The most surprising free-agent signing by the Seahawks happened Monday when they gave what is probably in the neighborhood of a minimum million-dollar deal to Mike Iupati.

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The money is negligible in the scheme of things – $1 million for Iupati won’t stop their pursuit of Jadeveon Clowney – if, in fact, they’re even pursuing him anymore.

If they are, I don’t think they’re running any 4.4-second 40’s trying to catch him. But I don’t think they’re walking either, maybe something between a jog and a sprint.

And if I were to take the painful running analogy one step farther, I’d say they’re closer to a sprint than a jog after signing Iupati.

Most observers figured Justin Britt might be a goner before the Iupati deal was announced. Now it almost seems like a given. But if you’re in the camp that wants Clowney back in the worst way, the Iupati signing is good news because we’ll no doubt hear something soon about Britt’s release and savings of $8.5 million against the salary cap.

Then again, even if they don’t get Clowney, they’ll need more wiggle room for one of the B-lister free-agent pass rushers left in the market – Everson Griffen, Michael Bennett and Markus Golden are in that group.

Britt has been an above-average center, but not good enough to justify his contract at this point. Especially when you consider this – in the eight games without Britt last year, the Seahawks averaged 16 rushing yards more per game with Joey Hunt as his replacement.

Granted, the Seahawks allowed 10 more sacks in the games Hunt started than the first eight with Britt, but even if you’re not the biggest Joey Hunt fan, you can at least debate what I’d contend, that you got more bang for your buck from Hunt than Britt.

Even if Britt leaves, Hunt might not start in 2020. Before Iupati was re-signed, I thought B.J. Finney, a free-agent acquisition from Pittsburgh, would be the odds-on choice to start at left guard this season. Now you’d have to make Iupati, even as banged-up as he is at 33, the favorite to beat out Phillip Haynes and perhaps Jamarco Jones at left guard.

Finney was said to be better at guard than center with the Steelers, but the Seahawks list him solely at center on their updated roster. I don’t want to read too much into that – wait a minute, yes I do – if he’s listed at center, that I’m assuming that’s where they plan to use him. Another reason to think that Britt’s out the door.

But, again, the best part about Britt possibly leaving is a between-the-lines acknowledgment that the Seahawks are still very much involved in the Clowney sweepstakes.

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