The Seahawks lost Russell Okung, kept Christine Michael, and provided themselves with a clear path to follow to the draft.

Free agency is all but over now. There aren’t any impact players out there after yesterday. It is safe to say that the Seahawks missed the boat in trying to solidify their offensive line. We know that because:

Okung is gone…

Russell Okung officially signed with Denver today. Unless there’s a trade for Joe Thomas or Ryan Clady ends up being cut and comes to Seattle, the Seahawks offensive line will go into the draft as a complete dumpster fire.

Financially the deal is a weird one. If Okung is terrible or Denver can get a starting LT in the draft next month, then the deal is just a 1 year contract for $5 million, with all of it guaranteed. If neither of those things happen, then it is a 5 year deal worth $53 million.

This is a great setup for Denver. For Okung, it gives him a chance to prove that he’s still a top LT. For a guy that has declined in each of the last three seasons, that is a bit of a risk.

While Okung probably wasn’t worth what it would have cost to re-sign him, his departure is a major concern for Seattle. Even with his decline, he was still Seattle’s best blocker. They lack a suitable replacement, and there are no longer any options available.

…And Christine Michael isn’t

The Seahawks did get one piece of good news yesterday. Backup RB Christine Michael will be back next season. Michael was a restricted free agent, but the Seahawks didn’t tender him a contract. That made him an unrestricted free agent.

Thomas Rawls will enter the season as the obvious No. 1 back, and will get most of the touches next season. Unfortunately, Rawls has had durability problems, both in college and last season, meaning having a good backup will be important.

The Christine Michael that was in Seattle in 2013 and 2014 wouldn’t have counted as a “good backup.” The one that returned to Seattle after being traded and then cut twice does.

If the humbled and hard working Michael returns for 2016, then the Seahawks will have two dynamic backs again. If the entitled and lazy version from before shows up to training camp, he’ll be cut before the season starts.

Here’s hoping we get Dr. Jekyll and not Mr. Hyde. (Or is it the other way around? I’m not sure now. This analogy sucks)

So Now What?

The Seahawks MUST draft at least one offensive line starter this year. Preferably two, even if the second doesn’t become a starter right away. They painted themselves into this corner, now they have to make sure that they can work their way out of it.

To do that, they’re going to have to fill the roster at other positions with fallback options. They’ve already begun doing this, and it’ll continue for the next couple weeks.

For example, they can no longer count on using their top pick on a NT to replace Brandon Mebane. Instead, they’ll be stuck waiting, and hoping that a decent player falls to them in the second or third round. Just in case one doesn’t, the team signed Sealver Siliga earlier this week.

The Seahawks will now begin doing that for the rest of the roster. Mike Morgan or a similar LB is likely to be signed. They’ll add a pass rusher we’ve likely never heard of. They’ll probably add another running back well.

And lets not forget the backup QB spot. That is still empty. With as bad as the offensive line is right now, the Seahawks are going to need a good backup QB for when Wilson ends up in the hospital.