Pairing Seahawks Coaching Candidates With Priority Free Agents to Re-Sign

Once the Seattle Seahawks decide on a new head coach, the choice will have a domino effect on which free agents return in March and the roster-building process as a whole. Which pending free agents would be the best fit for six remaining candidates?

With Pete Carroll transitioning to an advisory role, the Seattle Seahawks will have a new commander on the sidelines for the first time since 2010 and have remained patient during a critical coaching search this far.

While general manager John Schneider's main focus remains on finding Carroll's successor, the renowned executive has plenty of other tasks on his plate as well. With free agency a little over a month away, he and the rest of Seattle's front office must put together a plan for which players they hope to bring back and which outside free agents they may make a run at after the new league year opens on March 13.

Since Schneider has full control over personnel decisions for the first time, the process likely won't play out quite the same as it did for the past 14 years with Carroll heavily involved. As is typically the case, a new coach coming onboard will also change the dynamics, and depending on who receives the job, different free agents may be prioritized based on a variety of factors.

Looking at six candidates who remain in the hunt to replace Carroll, which of the Seahawks pending free agents would be the best fit to re-sign? Considering scheme, past ties, and other factors, here are six free agents who would be the right pair with each coach.

Ben Johnson, Lions Offensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Evan Brown

While it might make sense for Johnson to want to bring back a skill position player, Brown started 12 games at guard and center for the Lions during his first season calling plays. Logging 768 total snaps, he allowed only two sacks protecting Jared Goff and earned a respectable 69.5 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Even if he wasn't guaranteed a starting job returning on another one-year deal battling against Olu Oluwatimi again or sliding to one of the guard spots, his presence would provide some much-needed familiarity for Seattle's offensive line installing a new offensive system.

Bobby Slowik, Texans Offensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Damien Lewis

Unlike Johnson, none of Seattle's free agents have previously played for Slowik, who only has one year of offensive coordinator experience under his belt. But his priorities would likely be the same with the goal of building a quality offensive line to protect Geno Smith or whoever ends up playing quarterback next season running his offense. Though the price may be tough to match with a four-year starter hitting the open market, bringing back a steady starter who will turn just 27 years old in March would make a lot of sense from a stability standpoint as a first-time head coach tries to get his offense humming in the Pacific Northwest.

Mike Kafka, Giants Offensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Noah Fant

Heralding from the Andy Reid coaching tree, Kafka knows a thing or two about implementing tight ends into the passing game. Even as the Giants floundered to a 30th ranked offense last season, Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger combined to catch 77 passes for 807 yards while mostly being thrown to by undrafted rookie Tommy Devito and journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor. Fant never truly blossomed in Seattle's offense with Shane Waldron at the controls, but he averaged nearly 13 yards per reception in 2023 and he's still only 26 years old. Kafka may be the coach necessary to finally unlock his potential in a scheme built for tight end productivity.

Dan Quinn, Cowboys Defensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Bobby Wagner

Coming back to familiar stomping grounds, Quinn has typically prioritized experience at linebacker and in his return to Seattle, it wouldn't be surprising at all for him to prefer re-signing Wagner as the leader of his defense in the middle. During his two seasons previously playing for Quinn as a defensive coordinator, he received MVP votes in 2014 and earned a First-Team All-Pro selection. Set to turn 34 in July, nobody would expect that type of play at this stage of his career, but after leading the NFL in tackles last season, he remains a quality defender who commands the respect of coaches and teammates on and off the field.

Patrick Graham, Raiders Defensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Leonard Williams

With the football savvy Graham calling plays, Williams enjoyed arguably the best season of his career with the Giants in 2020, setting career-bests in sacks (11.5) and quarterback hits (30) for a ninth-ranked scoring defense. Though the defense as a whole regressed, he remained highly productive the following season with 6.5 sacks and a career-high 81 tackles as his coach got the best out of him. Reuniting Graham with Williams as well as safety Julian Love would allow the Seahawks to hit the ground running transitioning to a new defensive scheme and the two respected veterans would undoubtedly help the rest of the unit during that process.

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Mike Macdonald, Ravens Defensive Coordinator

Priority Free Agent: Jordyn Brooks

Being a first-time head coach, Macdonald wouldn't have any previous ties to a Seahawks free agent. However, looking at how he constructed the Ravens top-ranked scoring defense, he had two highly athletic playmaking linebackers in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen flying all over the field in the middle and occasionally coming after the quarterback as blitzers. Skill-wise, the 26-year old Brooks offers similar athletic traits to Queen and proved he can be a weapon as a blitzer with 4.5 sacks last season while making strides in coverage as well. With Macdonald preferring speed and quickness at the second level, he would be an ideal foundational piece to build around in an aggressive scheme.