



Good afternoon, 12s.

Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Thursday, March 31 - about your Seattle Seahawks:

Grading The Seahawks in Free Agency

ESPN Insider Mike Sando, a former Seahawks beat writer, recruited ESPN analysts Bill Polian, Louis Riddick, Field Yates, and Mark Dominik for help in doling out annual free-agency grades for each of the NFL's 32 teams (Insider).

The group's grades were averaged and each club received a mark from 'A' to 'F.' The Seahawks received a passing grade, with the ESPN Insiders giving a 'C-plus' to Seattle for re-signing players like Jeremy Lane, Ahtyba Rubin, and Jermaine Kearse, while watching names like Bruce Irvin, Brandon Mebane, Russell Okung, and J.R. Sweezy sign elsewhere in free agency. While not the most stellar mark, the analysts explained how they couldn't fault Seattle for "mostly trying to minimize losses" this offseason.

"This is what happens when you are really good for a long time and have paid your quarterback," Yates said. "The players they lost got good deals from other teams, except for Okung. I also look at who they kept. Those were good value signings. The Lane deal was very reasonable for a No. 2 corner. The Kearse deal was smart for both sides."

Added Dominik: "I think it was all understood that this was what was going to happen. It is hard to beat up the organization. They did nothing wrong. But when you identify your core, your 7-8 guys, you can only pay so many guys. That is just what you do."

Looking around the rest of the NFC West, the group gave the Arizona Cardinals a B-plus, the Los Angeles Rams a C-plus, and the San Francisco 49ers a C. Just one team - the Philadelphia Eagles - earned an A grade from Sando and Co.