Julius Peppers a fit in Seattle
Julius Peppers, a soon to be free agent this off season will be one of if not the most highly touted commodity when free agency officially starts on March 5th.
Today Peppers came out to the media and said he is not willing nor will he sign a long term contract with the Carolina Panthers, which all but makes him an official unrestricted free agent because he has more than six years of NFL experience.
So now starts the bevy of articles flying around about where Julius Peppers should and might sign when March 5th comes around.
The Saints, Eagles, Chiefs, Patriots and about a dozen other teams could be looking at Peppers. One of those teams that many people have been overlooking that could be a great fit for Peppers is the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks have been in a rebuilding process now heading into its second stage, but the first under new head coach Pete Carroll.
Seattle has been built up on their outstanding defense that flat out underperformed the last few years, and basically tanking under Jim Mora Jr.
Now with Carroll, a defensive minded coach, in the fold the Seahawks will look to really target the trenches as a major area for improvement.
That improvement could come in the form of defensive end Julius Peppers in free agency.
Now some people may ask even with the nonexistent salary cap this off season would Seattle pay the $15 -20 million per season for Peppers?
Yes.
Over the last few seasons the Seahawks have totaled 28 sacks (2009), 35 sacks (2008), 45 sacks (2007), 41 sacks (2006) and 50 sacks in 2005 in which they led the NFL in team sack total and also went to their first Super Bowl in team history that same year.
So it shows the Seahawks defense relies on the pass rush to lead their defense and this past season under Jim Mora Jr. the Seahawks had almost no pass rush thus allowing 5,069 total yards (21st in the NFL).
So with Pete Carroll who will be looking to turn this ship around as soon as possible with the right players and the right coaches in place, Julius Peppers will definitely be a target of the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks will have defensive ends Darryl Tapp and Cory Redding being free agents this off season which would allow Peppers to come in and be the full time starter at left defensive end.
Also the Seahawks need to push heavy to sign Peppers because the status of former Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney is currently in limbo and the Seahawks don’t have a presents on the defensive line so signing Peppers would not only give the Seahawks a replacement for Kerney but also bring a presents they haven’t had in a long time.
So look for the Seahawks to be included in the Julius Peppers sweepstakes when free agency rolls around.
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Lars: Keep the articles coming!!! I have been back and forth with several friends about Julius Peppers. Yes, he is a MONSTER, yes he is talent. Is he interested in coming to Seattle? If we were to sign him to a 4-5 year deal, is he going to PLAY 4-5 yrs? It would definately let us draft another position and fill a HUGE hole in our D. If we can’t land Julius Peppers, I think he should go after Aaron Kampman as I have agreed with you in a previous post!
b.t.w. I hit my 2 week mark here in Baghdad tomorrow. I’m staying safe and time is flying!
Hawks could use Peppers, but I don’t think he’d want to play in a 4-3 scheme. I think he wants to be a linebacker.
Patrick: Yea he is a talented DE and I think if Seattle were to spend the $15+ million over 4-5 years they would get the most out of him in those 4 years without a decline. Remember Carroll is the HC not Mora. Thats good that time is flyin.
Dale: Seattle is going in a 46 scheme mostly even tho it sounds like a 4-3. Peppers would still be a DE in a 4-3
[...] Seahawks had zero pass rush last season and as I pointed out in my Julius Peppers article the Seahawks defensive success starts with the pass rush. Last season the Seahawks recorded [...]
I don’t think the best available free agent in an uncapped year is going to pick a down and rebuilding franchise. He will easily net $15 million annually elsewhere, and he will likely have his choice picking between contenders with the same high salary the Seahawks would still be offering.
Even though this is an uncapped year Paul Allen shouldn’t be coughing up his stake in Microsoft this offseason, as cool as it would be to be the high roller (kind of like the Mariners right now), and pluck Peppers, Wilfork, C. Rogers, etc, that strategy is what got us into this mess.
We need to draft some OL, a RB, DB, maybe a QB… A guy like Aaron Kampan, or Kyle Vanden Bosch makes a lot of sense to address the DL. A guy like Carlos Rogers or Dunta Robinson makes sense at CB. Get Bobbie Williams as a stop gap at RG. If we could have a Kampman/Rogers/Williams FA haul, that would be a great FA for us.
We don’t need Peppers, we won’t get Peppers, makes ZERO sense for us to even consider it… people like you always say it would be awesome to go blow so much on a great player… but what happens when there is a cap again and you have to cut three starters because you signed Peppers?
Grace: Thank god I love it when girls, I’m assuming you’re a girl, get involved in sports and comment on articles so thank you.
And there is something people have to remember, Jim Mora Jr. was the coach of the Seahawks last year and he shot himself in the foot with the coaches he hired. Now with Pete Carroll this team is not in a rebuilding mode like say the Lions, Rams, Cheifs etc.
Well I do agree with you that picking high rollers is how we got in this mess but not to a point. Tim Ruskell was the man incharge during that time so its a slap in the face to think Pete Carroll and John Schineider would be like that.
Well I like the point of the mariners, think about it they added veterans as well as having a lot of young players as well so adding Peppers would be like adding Chone Figgins.
I agree about OL and DB but not RB. I do see QB as an important one, if you look at my newest mock draft I published now it has Sam Bradford No. 6 and Jason Pierre Paul at No. 14.
And I agree about Kampman http://www.nfltouchdown.com/should-the-seahawks-look-at-aaron-kampman/
Well I like more of the Kampman, Robinson, Neal/Williams haul would be good.
It makes sense to consider a lot of possiblities, like Brandon Marshall or Wilfork. Why would we have to cut him in 3 years?
Not cut Peppers, but when a salary cap is installed we would likely have to release other players to accomodate his massive salary, most likely a starter or two, which is why it makes no sense to go after players and offer $15 million per season unless we take the steps to get rid of players like cough Deion Branch beforehand. Sure, hand Carlos Rogers AND Kampan $15 million put together to solve those problems, but not one guy
Hasselbeck is better then Bradford can be right now, maybe at No. 14, but what’s gonna happen when our shitty OL gets Hasselbeck hurt again, then our future QB steps in and gets a concussion? Draft the guys to protect the QB first, then worry about the QB later.
and what’s all this talk about CJ Spiller, go trade for Reggie Bush, or sign Willie Parker, it’s the same thing with more experience…
Grace: Well that’s if there is a salary cap, they can sign a new CBA without a salary cap. Well trading Branch is not out of the question.
Also trading Hasselbeck, Hill etc as well as Branch and having Walter Jones retire trims a lot of salary’s off the books.
Hasselbeck is not better than Bradford at this stage, Bradford is the most accurate passer between the two. Bradford also fits into new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates scheme while Hasselbeck doesnt.
No. 6 has to be a QB and it will be Bradford. Also Seattle can get those guys to protect him late in the draft with Ciron Black and Mike Johnson in the 3rd and 4th round.
Alex Gibbs, the new offensive line coach in Seattle still has the ZBS but is the best in the business at it and he uses late round picks and in his system that’s the ideal type of player, not a top 15 pick.
I’m against CJ in Seattle, Reggie is at $9 million and Parker isnt slick willy like he use to be.
I totally disagree about Bradford. For 2 reasons and they are that he played in the spread offense and he will have footwork trouble and the second being that he’s already been injured! If you ask me there arnt any quality quarterbacks in this draft. At least not worth gambling on when you can fullfill so many other needs like ofeensive line and defense! We need at least 3 key defensive players! The secondory is one of the worst in the NFL and the pass rush has fallen as well! Peppers may be a good answer depending on the price if he wanted to come here. Here is my idea for the Seahwaks. We need to pick up a veteran left tackle on free agency to replace Walter Jones so we have some experience on the line then draft a safety or corner cause the draft is full of defensive talent! Plus get another tackle of guard. You can never have too many good lineman! Thats where the game is won! Hasselbeck has been a proven threat with time to through but he hasnt had that since Strong and Hutchenson left. Any quarterback will lose his confidence under a line that cant block! Give Peyton Manning the Seahawks offinsive line and Ill bet he does alot worse!
Everyone always thinks a quarterback is the answer to their prayers! If you draft a quarterback right off your gonna have to pay big money on someone whom may or may not workout. Case in point Rick Mirer! Id actually be ok with Donavan McNabb stepping in since it seems their talking about using Kevin Kolb. Very seldon do you see a rookie come in and make that much difference as a quarterback. One was Ben Rothlesberger, and Troy Aikman. But those are big exceptions to the rule! However I think we need another back up cause Senaca Wallace isnt cutting it! We could probably take Tebow in the 4th round if he’s still around.
I hear Darren Sharper is gonna be a free agent and would be a huge impact player to the team! That guy makes a whole defense with his presence! Id love to see him in Seattle!
Steve: Thanks for the comments. However, I do understand where you come from on Bradford but I have to disagree on two terms. Bradford injuried his shoulder, much like Drew Brees did and Brees was signed off by Dr James Andrews that he would be able to come back better than ever. Sam Bradford has worked with Dr Andrews and he too will be able to come back fully. Two, Bradford worked in a “spead” offense however he did take snaps under center, about 40% of them and his arm strength, accuracy and having great footwork in the pocket make up for it.
Bradford will be at an added advantage working behind Matt Hasselbeck for the majority of his rookie season, much like Aaron Rogers in Green Bay but a shorter time period.
Carroll will bring a lot of help on defense unlike Mora did so that will help out. And the problem last season was no one was fighting for Jim Mora Jr, now you can tell when you talk to players they can’t wait to play for Carroll.
If Seattle can get the current player to their potential like Curry, Hill, Tapp/Kerney/Jackson, Wilson, Trufant and keep everyone healthy this defense isnt that bad. Now they do need a few new pieces.
Darren Sharper in free agency would be a great addition but I would mention that and everyone would scream Ruskell age free agent like Kerney, Jones etc that’s a 10 mile long list.
However I don’t think Sharper would belong on that lists I’ve always head that from Hawks fans. If they are over 30 say no. But I’d love Sharper in blue and white.
People need to get over Rick Mirer. Big ben, MATT RYAN, Phillip Rivers, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and about 12+ have been first rounders that worked out.
Seneca does need to go but Tebow won’t make it past the 2nd round which Seattle could take him
Yeah sometimes I think Tebow gets a bad rap. He has alot of passion for football and those are the kinda guys you want. I’m wondering if Bradford would be available at 6th pick anyways? The Rams are good candidates to take him. We have a big opportunity this year to really make a difference and there are alot of options really. I wouldnt even mind if they got 2 offensive lineman with their first 2 picks if they were crafty enough with free agency to get a key defensive player or 2. Or vice versa. Draft some defensive players and pick up some O lineman on free agency cause there will be quite a few O line on free agency this year as well! Or they could trade down and get double or more picks outta the deal! There is alot of good hidden talent in the later rounds as well so if the traded those two first rounders for two or three 2nd and 3rd rounders then that woulnd be such a bad idea either. New England does it all the time! Brian Baluga looks like a good fit for the zone blocking sceme that they’ll be runing.