With the NFL year beginning in about three weeks, teams are busy making roster moves or announcements, which means a number of players already are or soon will be available.
The Seahawks have been mentioned in connection with a few already: Charles Woodson, Percy Harvin, Dwight Freeney, Osi Umenyiora.
Woodson is available now, having been released by the Packers on Feb. 15, but the others can't be acquired until the league year begins March 12.
Here's a look at each player's fit or lack thereof in Seattle:
Charles Woodson
The Packers' release of Woodson quickly led to speculation that Seahawks general manager John Schneider might be interested in reuniting with the 2009 NFL defensive player of the year.
Cornerback Richard Sherman seems to be.
"Woodson, come to Seattle with the LOB (Legion of Boom) and let's go after this ring!" Sherman tweeted Feb. 15. "My thoughts are simply: The more talent, the better. We can find a spot for his talents to go along with the rest of our talented players."
Woodson's agent says he wants to go to a contender, and Seattle certainly qualifies. But, even if the Hawks think he can still play, they are unlikely to want to pay him anywhere near the $10 million he was slated to make with the Packers.
They cut the 36-year-old after seven years because his performance no longer matches his pay.
The Hawks do need a nickel back to replace 32-year-old Marcus Trufant, but they might want to let youngsters Walter Thurmond, Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell fight for it.
Woodson doesn't seem to make much sense at this late point in his career.
Percy Harvin
The Vikings deny they are interested in trading the multi-faceted player, but word is that Harvin might hold out for a new contract and that he can be had for the right price -- both in draft capital to Minnesota and cash to Harvin -- when the trading period begins March 12.
However, the Hawks have to stay away from this guy. And hopefully offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who coached Harvin in Minnesota in 2009 and 2010, agrees.
Harvin is a good all-around player, but he also is an injury-prone chucklehead who is hardly worth the $8 million a year or more he might want.
The Seahawks already have paid far too much to receivers over the last few years -- Deion Branch, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sidney Rice -- and they don’t need to add another former Viking.
If the Hawks want a versatile offensive player, they can target West Virginia's Tavon Austin in the first round of the draft.
Dwight Freeney
Freeney could be a decent fill-in for the injured Chris Clemons -- but only at the right price. The 33-year-old was paid $14 million in 2012 and netted just five sacks.
He might benefit from a move back to defensive end from rush linebacker, which he played in Chuck Pagano's new scheme in Indianapolis last season. But Freeney still is not worth even half of what he was paid last season.
The Hawks need a LEO, and Freeney could be that guy if the Hawks could get him for maybe $5 million a year on a two-year deal.
The Hawks also need to weigh whether they prefer a short-term solution such as Freeney over a younger, more expensive investment such as Paul Kruger, Cliff Avril or Michael Johnson. Or a draft pick such as Alex Okafor.
Osi Umenyiora
The Seahawks have been connected to Umenyiora before -- the Giants end reportedly was interested in being traded to Seattle in 2011 -- so it figures that they are being linked again.
After a couple of years of rumors that he was on the outs in New York, it appears Umenyiora is definitely leaving this time. He will be a free agent on March 12.
At 31, he is a bit younger than Freeney, but he has not been much more productive the last couple of years -- 15 sacks to Freeney's 13.5.
Someone probably will be willing to pay him $7 million or more, which would be too much for a seemingly slowing 31-year-old rusher.
The Hawks figure to be smart about adding older veterans, and $7 million is too high for a guy over 30. But if they could get him for that same $5 million a year for a couple of years, he might be worth a look.
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