Bold signings the Seahawks could realistically make ahead of training camp

The Seattle Seahawks are on a break. The rookies might be hanging around the VMAC, but the veterans do not have to return until July 23 when training camp begins. That does not mean the team won't be busy, though.

With no attention needing to be paid to OTAs, the NFL draft, or the first part of free agency, Seattle could look at making a few, potentially high-impact moves. Acquiring a free agent or two is not off the proverbial table either.

The Seahawks might have already implied how they are going to approach the month-long break. Recently, they signed punter Michael Dickson to an extension. Others could follow.

3 moves the Seahawks could make before training camp begins

Signing edge rusher Boye Mafe to an extension

Seattle has several players whose contracts are up after 2025 that the team might entertain signing to an extension. One is running back Kenneth Walker III, but he needs to prove he can stay healthier. Another is cornerback Riq Woolen, but he needs to show he can be less mercurial.

Mafe makes complete sense to sign an extension because even if he has reached his ceiling, it's still a good one. He needs to work on his tackling (he whiffed on 20.5 percent of his tackle attempts last year), but his quarterback pressure numbers are consistently good. He had 58 in 443 pass-rush snaps in 2023 and 47 in 344 last year.

He is also still just 26 years old and could have his best season in the league in 2025, his second year in head coach Mike Macdonald's system. This could be the year that he is great in the second half of the season and reaches 13 sacks or more.

Singing edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney is now 32 years old and might not have many years left to play. He is still productive, however. His sack numbers were low on a bad Carolina Panthers team in 2024, but he still had 44 quarterback pressures while playing his usual fantastic run defense.

We are only a season removed from arguably Clowney's best of his 11 seasons, and that came with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The key is that Macdonald was the defensive coordinator for Baltimore that year, and he obviously understands how to get the best out of the edge rusher.

Clowney would also understand what Macdonald needs from him in the defensive fit.

The edge rusher is unlikely to sign anywhere until around the time training camps begin, as he has a history of doing that. He also isn't going to get paid until then (no NFL player does), so there's no rush to return on his part. The Seahawks have the money to sign Clowney, who might sign for around $10 million for 2025, and he would augment Seattle's defense.

Signing cornerback Shaquill Griffin

There is no clear indication of what Griffin's free agent market is going to be. He hasn't been a full-time starter since 2021. When healthy, he is a very good coverage cornerback, but teams don't seem to want to keep him around to be a long-term starting corner.

In eight seasons, though, he has allowed just 22 touchdown passes and has nine interceptions. Not a horrible ratio. His career quarterback rating allowed in the last two years is just 73.4. As long as he isn't wanting $10 million a season or more, he would be worth taking a chance on.