Deal for Oakland free agent J’Marcus Webb suggests Seahawks may see him as a tackle as well as guard

The Seahawks’ incremental steps to backfill the offensive line continue, this one apparently more expensive than the others.

Overnight into Tuesday morning Seattle agreed with Oakland free-agent guard J’Marcus Webb on a contract. The team announced in mid-afternoon Webb signed the deal. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported it is for two years and $6.5 million with $2.5 million guaranteed for a veteran who has played more tackle than guard in his six-year NFL career.

Webb confirmed he was now a Seahawk just after 6 a.m. Tuesday on his Twitter feed. Either that or he just likes posting random thoughts with the team’s logo and colors.

The reported money would make the 27-year-old Webb the Seahawks’ highest-paid offensive lineman, though with the way Seattle has cobbled together guys up front as undrafted free agents and converted defensive tackles that’s not saying a ton. Patrick Lewis is coming back this coming season as a restricted free agent with a tendered, $1.67 million contract. The starting center and now Webb are the only Seahawks offensive linemen scheduled to make over $1 million in 2016 -- at least for now.

Webb’s cash and guarantee suggest Seattle line coach Tom Cable may see him as a potential tackle as well as guard. Webb started 16 games last season for the Raiders, all at right guard. My former Oakland colleagues still there tell me the Raiders ran “decently” the first half of last season to Webb’s side. His pass protection, however, has been suspect.

Webb, 6 feet 7 and 335 pounds, was a seventh-round draft choice of Chicago in 2010. He started 12 games his rookie season at right tackle, then two full seasons at left tackle for the Bears. Chicago put him on waivers at the end of 2013’s training camp. Minnesota signed him and he started one game in two seasons for the Vikings, at right tackle. The Raiders signed him last spring and made him a one-year starter at guard.

Incidentally, Webb wore number 76 with Oakland. That’s been Russell Okung’s number in Seattle since he was the sixth overall pick in 2010’s draft. Okung is mulling offers from the Seahawks, Lions, Giants and Steelers in his self-guided free-agency tour.

As the Seahawks wait for that decision, they’ve signed former Arizona offensive tackle Bradley Sowell (one year, $1.5 million) and now the seemingly versatile Webb within 18 hours. The Seahawks lost starting right guard J.R. Sweezy to Tampa Bay (five years, $32.5 million) last week on the opening day of free agency.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Deal for Oakland free agent J’Marcus Webb suggests Seahawks may see him as a tackle as well as guard."