Should the Seahawks look at Aaron Kampman?
With only four teams in remaining in the playoffs it means one of two things. One, Brett Favre is this much closer to a Super Bowl, but at the same time that much closer to another off season of “am I retired? I don’t even know what that word means”. Two, it means that free agency is inching closer and closer which starts the best time of the year.
Speculation time.
However with the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement still i limbo not to many free agents know their status, in terms of restricted or unrestricted free agents.
One of those lucky free agents to be, Green Bay Packers OLB/DE Aaron Kampman is most likely going to become an unrestricted free agent come March 1st. Yes that’s a little less than three months away but the time goes by fast.
Kampman, a product of Cedar Rapids Iowa and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes could be a target for the newly reconstructed Seattle Seahawks organization led by Pete Carroll and newly hired GM John Schneider, a former front office executive of the Green Bay Packers.
Now some people might question the move from the Seahawks point of view with Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill, Aaron Curry and David Hawthorne already in the Seahawks linebacking corps.
Well on paper and to the average scout or fan it might seem like the Seahawks wouldn’t sign any linebacker but indepth it’s not that clear.
Lofa Tatupu, a three time consecutive pro bowler missed the majority of 2009 with a torn pectoral muscle but should be completely recovered for next season.
Lofa signed a six year $42 million dollar contract last year so there is absolutely no truth to the random rumors about him being traded, especially not with Pete Carroll running the show.
Aaron Curry had an average rookie season but has a lot of work still ahead of him before he can reach that top tier level of linebackers in the NFL. Curry missed the last two games of the season due to injury but it was nothing serious.
Curry could fit in as a rush DE if the Seahawks move to a 3-4 defensive scheme. However even though Pete Carroll said he likes the 4-3, he’s scheme sounds more like a 46 defense and not a 4-3. Either way Curry will be a starting linebacker in 2010 for Pete Carroll.
David Hawthorne did a phenomenal job filling in for Lofa Tatupu at middle linebacker racking up 117 total tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions. However with Lofa coming back in 2010 Hawthorne will most likely move around or stand up next to Tatupu in a possible 3-4 defense. Either way I see Hawthorne coming back in 2010 and beyond.
Leroy Hill is almost done as a Seahawk. Now nothing is official but with Hill having a down season right after he was questionably rewarded with a six year $36 million dollar contract last year it leaves the door wide open for the Seahawks to package him for another player that would fill a need and also be productive.
So getting back to Kampman, the question would be posed. Why bring in a 30 year old veteran on a crowded linebacking corps?
Well there are three reasons why I see Aaron Kampman being a nice fit on a one year contract to prove himself that he can still play at a high level.
1) Mentoring the young linebackers and defensive ends on the team. Right now the Seahawks have a lot of young talent in the front seven. Tatupu, Curry, Hawthorne, Jackson, Tapp as well as others. Kampman could come in and teach these young guys how to help find their roles and improve them at their positions as well as bring in his own talent.
For example ESPN had a piece on Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and how he’s helped Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie become more complete wide receivers as well has helping them grow off the field.
It would be the same for Kampman. He would be able to help the Seahawks defense from a pass rushing stand point at a low one year cost and also be able to help the younger defensive ends and linebackers grow as NFL players.
2) The Seahawks can use some help at linebacker and defensive end. Kampman would not be the every down answer for the Seahawks at defensive end like say a Julius Peppers would be but knowing that Kampman is versatile and can stand up at outside linebacker as well as be a pass rushing defensive end it bods well for the Seahawks to at least give him a shot on a one year deal.
Kampman finished 2009 with 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks before he missed the rest of the season after week 11 with a knee injury.
For the Seahawks it’s a good move and in a way its a money ball move. Plus knowing how well Pete Carroll is defensively he’ll find any way to use Kampman.
3) The Seahawks could use some veteran presents on defense. Outside of Lofa Tatupu I can’t recall a true leader on the Seahawks defense so brining in a proven veteran who as I said above can help the younger players as well as bring his own bread to the table is always helpful in the NFL.
Patrick Kerney is done and he wasn’t really a true leader more as a motivator. So Kampman would be replacing Kerney in a sense if the Seahawks decide to cut ties with him or Leroy Hill.
However there is another major part in this Kampman idea. The Seahawks would first have to part ways with one of or both Patrick Kerney and Leroy Hill in order to make a position open for Kampman. He can play both Hill and Kerney’s position so if the Seahawks decide to move on from Hill and Kerney then Kampman would be a nice replacement.
I would like to note that this is not a report more as an interesting idea that could benefit the Seahawks in the short term and also long term. With free agency still a few months away a lot has to happen in order for anything to come true.
It is an intriguing idea about having Kampman in Seattle.
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Lars,
Another well written article! I think signing Aaron Kampman to a one-year deal would be an excellent idea. I think AK could do Aaron Curry a huge justice in teaching him the LB/DE game in the NFL and he can become a hybrid as well. I know Curry played some DE @ Wake Forest and making him versatile just makes him that much better. Kerney and Hill departing Seattle would not only save some money, but potentially fill the other holes our team desperately needs to fill! Go Seahawks!!!
Patrick: Thanks, yea on a one year contract is the only way I would like the move. Curry didn’t blitz that much in his four seasons at Wake Forest but he did do very well in coverage. So he could be a DE/OLB hybrid. Yea Hill and/or Kerney departing is the only way I see this working because they are keeping talented players from starting.
Linebacker is the one position the Seahawks are stocked and this will be their last worry. Too many other concerns on a team that needs to be overhauled.
When looking at Kampan, I think of Patrick Kerney. A 30-something year old DE who has had some good seasons and injuries as well. High motor. Has Kerney worked out? Sort of. When healthy. I’d say Kampan would be worth the risk in this sense.
John: In the article it states about the LB’s and who would stay and who would go. It’s not like brining in Kampman would hurt anything. The Seahawks want to create competeition everywhere on the roster. Brining in Kampman on a one year deal would do that.
Tyson: Well it’s funny you picked Kerney because he would have to go along with Hill, which needs to happen no matter what. But Kerney signed a 4 or 5 year contract big Ruskell money.
Signing Kampman to a ONE year deal and having him prove to the NFL he can play at a high level again and then get his bigger money next year.
Kerney did great his first year with 14.5 sacks. Since then he’s done nothing. SO that’s why a one year deal works perfect.
Hey Lars,
First off i agree with Kerney and Leroy Hill needing to be gone in Seattle. Leroy Hill sucks goat dick in pass coverage and really hasnt done anything since his rookie year. Maybe Hawthorne could move to the outside spot there. As far as Kampman or Peppers personally i think they are too expensive for us. Only one i would take is Peppers because he is a monster. But that would have to be a trade with Carolina unless Peppers somehow signs with us in free agency. But like i said too high priced. Like ive stated in some of your other articles i like the sound of maybe getting Derrick Morgan with our 14th Pick overall. (Fingers Crossed on that one)
Take care thanks for all the good articles. As you can tell im an avid seahawks fan lol.
orrkw@cg65.navy.mil
Kelly: Yea both Kerney and Hill are done. Hill Is more expandable for a trade because he’s still young. Hawthorne would for sure move over to OLB or MLB2 in a 3-4 defense next to Lofa.
Kampman won’t cost much at all coming off injury. Peppers I would actually be more inclined to get because he’s still overall young and considering he made the Pro Bowl and had 9+sacks this season he would fit well in Seattle.
I don’t see money being an issue at all for Paul Allen, Pete Carroll and John Schnieder. They gave 35 Million to Carroll so Allen wants a winner and he’d do anything to get it.
Maybe we sign Peppers and Draft Morgan. Tapp is a RFA, LoJack could be a backup.