While Russell Okung mulls offers, Seahawks sign LT Bradley Sowell as possible backup/contingency
As Russell Okung mulls which free-agent offer to sign, the Seahawks are moving to backfill at offensive tackle with possible options should he leave.
Seattle and free-agent tackle Bradley Sowell have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, according to an ESPN report Monday.
The reason the deal for the 26-year old who has played for Arizona Cardinals the last three seasons is so short and relatively inexpensive: Sowell hasn’t started a game since Dec. 29, 2013. That was the end of his 12 consecutive starts for the Cardinals at left tackle. Those are the only 12 starts of his four-year career.
At that price and pedigree, the 6-foot-7, 316-pound Sowell could end up being more the replacement for Alvin Bailey. The Seahawks backup the last couple seasons signed last week with Cleveland. It depends on whether Okung’s shopping brings him back to an offer from Seattle or leads him to sign one of the offers he reportedly has from the New York Giants, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. Okung, representing himself in contract talks, visited all three of those teams last weekend.
If Okung leaves the Seahawks could move last season’s starting right tackle Garry Gilliam to left tackle. Sowell could then compete with Gilliam for time at left tackle or potentially Justin Britt on the right side. Britt started his rookie season of 2014 at right tackle then started at left guard in 2015. Seattle’s coaches like what they’ve seen from 2015 rookie guard Mark Glowinski and seemed eager by the end of last season to give him an opportunity for a starting job. Glowinski’s prospects brightened more last week when starting right guard J.R. Sweezy signed a free-agent contract with Tampa Bay.
Oakland free agent J’Marcus Webb tweeted Saturday he was heading to Seattle to visit and talk possibilities. Webb has played guard and tackle for the Raiders.
The Seahawks are likely to continue stocking up on their iffy offensive line through next month’s draft -- and into the summer. The regime of general manager John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll and line coach Tom Cable have selected 12 offensive linemen in the six drafts they’ve led in Seattle. The first was Okung, the league’s sixth-overall pick in 2010.
Whatever and on whomever they end up deciding, the Seahawks are far from done adding and subtracting on their line.
This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "While Russell Okung mulls offers, Seahawks sign LT Bradley Sowell as possible backup/contingency."