Late FA tidbits from ESPN

[Trackhawk]

As long as you're paying him and not the team, I'm good with it!

While I’m not that flush with cash, I could probably be convinced to front half of it, and we could probably scrape up the other half with a fund drive here.

I’m just not sure that K9 would be willing to sign for it.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I don't believe this, but IF they were pursuing Garrett? Dayum.
Again, I'm NOT saying I believe it. Just passing on a rumor.

Proposed NFL Trade Has Seahawks Land $160 Million Player of the Year

This NFL trade rumor would be a big swing for the Seattle Seahawks.

heavy.com

 

[JustTheTip]

Seriously, I say keep politics out and the first four posts following mine integrate politics?

Let me help the more dense among us out. Asking about politics is talking about politics. Saying Democrat or Republican is talking politics. Saying current government and referring to elections is talking politics. Saying the tax is good or bad as a generality is talking politics.

The only part of tax discussion that is not politics is whether or not it will impact players wanting to come here.

The fact that I have to point any of that out is absurd, but here we are.

 

[onanygivensunday]

FWIW, there are only five (5) states currently w/o a state income tax... WA being one of them... with FL, TX, NV and TN being the others.

So, from a competitive advantage viewpoint, only the Dolphins, the Jaguars, the Buccaneers, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Titans have an advantage associated with no income tax.

To what degree a player decides to sign a contract based, in part, on state income tax is anybody's guess.

Imo, it's somewhat of a nothing-burger.

 

[gmor]

I think Coby should be back.

Since, Coby, does not really play one particular position 100 percent of the time, I think teams are unsure how much and how they can utilize his services to justify giving Coby a big contract. Seattle, and Macdonald, maybe one of the few teams that has a viable plan for Bryant and maybe Coby also does not want to leave even with more possibly a little more money.

I think once Julian Love calls it quits, and I think Love, will be done here in 2 years, Bryant, slides into that role.

I think Bryant stays, Walker walks.

I think there are very capable backs in this draft.

I think he should come back. He's effective because he blends in well with the other players on the team. He will have to develop all that chemistry again with a new one. However, it is all about the dollars for them.

 

[JPatera76]

You’re probably reading way too much into this. As spectacular as K9 can be on the field, he’s painfully awkward in front of a camera.

He seems pretty comfortable and relaxed infront of the camera on his YouTube channel for his off season workouts

 

[Appyhawk]

I think if 12 is the pricepoint K9 is still a Seahawk. Follow that next year with the same for Charbs. Best 1-2 punch in the league. They are brothers and that is a factor.

 

[Bear-Hawk]

Correct me if this is wrong, but it appears that Rams defensive backfield is getting better as ours is getting worse.

 

[kidhawk]

Walker really only became a big threat end of year. I'd rather keep our DBs than our RBs, honestly.

I’ve been saying how much I love Walker for a long time and I’ve also said I don’t want to overpay to keep him. I’d love to get him back but not at the top of the market. With that said, I need to defend him a bit here. You say that he didn’t really do much until near the end of the year, but he also wasn’t given the opportunity until the end of the year. K9 has always seemed to do more with more reps. He’s been splitting time with Charbs all season but the second he was handed the reins he proved his value as a full time RB.

 

[Trackhawk]

FWIW, there are only five (5) states currently w/o a state income tax... WA being one of them... with FL, TX, NV and TN being the others.

So, from a competitive advantage viewpoint, only the Dolphins, the Jaguars, the Buccaneers, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Titans have an advantage associated with no income tax.

To what degree a player decides to sign a contract based, in part, on state income tax is anybody's guess.

Imo, it's somewhat of a nothing-burger.

One also has to consider that many games, played by teams in no income tax states, are played in states with income taxes. That certainly doesn’t level the playing field completely, but it does have to be considered in the total compensation calculation.

Also, Washington’s property taxes are among the lowest in the nation. That would tend to be favorable to high income earners who might want to have a nice second home. Texas would not be an ideal destination in this regard.

Sales tax is the highest, among NFL locations, but a lot of that can be ameliorated by shopping across the border.

The best tax situation is the two Florida teams, and the Titans.

I can’t really find any data to support the supposition that this is a huge issue, although apparently, Tyreek Hill selected the Dolphins at least partly because of tax burden.

 

[Trackhawk]

I’ve been saying how much I love Walker for a long time and I’ve also said I don’t want to overpay to keep him. I’d love to get him back but not at the top of the market. With that said, I need to defend him a bit here. You say that he didn’t really do much until near the end of the year, but he also wasn’t given the opportunity until the end of the year. K9 has always seemed to do more with more reps. He’s been splitting time with Charbs all season but the second he was handed the reins he proved his value as a full time RB.

That may be because, when he was tasked with carrying a full load for an entire season, he wasn’t up to the task.

We don’t really know for sure.

I’m with you. I’d like to keep him, but he isn’t worth 14mil. 12 mil is an overpay, but I would probably live with it. His value is closer to 10, but he might be more valuable to the Hawks, depending on how things are progressing with our developmental backs.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Alec Pierce lands $116 million deal: WR staying with the Colts​

The first big news of the free agent tampering period is here: Alec Pierce is staying in Indianapolis.

Pierce was viewed as one of the top receivers on the market after a 2025 season that saw him lead the NFL in yards per reception (21.3). He also led the league in that same category in 2024.

The 25-year-old has agreed to terms on a four-year, $116 million contract that will pay him $29 million per year, according to Pat McAfee (That's right, McAfee broke the news). The deal includes $84 million in guaranateed money, according to NFL Media.

The deal makes Pierce the highest paid FREE AGENT receiver in NFL history. The only deals

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Falcons eyeing Tua Tagovailoa: Dolphins QB could end up in Atlanta​

We might not have to wait long to find out Tua's new team. The Falcons are making a strong push to get a deal done with Tua, according to NFL Media.

Under NFL rules, teams are allowed to contact a player if his team has announced that he's going to be released, so the Falcons are allowed to communicate with Tua's camp since the Dolphins announced this morning that they were going to release the QB. According to NFL Media, "a deal could come together soon."

Raiders re-sign Eric Stokes to $30 million deal​

CBS Sports NFL Insider Matt Zentiz reported this morning that the Raiders were making a strong push to keep Eric Stokes and it looks like they finally got a deal done with the cornerback.

Stokes as agreed to terms on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Raiders that includes $20 million in guaranteed money, according to NFL Media.

Stokes, who was a first-round pick in 2021, spent the first four seasons of his career in Green Bay before signing a one-year deal with the Raiders last year. Stokes was solid during his first year in Vegas, starting 16 games and he played well enough to earn an impressive extension.

Patriots finally add some pass-rushing help​

If there's one thing the Patriots absolutely needed to add this offseason, it was some pass-rushing help and they have officially started the process of filling that void. The team has agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal with Dre'Mont Jones.

Jones started the 2025 season with the Titans before being traded to the Ravens in November. He recorded a total of seven sacks last year, which was a career-high (4.5 came with Tennessee and 2.5 in Baltimore).

The Patriots will be the fifth team that Jones has played for since entering the NFL as a third-round pick with the Broncos in 2019.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

I’ve been saying how much I love Walker for a long time and I’ve also said I don’t want to overpay to keep him. I’d love to get him back but not at the top of the market. With that said, I need to defend him a bit here. You say that he didn’t really do much until near the end of the year, but he also wasn’t given the opportunity until the end of the year. K9 has always seemed to do more with more reps. He’s been splitting time with Charbs all season but the second he was handed the reins he proved his value as a full time RB.

I think a good portion of this has been the coming together of the front line to initiate holes for them to go thru. They even had room for Holani to get some yardage. Dont break the bank for him tho.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Rams' steal another member of the Chiefs' secondary​

Less than a week after acquiring Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs, the Rams have added ANOTHER Kansas City cornerback. Jaylen Watson is headed to Los Angeles after agreeing to terms on a three-year deal, according to ESPN.com.

Upgrading the secondary was one of Les Snead's biggest goals for L.A. this offseason and the Rams general manager has come through. Not only did Watson lead the Chiefs' in interceptions last year with two, but he also had the fourth-most sacks on the team.

Watson and McDuffie were both drafted by the Chiefs' in 2022, so they've been in the same secondary for their entire careers and that will continue in L.A. The Rams now have a cornerback tandem in place that should be the foundation of their secondary for at least the next three years.

 

[classicaaron]

Rams are starting to scare me

 

[SoulfishHawk]

We have our first big shocker of the day: The Colts are trading Michael Pittman to the Steelers.

Less than an hour after finalizing a $116 million extension with Alec Pierce, the Colts have decided to move on from Pittman, who led the team in receptions last season with 80. With Pierce landing such a huge contract, the Colts needed to free up some money and this trade will do that. By trading Pittman, Indy will free up $24 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap.

For the Steelers, this is a no-brainer move. They've been looking to find a receiver to pair with DK Metcalf and they finally have their guy in Pittman. Aaron Rodgers still hasn't decided whether he's playing this year, but with a one-two punch in Metcalf and Pittman, it's hard to see him not coming back after a 2025 season where he led Pittsburgh to an AFC North title.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Rams are starting to scare me

I get tired of being right. There is NO WAY the Rams are not cheating the cap. And just watch, they'll STILL pay POOka.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Dolphins have their QB: Malik Willis headed to Miami​

The player widely viewed as the top free agent quarterback on the market is no longer available. Malik Willis has agreed to terms on a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Dolphins that includes $45 million in fully guaranteed money, according to NFL Media.

The Dolphins announced early Monday that they would be cutting Tua Tagovailoa and it didn't take them much time to find his replacement. Willis only has six starts in his career and he's only thrown 89 passes over the past two seasons, but the Dolphins were still willing to roll the dice on him.

New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan both came from Green Bay, so they were extremely familiar with Willis' game after watching him spend two years with the Packers, and that's one big reason why Miami was likely willing to take the gamble on Willis.

 

[Hawk-Lock]

That's a pretty good deal for Malik Willis, I assumed he was going to get around 30 million per year. I know he hasn't proved much, but the going rate for QB's is pretty high. I was expecting similar to Darnold's contract.