The Seattle Seahawks would do well to return cornerback Byron Maxwell to his post in 2018. Currently, he still remains among the team's free agents likely to be back next season but a deal hasn't gotten done yet. In fact, an update on the contract talks between Maxwell and the organization hasn't surfaced since mid-March, when it was made clear the two sides were working on a new deal by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

But, with the meat of free agency largely over, now begins the time of year where one must begin to wonder what's holding up both sides and the answer more likely than not is the NFL Draft. Because Maxwell hasn't been venturing out to take visits elsewhere, it's safe to assume he's comfortable waiting for the Seahawks to sort out their plans for the future of their cornerback unit. Much of that has been settled already.

The Seahawks haven't officially decided Byron Maxwell's fate

They brought back restricted free agent Justin Coleman after securing him with a second-round tender. For the low-low cost of $2.914 million, they chased away all potential suitors by stapling a second-round pick price tag to any team thinking of signing Coleman. In addition to Coleman, they'll return starter Shaquill Griffin along with depth players in DeAndre Elliott, Mike Tyson, Akeem King and Neiko Thorpe. Because the team plays so much nickel, two of their three starting cornerbacks in Griffin and Coleman at the nickel are filled.

The question mark remains Maxwell's starting left cornerback spot.

Of course, the man who manned that side for more than a half decade in Richard Sherman is now gone. Maxwell filled the job admirably to end 2017 while Sherman was on the shelf with an Achilles tear. But do the Seahawks view Maxwell as a long-term solution? Three-year solution? Two-year solution? Probably at best a two-year stand in.

But, those are the questions that are likely holding up the cementing of the deal and neither side needs to be in a particular hurry to get a deal done. Maxwell's best work was done in Seattle; so he likely wants to stay where he's comfortable and a perfect system fit. And if he needs to look for a new team because negotiations break down, cornerback is a delicacy always in-season for NFL teams. Both sides are likely making sure the fit and contract are to their liking. Undoubtedly, he wants to know how big his role will be next season and the team wants to pay him according to the size of that role. But what will that be?

The NFL Draft will have the final answers on that.

If the team drafts a cornerback in the first or second round, they're likely signaling to Maxwell that his starting role is filled. Best case scenario for him under that scenario is starting all of 2018 and relinquishing the job in 2019. At that point, a contract for around $3 million makes sense. Would he go for a reduced role to mentor his replacement on that salary? Unlikely. If they take a cornerback in the middle rounds, he could receive starters money around $5-6 million with incentives for a single year but he'll still be tutoring his potential successor. Think Jeremy Lane last season with Shaquill Griffin. Griffin was drafted with the idea of being a starter but it was still Lane's job to lose to start camp. Eventually, due to injury, he lost it. Maxwell may find himself in a similar situation in 2018, especially because the team doesn't really have a backup option at left cornerback right now. They'll at least have to draft his backup from the looks of their current roster.

Are the Seahawks looking for another Shaquill Griffin in this draft?

At 30 years old, Maxwell can't be viewed as the long-term plan at left cornerback but his veteran presence could be more than useful in 2018 as a starter. The question remains does the team have a starters role to fill and if they don't will Maxwell accept the reduction?

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Some other dominoes will have to fall as well. If the team trades safety Earl Thomas for a few picks including a first rounder, they may use one of those picks on Thomas' replacement and their current 18th overall pick on a defensive end, then bring back Maxwell as the veteran among the group. There are literally dozens of these potential combinations that could change Maxwell's value to the team.

And that's likely why both sides are waiting. He's looking for a little more leverage to get the number he wants from Seattle and the organization is waiting to see if they're going to give it to him or going in a different direction with their draft plans. It's an extremely fluid situation.