Seattle Seahawks free agent signing: the Blair Walsh Project
One can nearly imagine the free agency frenzy in the National Football League being announced in much the same way the draft is announced. Roger Goodell steps to the microphone and says, “With the first signing of this year’s 2017 class, the Seattle Seahawks add…Blair Walsh.”
Wait. What?
Blair Walsh? The same kicker cut by the Minnesota Vikings in November after he had missed eight kicks (including four of 19 extra points) in 2016? The same kicker who missed an extremely short – too short? – field goal that basically put an end to the Vikings season against the Seahawks in the playoffs? Yes, the same Blair Walsh.
Seahawks fans have a right to question the move. But why did Seattle make it? Here are two possibilities.
The Seahawks want to push kicker Steven Hauschka to be better
Hauschka has been Pro Bowl-quality during his time in Seattle. He has been consistent on field goals, even on those longer than 50. In the last two seasons, Hauschka is seven for seven on kicks beyond 50 yards. The problem comes two fold. First, Hauschka missed more extra points than field goals this past season. Secondly, the timing of his missed kicks was very bad. He missed a short field goal that would have beaten the Arizona Cardinals in overtime in the first meeting between the Cardinals and Seattle last season, and then he missed an extra point that would have given the Seahawks a one-point lead very late in the teams’ second meeting. By the end of the season, the once reliable Hauschka was extremely shaky with extra points. For a team that has championship aspirations, any slight weakness can make the difference between that team being a top seed in the playoffs or a fourth seed. Kicking in professional football cannot be a weakness for a good team.
AROUND COVER32
Rankings: Breaking down the NFL’s best coaching hires
Mock Draft:: Post Super Bowl 2017 NFL Mock Draft
NFL Draft:: Five FCS players to watch for in the draft
A few million dollars can make a big difference
The Seahawks have quite a bit of cap room (a little north of 27 million dollars, according to Over The Cap). Hauschka could receive three million dollars or more in free agency. While the contract specifics are unknown for Walsh, likely he signed a contract around one million dollars. This, in essence, saves Seattle money. Plus, prior to 2016, Walsh was almost every bit as good as Hauschka. In Walsh’s rookie year of 2012, he was ten for ten on field goals beyond 50 years. While he digressed as his career has moved on, Walsh still has a strong leg. The problem Walsh started having is the same as Hauschka: missing extra points. In terms of money, when Hauschka signs a new contract it may be three times worth what Walsh’s is. Is Hauschka three times the better kicker than Hauschka?
The signing of Walsh does not ultimately mean the end of Hauschka being Seattle’s kicker. Free agents can start being wined and dined by teams other than the one they have been playing with starting March 9. If Hauschka gets an offer that Seattle does not want to match, Walsh could be the next Seahawks kicker. If the market does not show much love for Hauschka, there is every chance he could return to the Seahawks. ESPN’s John Clayton says there is a “ten percent” chance that Hauschka is with Seattle in 2017.
The other aspect of this is that there is a possibility that neither Hauschka nor Walsh are Seattle’s kicker next year. Hauschka may sign elsewhere. Walsh might get cut. Seattle’s new kicker may either be in the N.F.L. already or newly out of college. Whatever happens, the Seahawks kicker in 2017 has to have the ability to make long kicks and make extra points. If Seattle does not find a kicker who can do that, the Seahawks will not be going back to the Super Bowl.
The post Seattle Seahawks free agent signing: the Blair Walsh Project appeared first on Cover32.
