Which Ravens free agents are likely to sign with the Seahawks alongside Mike Macdonald?
After three weeks, the Seattle Seahawks are said to have hired Mike Macdonald, the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator, as their next head coach. ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news first.
Reportedly, Mike Macdonald is named the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Pete Carroll, who was the oldest head coach in the NFL last season at 72 years old, is being replaced by 36-year-old Macdonald, who will now be the youngest.
There are several unanswered concerns over the Seahawks’ future, especially the roster composition, now that Macdonald is expected to take over.
Many Ravens players are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March. Could anybody possibly follow Macdonald from Baltimore to Seattle?
The Ravens players who will soon be eligible for unrestricted free agency are listed below:
The following players are on the roster: running back Gus Edwards; linebacker Patrick Queen; defensive lineman Justin Madubuike; guard Kevin Zeitler; guard John Simpson; cornerback Ronald Darby; safety Geno Stone; Kyle Van Noy, an edge rusher; Nelson Agholor, a receiver; and Devin Duvernay, a returner and receiver • Tyler Huntley, quarterback; Malik Harrison, linebacker; Defensive end Brent Urban, Arthur Maulet, J.K. Dobbins, running back, Rock Ya-Sin, cornerback, and center Sam Mustipher, Josh Johnson as quarterback, Daryl Worley at cornerback, Laquan Treadwell at receiver, Del’Shawn Phillips at linebacker, and Tyler Ott at long snapper
Both Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen had breakthrough seasons that saw them named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team.
A vital member of Baltimore’s defense, Queen, 24, was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and finished with 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and nine tackles for loss. After the Seahawks drafted inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the Ravens selected Queen with their first choice.
Madubuike, 26, has 13 sacks, 12 tackles and 33 quarterback hits as an inside rusher. A third-round selection in 2020, he was.
The 30-year-old Jadeveon Clowney is a potential free agent who was a member of the Seahawks in 2019. With 9.5 sacks under Macdonald last season, Clowney equaled his career high. He also recorded nine tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits.
As an edge rusher for Macdonald, Kyle Van Noy, 32, also made an impression, recording nine sacks, nine tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits.
Stone is a ball-hawking safety on the back end of Baltimore’s defense who is set to enter the market following a successful year. In2023, 26-year-old Stone intercepted seven passes, one of which was against the Seahawks.
The 25-year-old inside linebacker Malik Harrison could be worth keeping an eye on. In addition to Seattle’s top three inside linebackers from 2023, who are all pending free agents, he started eight games as a starter for Baltimore.
Wyman: The Seahawks should explore adding four free-agent linebackers
renowned offensive athletes
The Seahawks’ interior offensive line may alter in 2023–2024 as center Evan Brown, guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes, and guards Damien Lewis and Haynes are all scheduled to become free agents.
The starting guards for the Ravens are also available, and last season, Baltimore’s offensive line was among the best in the National Football League.
This season, Baltimore’s 26-year-old left guard John Simpson has started every game. Conversely, 33-year-old Kevin Zeitler is also expected to go up for sale. This year, he was a Pro Bowl player.
While Zeitler has been a longstanding NFL guard since joining the game in 2012 as a first-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals, Simpson was selected by the Ravens in the 2020 fourth round.
With DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all expected to return, the Seahawks probably don’t need much receiver assistance. However, the Ravens will also have three receivers enter free agency.
The most well-known person there is Odell Beckham Jr. The 31-year-old, a former first-round selection, finished the previous season with 565 yards and three touchdowns. Nelson Agholor, 30, a fellow first-round selection, finished with 381 yards and four touchdowns.
The 26-year-old Devin Duvernay was less involved in Baltimore’s offense in 2023 than he was in previous seasons, but his ability to return kicks has earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl twice. In his four-year career, Duvernay has returned two kicks for touchdowns and averages about 13 yards per punt return.
Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet are a youthful running back combo for Seattle, but two of Baltimore’s backs are unrestricted free agents.
J.K. Dobbins, 25, is also scheduled to become a free agent, and Gus Edwards, 28, finished with 810 yards and 13 running touchdowns. Due to injury, he was sidelined for the entirety of 2021, nine games in 2022, and all but one game in 2023. Despite this, he had a successful debut season in 2020, running for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.
More about Mike Macdonald, the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks
• K.J. Wright’s impressions on Mike Macdonald, the new Seahawks coach
• Is Mike Macdonald a personable enough coach for the Seahawks?
Video: Ross Tucker on what makes Ravens DC special Video: Seahawks will appoint Mike Macdonald as coach in an instant Mike Macdonald is so amazing
• In the Hawks coach hunt, Rost deems Macdonald the most fascinating name. Bump, in the Seattle Seahawks coach search, refers to Mike Macdonald as the “fun” selection.
