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Seattle Seahawks: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

By The Sports Xchange
Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) autograph fans flags and jerseys before their NFL playoff Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on January 7, 2017. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) autograph fans flags and jerseys before their NFL playoff Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on January 7, 2017. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

Seattle Seahawks breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

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As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Seattle Seahawks must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 10-5-1 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Seahawks' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

Some retooling is necessary, but the Seahawks remain a team to contend with. The defense is still tough, especially at home, but the biggest difference has been the departure of running Marshawn Lynch and an offensive line with too much shuffling.

Still, a talent like Lynch makes a line look good, and the Seahawks are on the lookout for a back who can control a game and, most important, stay healthy.

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THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 1st in NFC West (10-5-1)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 357.2 (12th)

RUSHING: 99.4 (25th)

PASSING: 257.8 (10th)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 318.7 (5th)

RUSHING: 92.9 (7th)

PASSING: 225.8 (8th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

*=Vet who may be released or option not exercised

TOP THREE NEEDS

OFFENSIVE LINE

Inconsistency plagued Seattle all season. Outside of a strong season from Justin Britt, the rest of the group struggled. Help at both tackle positions is sorely needed. Line coach Tom Cable is being asked to perform miracles with an odd assortment.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

OT:

*Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati (36 in December, $9M)

*Russell Okung, Denver (29 in October, $10.6M)

Rick Wagner, Baltimore (28 in October, $576K)

Luke Joeckel, Jacksonville (G; 26 in November, $5.3M))

Matt Kalil, Minnesota (injury; 28 in July, $4.94M)

G/C:

Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati (G; 27 in March, $1.89M)

T.J. Lang, Green Bay (G/injury; 30 in September, $5.2M)

Ronald Leary, Dallas (G; 28 in April, $2.55M)

JC Tretter, Green Bay (C; 26, $644K)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

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OT:

1/14 Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin, 6-5, 314, 5.29, 1 (underclassman)

2/25 Cam Robinson, Alabama, 6-6, 310, 5.28, 1 (underclassman)

3/38 Garett Bolles, Utah, 6-5, 296, 4.97, 1-2 (underclassman)

OG:

1/33 Dan Feeney, Indiana, 6-4, 304, 5.09, 1-2

2/35 Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky, 6-4, 305, 5.12, 1-2

C:

1/64 Ethan Pocic, LSU, 6-6, 307, 5.18, 2

2/80 Pat Elflein, Ohio State, 6-2, 300, 5.22, 2-3

CORNERBACK

With DeShawn Shead a restricted free agent and having a torn ACL, and several unproven depth options, the Seahawks need to add some competition here.

UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)

A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)

Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)

Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)

Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)

Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)

Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville (28 in June, $5.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)

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2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)

3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)

5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 4.53, 1-2

RUNNING BACK

Seattle had to use 11 running backs during the 2016 season as injuries mounted. While Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise are promising when healthy, additional depth is required.

UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)

Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (25, $1.03M)

*Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (32 in March, $14M)

LeGarrette Blount, New England (31 in December, $1M)

Latavius Murray, Oakland (27, $567K)

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay (27 June, $848K)

Darren McFadden, Dallas (30 in August, $1.5M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/5 Dalvin Cook, Florida State, 5-11, 206, 4.43, 1 (underclassman)

2/9 Leonard Fournette, LSU, 6-1, 230, 4.45, 1 (underclassman)

3/24 Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 6-0, 202, 4.48, 1 (underclassman)

4/60 Alvin Kamara, Tennessee, 5-10, 215, 4.62, 2 (underclassman)

5/86 Joe Mixon, Oklahoma, 6-1, 226, 4.50, 3 (underclassman)

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UFA KEEPERS

K Steven Hauschka (32 in June, $2.85M)

TE Luke Willson (27, $585K)

LB Mike Morgan (29, $1M)

ROSTER REPORT

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Russell Wilson. Backup -- Trevone Boykin.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Thomas Rawls. Backups -- C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, *Troymaine Pope, Terrence Magee, J.D. McKissic, FB Marcel Reece (UFA), *FB Will Tukuafu (UFA), *FB Tre Madden, *FB Brandon Cottom.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Jimmy Graham. Backups -- Luke Willson (UFA), Nick Vannett, Brandon Williams (UFA), *Ronnie Shields, *Joe Sommers.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Doug Baldwin, *Tyler Lockett. Backups -- Jermaine Kearse, Paul Richardson, Tanner McEvoy, Kasen Williams, *Tyler Slavin.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT George Fant, LG Mark Glowinski, C Justin Britt, RG Germain Ifedi, RT Garry Gilliam. Backups -- T Bradley Sowell (UFA), T/G Rees Odhiambo, C Joey Hunt.

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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE Cliff Avril, NT Ahtyba Rubin, 3T Jarran Reed, RE Michael Bennett. Backups -- DE Frank Clark, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Tony McDaniel (UFA), DT John Jenkins (UFA), *DE Quinton Jefferson, *DE Damontre Moore (UFA), *DT Garrison Smith, *DE Tavaris Barnes.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB K.J. Wright, MLB Bobby Wagner, SLB Mike Morgan (UFA). Backups -- Kevin Pierre-Louis, Brock Coyle, Dewey McDonald, Ronald Powell.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Richard Sherman, RCB DeShawn Shead, *FS Earl Thomas, SS Kam Chancellor. Backups -- CB Jeremy Lane, CB DeAndre Elliott, CB Neiko Thorpe (UFA), S Steven Terrell, S Kelcie McCray (UFA), S Jeron Johnson (UFA), *CB Mohammed Seisay, *CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Steven Hauschka (UFA), P Jon Ryan, *LS Nolan Frese, *KR/PR Tyler Lockett, KR/PR Devin Hester, LS Tyler Ott.

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