Seattle Seahawks: A dozen internal free agents to bring back for 2022
Ed Stein
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Instead of looking at who isn’t coming back to Seattle Seahawks in 2022, we look at 12 internal free agents they should re-sign.
There has been plenty of discussion about who isn’t returning to the Seattle Seahawks next season. We ran an article Sunday about the end of the line for 10 current Seahawks. Let’s move the conversation back toward keeping some of the talent headed into free agency. Here are 12 internal free agents Seattle should bring back for 2022.
Restricted and Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Restricted free agent definitions from the NFL:
Restricted free agent (RFA): A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of the various qualifying offers (“tenders”) that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
Exclusive rights free agent (ERFA): Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Phil Haynes – G
Since the Seahawks drafted him in the fourth round of 2019, Phil Haynes has battled injuries. Much like Kyle Fuller, he’s a versatile player the Seattle Seahawks can plugin on the offensive line when needed. If Haynes can stay healthy, he might even supplant Fuller as the primary interior offensive line fill-in.
John Rhattigan – LB/ ST (ERFA)
If you’re a fan, you can’t help but root for Jon Rhattigan. He almost made the team as an undrafted free agent out of training camp. The Seahawks thought enough of the former Army star to sign him to their practice squad.
Injuries to other players got him on the roster for Week 1, where he excelled on special teams. Rhattigan embraced his role and played with passion and guts every time he took the field. Every locker room can use a Jon Rhattigan.
Blessuan Austin – CB (RFA)
Bless Austin is what he is, a backup talent who has decent cover skills. He works best as a dime defender in zone coverage. There is a place for that skill set in the modern NFL, and it isn’t very expensive.
Bryan Mone – DT (ERFA)
He might not get the attention as Poona Ford or Al Woods, but Bryan Mone is a big part of Seattle’s defensive line rotation. Last season he played in 14 games, with 5 starts. While he doesn’t excel in any particular part of the game, Mone is steady enough that Seattle doesn’t lose much either when he subs in.
Bryan Mone with an early sack! ?pic.twitter.com/zIFtiawraN
— Seahawks Nation (@12sNationCP) November 21, 2021