Which in-house free agents should the Seattle Seahawks re-sign?

The Seattle Seahawks will have 31 free agents — unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights -- when the new NFL league year begins March 17. So who will re-sign? Who signs elsewhere? And who will the Seahawks let walk?

Here is Seattle P-I’s guess for the future of each of the Seahawks’ 2021 free agents:

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

*Unrestricted free agents have four or more accrued NFL seasons. They are completely free to sign with another team

Linebacker K.J. Wright
Re-sign? Yes

In his age-31 season, Wright (once again) showed us how indispensable he is for the Seahawks. He moved to strongside linebacker in 2020 to help the team, and became the only player in the NFL with 10-plus tackles for loss and 10-plus passes defensed in the past season.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin
Re-sign? No

Irvin’s second stint with the Seahawks was cut short in Week 2 with a torn ACL this past season, and it may not make sense to try for a third go-round. A deal worth around the veteran minimum may work for the 31 year old, sure. But Wright took control of the SAM spot in 2020 (with rookie Jordyn Brooks settling in at weakside). Even if Wright walked, finding a younger outside linebacker to fill the hole could be the priority.

Cornerback Quinton Dunbar
Re-sign? Yes

Dunbar’s first and only season with the Seahawks was a big disappointment; an armed robbery investigation marred his offseason, and he played just six games before a season-ending knee injury landed him on Injured Reserve. But Seattle could start from scratch at outside cornerback this offseason. A healthy Dunbar on a team-friendly contract could add to the competition for 2021.

Tight end Jacob Hollister
Re-sign? Yes

Hollister was a productive contributor for the Seahawks in a deep tight end room in 2020.

Defensive end Benson Mayowa
Re-sign? Yes

In his second stint with the Seahawks, Mayowa was a highly-effective pass rusher in a defense that became elite by the end of the 2020 season.

Running  back Carlos Hyde
Re-sign? No

Hyde was a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in his career in 2019, but he only appeared in 10 games for the Seahawks this past season, rushing for less than 400 yards as the No. 2 running back. He’s approaching his age-31 season at a dispensable position in running back.

Left guard Mike Iupati
Re-sign? No

Iupati has been the Seahawks’ starting left guard for the past two seasons, but health became an issue in 2020,  as he missed six games between a back and neck injury.  With Iupati entering his age-34 season, it may be best to move on and go young at this spot.

Offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi
Re-sign? Yes

Ogbuehi, a former first-round pick, played well as a fill-in offensive tackle in eight appearances, including four starts, in 2020.

Quarterback Geno Smith 
Re-sign? Yes

Smith has been Russell Wilson’s backup for the past two seasons. Unless Smith feels that he can sign with a team where he has a chance to compete in a less stable quarterback room, he should be back in Seattle.

Cornerback Neiko Thorpe
Re-sign? No

Thorpe has been a special teams leader and a fan favorite in Seattle the past few seasons, but he’s played a combined 10 games the last two due to injury.

Center Ethan Pocic
Re-sign? Yes

Pocic, a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2017, had his breakout year in 2020 as the starting center after being used primarily as a backup guard in his first few years in the NFL.

Fullback/special teamer Nick Bellore
Re-sign? Yes

Bellore has been one of the Seahawks’ best special teamers since signing with the club in 2019. He was a Pro-Bowl special teamer this past season.

Tight end Luke Willson
Re-sign? No

Willson is beloved by Carroll and a longtime fan favorite in Seattle, but he’s limited offensively.

Defensive end Branden Jackson
Re-sign? No

Jackson may not play football again due to a spinal condition.

Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett
Re-sign? Yes

Dorsett never suited up for the Seahawks in 2020 due to a foot injury, but why not run it back with another veteran-minimum deal? Seattle has nothing to lose. The team is need of receiver depth behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Defensive end Damontre Moore
Re-sign? Yes

Moore, in his second stint with the Seahawks in 2020, missed six games due to suspension. But he was a core special teamer and an effective situational pass rusher.

Defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard
Re-sign? No

Bullard appeared in six games with the Seahawks this past season after being signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad.

Safety Damarious Randall
Re-sign? No

Randall, a former first-round pick of the Packers, played just 3% of the Seahawks’ defensive snaps and 15% of the special teams last season in 10 games.

Wide receiver David Moore
Re-sign? Yes

Moore agreed to a restructured contract for 2020 to help the Seahawks from a salary cap standpoint, and could have reaffirmed that he should be invested in with his play. The former Division II standout made some of the most impressive catches of Seattle’s season.

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin
Re-sign? No

Griffin, a starting outside cornerback for the Seahawks since his rookie year in 2017, took a step back from a health and performance standpoint this past season after making the Pro Bowl in 2019. It’s possible that Seattle and the former third-round pick won’t see eye to eye on his market value during free agency.

Safety Lano Hill
Re-sign? No

Hill, a third-round pick in 2017, has appeared in fewer games for the Seahawks each year of his career.
 
Running back Chris Carson
Re-sign? Yes

There will be cheaper options available at running back during free agency. But knowing how much Carroll wants to get back to running the ball more and more effectively in 2021, maybe the Seahawks make a strong effort to re-sign the franchise’s best tailback since Marshawn Lynch.

RESTRICTED

* Restricted free agents have three accrued seasons but less than four. If a restricted free agent is tendered a qualifying offer, his original team has the right of first refusal and may receive draft compensation if the player signs elsewhere.

Defensive tackle Poona Ford
Re-sign? Yes

Ford, undrafted out of Texas in 2018, has been a full-time starter for the Seahawks the past two seasons. He could turn into a legitimate star.

Linebacker Shaquem Griffin
Re-sign? No

Griffin has special teams value for the Seahawks, but after three years with the team, he doesn’t appear to have a future in the defense.

Guard Jordan Simmons
Re-sign? Yes

Simmons posted career highs in appearances, starts and snaps as the Seahawks’ top reserve guard in 2020.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS

*Exclusive rights free agents have less than three accrued seasons. A player with exclusive rights can only re-sign with his original team if he’s extended a minimum salary tender. 

Defensive back Ryan Neal
Tender? Yes

Neal, who began his NFL career as a fringe 53-man roster player, was one of the best stories on the Seahawks this past season. He appeared in 13 games, which included four impressive starts filling in for an injured Jamal Adams.

Nose tackle Bryan Mone
Tender? Yes

Mone is the Seahawks’ best nose tackle option behind Ford. He becomes all the more important if Ford goes elsewhere, but he figures to be a priority to tender regardless.

Cornerback Linden Stephens
Tender? Yes

Stephens made 13 appearances for the Seahawks in 2020, appearing in 36% of special teams snaps.

Guard/center Kyle Fuller
Tender? Yes

Fuller was the Seahawks’ No. 2 center in 2020.

Running back Patrick Carr
Tender? No

Carr spent all of 2020 on Injured Reserve. He went undrafted out of Houston.

Cornerback Jayson Stanley
Tender? Yes

Stanley appeared in 29% of the Seahawks’ special teams in 2020, despite appearing in just eight games.