Seahawks fans got a moderately disappointing surprise on an evening most were not expecting much to happen here on the free agency front. Within hours of the market opening on Friday The Detroit Lions locked up former starting wide receiver Nate Burleson with a five year, $25 million dollar contract, and an $11 million bonus.
Burleson got the same move pulled on him as fellow free agent import DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. Much like how Head Coach Jim Schwartz showed up outside his community at 12 Eastern time the minute free agency began; offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was at the doorstep of Nate Burleson at 9 p.m. Pacific time to hammer out a deal.
I was somewhat shocked by the move, yes Burleson was a top unrestricted Free Agent, but I had assumed that the feeling was mutual in regards to Burleson staying in Seattle. I had assumed any reciever getting tossed out would be the ineffective Deion Branch.
Burleson said he would give the Seahawks a chance to match any offer, being a hometown kid, I am pretty sure he was sincere about it.
The reason behind not matching the Lions offer has become clear, and like I announced BEFORE EVERYONE well over a month ago, the Seattle Seahawks are very interested in obtaining the dynamic Denver Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall and a deal is likely to occur.
Burleson also tweeted this was going to happen some time ago. The reason he did not mention it might be him specifically that would be departing because the call was ultimately going to come between letting Burleson walk in free agency or the team cutting Deion Branch. Paul Allen’s pocketbook is far too deep for this to go down without the motive of acquiring one of the NFL's best Wide Receivers.
The Broncos only gave him a first round tender, not the maximum first and third they could have applied. Only because Adam Schefter says it better then I can: “this is just begging a team to sign him to an offer sheet”. Remember that just because he has a first round tender does not mean the Seahawks necessarily have to give a first rounder up to get him. The Broncos hold the discretion to accept something lower in a trade.
No destination is as plausible as Seattle for Marshall’s’ services, the Seahawks have desirable draft picks to barter with, players to jettison, and the deepest pockets in the sports world to give one of the NFL’s best receivers a long term deal. Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was also his offensive coordinator in Denver last season. Seahawks assistant Jedd Fisch has also previously worked with Marshall. Bates is said to have a giant man-crush on Marshall; who wouldn't want someone who has enjoyed tremendous success in your offense?
Marshall is Seattle bound on Saturday to see if both sides can hammer out an offer sheet. I want to clarify that signing Brandon Marshall to an offer sheet right away is probably not going to happen. Under the new CBA language the Seahawks will have to give up the No. 6 pick, not the lesser No. 14 pick they acquired from the very same Broncos last offseason. A seperate deal will likely be reached for lesser compensation with the Broncos. THEN the Seahawks will hammer out a deal more befitting for a guy mentioned in the same stratosphere as Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson. Tomorrow is probably going to be more of both sides getting a better grasp of things as far as money, roles, interest, etc.
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