The Seahawks continued the makeover of their protection Friday by agreeing to phrases with free agent defensive again Julian Love, previously of the New York Giants.
Love’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed that he has agreed to phrases with the Seahawks. ESPN initially reported Love agreed to a two-year deal value as much as $12 million.
Love was amongst three defensive gamers visiting the Seahawks this week. Seattle additionally signed one of many different guests, linebacker Devin Bush. The opposite was defensive again Lonnie Johnson.
The 24-year-old Love began 16 video games at security for the Giants a yr in the past however has additionally performed considerably as a nickel nook.
In keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, Love performed 494 snaps in 2022 at free security, 154 as a nickel nook and 271 within the field, or basically lined up as a linebacker.
That Love has proven loads of versatility might imply Seattle sees him as a candidate to assist out at nickel or within the three-safety appears to be like that the Seahawks have begun to make use of so much the final two years, and significantly in 2022.
Love may very well be insurance coverage if Jamal Adams doesn’t make it again in time for the beginning of the common season from a knee harm he suffered within the season-opener a yr in the past towards Denver.
Seattle might additionally view Adams as enjoying extra as a weakside linebacker when he returns — apart from Bush, the Seahawks have completed little to deal with their inside linebacking place to date.
Love’s addition could spur hypothesis about the way forward for Adams, who has three years remaining on a four-year, $72 million contract signed in 2021.
Adams just lately had $2.56 million of his $11 million base wage for 2023 change into assured. And if he had been to be launched earlier than June 1, the crew would take a $23 million lifeless cap hit with no wage cap financial savings. Nonetheless, Adams may very well be designated a post-June 1 minimize and save $8.4 million towards the cap whereas taking a $9.6 million lifeless cap hit (that means, cap dedicated to a participant now not on the crew).
Adams has already earned $35.4 million on that contract, and has performed simply 13 video games since signing it.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll stated on the NFL scouting mix in February that the crew is optimistic Adams can be prepared for the beginning of the 2023 season however famous there may be nonetheless a protracted highway forward in his restoration.
“He’s making his progress,” Carroll stated. “He’s doing his stuff. We’ll see him within the subsequent week or so in individual, so we’re anxious to get related with him. However when he got here out and visited with our guys and checked in, all the pieces was going the way in which it was imagined to go. It is a troublesome restoration. We went via this with Jimmy (Graham), so we’ve been via it earlier than. It’s actually intricate, they’ve received to do a very good job. Once more, it’s all the time that you simply’ve received to keep away from the setbacks. As long as we will try this, he must be on schedule to get again.”
Seattle additionally has Quandre Diggs at free security and earlier this week positioned a right-of-first-refusal tender on Ryan Neal, who began 10 video games at security final yr within the absence of Adams.
Love was a 2019 fourth-round decide, No. 108 general, by the Giants out of Notre Dame. He was largely a situational and particular groups participant his first three years earlier than turning into a full-time starter final season.
Professional Soccer Focus rated Love because the sixth-best security out there in free company and probably the most underrated of that group.
“Love was a full-time starter in 2022 and, in flip, delivered a career-best 70.9 PFF protection grade,” PFF wrote. “A more-than-capable tackler, Love has missed simply 7.9% of his profession makes an attempt. This previous season, he tied for fourth amongst all safeties with 30 tackles leading to a defensive cease.”
Love is the fifth exterior free agent Seattle has added for the reason that free agent signing interval started Monday, 4 of whom are defensive gamers — Love, Bush, and defensive linemen Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed. Seattle additionally added heart Evan Brown.
