The Seattle Seahawks have made the large determination to signal former Miami Dolphins middle Connor Williams. With Olu Oluwatimi and Nick Harris in competitors for the beginning place, it appears extra seemingly than not that the winner is “different”, on this case Williams. That isn’t to declare that Oluwatimi isn’t good or won’t ever change into an NFL-level starter, however Williams has huge beginning expertise and was enjoying his finest soccer earlier than his season prematurely ended.
Listed below are some fast ideas on this probably very important addition to Seattle’s offensive line.
Not giving out a multi-year deal is okay
The one completely legitimate reservation concerning Williams is his harm historical past. He’s had torn ACLs each with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. Williams recovered to play each sport of the 2020 season after his first ACL tear, and whereas he’s miraculously handed his bodily and is in line to play Week 1 after his newest harm, I’d be hesitant to do something however a “prove-it” deal.
With a contract price as much as $6 million, the upside for Williams is that he could possibly be in line for a big pay enhance if he performs at a excessive stage this season. Ideally, the Seahawks are those giving him that long-term extension if he pans out, in any other case we threat the standard wheel o’middle offseason.
This isn’t an occasion of “signing a veteran to take snaps away from growing gamers”
I don’t need this signing to be seen as John Schneider bringing in a “win now” veteran and blocking a younger, inexperienced draft decide like Olu Oluwatimi from enjoying time. Williams has performed six NFL seasons however he’s nonetheless solely 27 years previous, and at his finest he’s thought-about one of many high facilities within the sport.
This isn’t enjoying Frank Clark over Derick Corridor when it was very clear that Clark wasn’t adequate anymore, or enjoying Bruce Irvin over Boye Mafe (though that labored out a bit higher). If Oluwatimi doesn’t schematically match Scott Huff’s line and/or Ryan Grubb’s scheme, then discover somebody who does. Nick Harris might be too small to be a beginning middle and it could possibly be a Joey Hunt redux.
My suspicion/assumption is that the competitors might have been spirited however to not the purpose of giving the teaching employees any confidence that they’re viable beginning choices. I’d additionally argue it’s a fallacy that rookies and gamers on rookie contracts are entitled to enjoying time for the sake of growth. In the event that they’re not on the sector there’s often a legitimate purpose that may be defined by their showings in observe. Typically the teaching employees will get all of it incorrect, however I consider my level nonetheless stands.
The Seahawks signed Williams as a result of he’s theoretically in his prime and a greater possibility than anybody on the roster and will assist the offense immensely.
Seattle is just not going to threat having a completely inexperienced inside offensive line
Whether or not Abe Lucas returns in Week 1 or not, the Seahawks have an skilled Charles Cross at left deal with and considered one of Lucas or the skilled George Fant at proper deal with. Laken Tomlinson is just not solely vastly skilled however he’s solely missed one sport his total nine-year profession. Williams’ arrival supplies six years of NFL expertise and two seasons at middle. Proper guard is the one query mark with rookie Christian Haynes and second-year participant Anthony Bradford.
Whereas we’d like to have a completely homegrown offensive line throughout the board, the Seahawks are clearly aiming for the playoffs and should not going to have their neophytes shoulder a lot of the duty at positions infamous for needing time to develop. The thought of Christian Haynes (rookie)-Olu Oluwatimi (scarcely performed as a rookie)-Anthony Bradford (performed 10 video games as a rookie) as the inside OL sounds loads higher than what it will most definitely appear like in actuality for 2024.
If the Seahawks are severe about maximizing Geno Smith’s skills and the offense as an entire, signing Williams was a no brainer. Now we’ll see what he has left when he returns to the sector in Week 1.
John Schneider bided his time, didn’t break the financial institution, and made a way more impactful funding than the B.J. Finney, Austin Blythe, Kyle Fuller, and Evan Brown offers of yesteryear.
