22 sacks in his final two years in college, but zero in the pros. His intrigue lies in the fact that he could be had for a minimum price; especially now that he was signed by the Bears and cut during the 2011 preseason. 

With Aaron Curry no longer an experiment as a pass rusher, Dexter Davis yet to make an impact and struggling with a hip injury, and Jameson Konz still looking for a role on this team, does a player like Gholston make some sense?

Gholston drew negative attention when he left New York, after saying Rex Ryan didn't give him a "chance;" given the fact that Gholston saw some time playing the "leo" end position at Ohio State (citing in this interview he knows the type of player he can be given the "right" role) the Seahawks should at least explore giving Gholston a chance.

He's potentially worth the one-game flyer, especially if Davis remains hurt.   

Mike Karney, FB

Karney was released before the lockout, but the former All-Pro fullback belongs on the list. He played with the Saints until 2009 before going to St. Louis; who recently parted ways with him as they transition to Josh McDaniels' one-back, passing-oriented offense. 

Listed at 5'11," 268 pounds, Karney is a guy with blocking abilities who would be an asset for the Seahawks.

He had a physical with the team earlier in training camp and it was rumored that he would sign; he hoped he would sign. The Seahawks went elsewhere, opting to see if they had depth on the roster.

However, Karney reportedly felt that the meeting went well and Seattle was hoping to develop a couple of young players; if that didn't workout, he thought he could be back as a member of the team.

He reportedly wants to come to Seattle on one-year deal. As Michael Robinson has not been much of a receiving threat out of the backfield, they'd provide a similar skill set if both on the roster. Tom Cable carried two fullbacks on his Oakland roster heading into the 2009 season.

With the injury to John Carlson and Cameron Morrah on the PUP list, they potentially have nearly two months to keep both guys on the roster to evaluate.

Seattle has gotten contributions from tight ends Anthony McCory and Dominque Byrd throughout training camp and the preseason, and now can delay a decision on whether to carry four tight ends; could Karney be a Jim Kleinsasser-type for Darrell Bevell?

Karney played high school football in the Seattle area and his blocking presence would be welcomed. Robinson's run blocking has been okay, but he provides leadership and versatility to the team.

The bottom line is Karney wants to come to Seattle and the team may benefit from carrying both him and Robinson, if that's possible, unless the intent is to replace Robinson.

With the offensive line struggles, Carlson going down and Karney wanting a one-year deal (he's coming off two longer-term deals that he's been released from) this move is a possibility; one that at the least gives Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable another explosive blocker to implement into the offense. 

Anthony Gray, DT

Gray was a player I previously highlighted as a potential undrafted free agent pickup; he was signed and released by the Steelers.

Gray was a three-year all-conference player at Southern Miss; a stout, powerful nose tackle checking in at an uncharacteristically short 5'11", but a hefty 330 pounds. He is explosive off the ball, but struggles with his a consistent get off.

When his motor is running, he is a force to be reckoned with; the knock on him throughout the draft process was that it's hard to get him going. He did answer questions at his body type and strength with solid pro day numbers.

I don't necessarily think his failure with the Steelers is representative of his NFL potential; a high-energy, welcoming organization such as the Seahawks could be the right place for Gray. 

Gray could be given a game to show he has the ability to plug the middle and push the pocket adequately enough to be a practice squad member, a project at nose tackle; if there is even room for him on an already crowded defensive line.   

Marc Schiechl, DE/OLB

Schiechl is another undrafted free agent I highlighted after the draft, a production monster; an all-time D-II record 46 sacks and 70.5 tackles for loss to his credit.

A smart, hard working and versatile outside linebacker-defensive end type, Schiechl proved with his pro day numbers that he has the athleticism and strength that NFL teams covet, paired with his D-II production.  

He was signed by the Jaguars and registered a tackle in two preseason games, but then released. He proved in his college highlights to be a violent and impressively dominant player against lesser competition.

His work ethic is one the Seahawks could take a chance on. He has the production and physical tools to back it up, a high-effort player who could make things interesting for a guy like Dexter Davis; at the least, show enough promise to earn a spot on the practice squad or in the Rolodex.