With FS Earl Thomas trade talks heating up, the Seahawks added another safety, signing Maurice Alexander, who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 2014 through last October, when he was waived. No details were available yet on Alexander’s contract, but it is believed to be for one year. He earned $528,529 last season in base salary.
The 27-year-old Alexander, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick out of Utah State in 2014, is expected to provide insurance in case SS Kam Chancellor, convalescing from a career-threatening neck injury, is unable to play, or if Thomas is traded, or both. Alexander, who has played both strong and free safety, is 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds.
Alexander began the 2017 season as LA’s starting strong safety. He played in the first four games, at which point he was removed from the lineup and waived. Rookie John Johnson took his place. Alexander, who apparently fell out of favor with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, did not hook on with another club after his release.
In 2016, Alexander played in 14 of 16 games, recording 50 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defensed. After that season, Pro Football Focus named him the “NFL’s Most Improved Safety.” For his career, Alexander has started 23 of 41 games. He has two interceptions and three sacks.
While at Utah State in 2011, Alexander was a teammate of Seattle LB Bobby Wagner, who was a senior. Alexander was a junior.
He is the fourth unrestricted free agent signed by the Seahawks since the new league year began Wednesday.
SEAHAWKS FREE AGENT TRACKER
Free agents signed
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’17 AAV | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | Barkevious Mingo | DE | $3.4M | 2 years, $6.8M |
| Mar 16 | Ed Dickson | TE | $1.95M | 3 years, $14M |
| Mar 16 | Jaron Brown | WR | $1.3M | N/A |
| Mar 16 | Maurice Alexander | S | $528K | N/A |
Free agents retained
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’17 AAV | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | B. McDougald | S | $1.8M | 3 years, $13.95M |
| Mar 14 | Dion Jordan | DE | $366K | 1 year, $1.9M |
| Mar 14 | Justin Coleman | CB | $615K | 1 year, $2.9M |
Free agents lost
| Date | Player | Team | ’17 AAV | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | Jimmy Graham | GB | $10M | 3 years, $30M |
| Mar 14 | Paul Richardson | WA | $1.4M | 5 years, $40M |
| Mar 14 | DeShawn Shead | Det | $1.2M | 1 year, $3.5M |
| Mar 14 | Thomas Rawls | —- | $615K | Non-tendered |
| Mar 16 | Sheldon Richardson | Min | $3.6M | 1 year, $8M |
Remaining free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | AAV | 2017 Season/Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| —– | Luke Joeckel | LG | 8M | Missed 5 games with injuries |
| —– | Eddie Lacy | RB | 4.25M | Bust: 179 yards, 0 TDs |
| —– | Luke Willson | TE | 1.8M | Value jumps if Graham leaves |
| —– | Michael Wilhoite | LB | 1.55M | Best beard on team |
| —– | Blair Walsh | K | 1.1M | Eight FG misses |
| —– | Marcus Smith | DE | 990K | A serviceable backup |
| —– | Oday Aboushi | RG | 975K | Played 8 games before injury |
| —– | Matt Tobin | LT | 862K | Played sparingly |
| —– | Terence Garvin | LB | 855K | Solid special teamer |
| —– | Austin Davis | QB | 855K | Played two snaps, but a veteran |
| —– | Byron Maxwell | CB | 755K | Played well in spurts |
*=Includes incentives
11 Comments
Assuming that the contract is similar to what he made last year I like this signing. Someone to compete with last year’s rookies if Earl is released for almost no cost in dollars, picks or comp picks. As a bonus he was part of a pretty good defense the last few years.
Alexander figures to be close to NFL average at the position, which is all that can be expected shopping at the blue-light table.
The blue light table. You can be cruel, Art . . .
Here’s the deal the Seahawks should have pursued for Russell Wilson:
“The New York Jets are doing everything they can to land a potentially franchise-altering quarterback in next month’s draft.
The team announced Saturday it acquired the No. 3 overall pick of the draft in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets are sending their sixth, 37th and 49th overall selections in this year’s draft and their second-rounder in 2019 to Indianapolis.”
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921905/article/jets-acquire-no-3-overall-pick-of-2018-draft-from-colts
Knowing Schneider, he’d probably trade that No. 3 for a bunch of late-rounders. Which, given his track record, would probably work out well for the Hawks, even if whoever the consensus number 3 is happens to be a sure-fire superstar.
First-round picks are not this regime’s specialty.
The Jets would have had to add a second No. 1, but I get your point. It’s going to be very hard to keep him after 2019, especially now that Kirk Cousins received a fully guaranteed contract.
The Seahawks seem to be signing several WRs and DBs. Their most glaring deficiency last season was the O-line and they seem to be doing very little to fix it. I hope they know what they are doing–or not doing.
There isn’t much out there to go after.
The off-season claim was they were primarily keeping the line intact, probably because of the healthy return of George Fant and the new coach, Mike Solari. The greater urgency in Carroll’s scheme is the pass rush and, now, the secondary. Defense will always be first, and the O-line could use some time together.
Seahawks trade for DB C.J. Smith giving conditional 2020 seventh-round pick.
Tanking.