Seahawks re-sign Jermaine Kearse and Jeremy Lane
The Seahawks have kept another key free agent home, agreeing to a deal Thursday with receiver Jermaine Kearse. A source close to the situation confirmed to the Seattle Times an earlier report that Kearse will re-sign with the Seahawks. It’s being reported as a three-year deal worth $13.5 million.
Kearse, who turned 26 last month, emerged from originally joining the Seahawks in 2012 as an undrafted free agent to become one of the most valuable players on the team in recent seasons, including making winning touchdown receptions in the 2014 and 2015 NFC Championship games.
Kearse had his best season in 2015 when he set career highs with 49 receptions and 685 yards along with five touchdowns.
An ESPN report shortly before the free-agent signing period indicated Kearse had decided to move on. But after exploring the free-agent market, Kearse and the Seahawks were able to reach a deal keeping him with the team.
That means the Seahawks will have the bulk of their 2015 receiving corps – which helped Russell Wilson throw for a team record 34 touchdowns – intact in 2016.
The team’s top four receivers – Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Kearse and Jimmy Graham – all are under contract as is tight end Luke Willson. And the Seahawks are also expecting to get back Paul Richardson, their top choice in the 2014 draft who played just one game due to injury. Kearse’s return also means the Seahawks will again have three Washington grads on the roster, joining Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams, each also under contract through 2016.
Kearse played last season on a one-year deal after having been a restricted free agent, making $2.3 million. Getting $4.5 million a year obviously equates to basically doubling his salary.
After the season, Kearse had said he hoped to stay in his hometown – he got married last summer and his wife is also from the Seattle area – but would have to explore his options.
“I grew up in the state of Washington,” he said following the season-ending playoff loss to Carolina. “I would love to be here. But there are going to have to be some decisions that have to be made, and we’re just going to have to see when that time comes.”
Kearse played at UW from 2008-11, finishing his career as the second-leading receiver in school history with 180 receptions for 2,871 yards.
Seattle retains Lane
The Seahawks retained one of their key defensive starters by agreeing to terms with cornerback Jeremy Lane.
Lane and the Seahawks reached agreement on the deal on Wednesday night after the opening of free agency. Terms were not released by the team. NFL.com reported it was a four-year deal.
Lane quickly moved into the starting lineup opposite Richard Sherman last season after he finished recovering from serious arm and knee injuries suffered in Seattle’s Super Bowl loss to New England. Lane’s performance was impressive enough that Seattle benched and later cut veteran Cary Williams.
Lane appeared in six regular-season games and started both of Seattle’s playoff games last season. Since being a sixth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2012, Lane has started six of 41 career games.
Lane suffered a serious broken arm and a torn ACL on the same play of Super Bowl 49 after he intercepted Tom Brady, but was injured as he was tackled near the sideline on the return. He started the 2015 season on the physically unable to perform list before returning in Week 12.
“It was tough watching because last year at Super Bowl time I knew I had a good opportunity before that game the next year that I would probably be the starting corner, but then I got hurt,” Lane said after the season. “I knew it would be a long journey, but I never gave up and I finally got the opportunity and I’m grateful for it.”
Lane becomes the second defensive starter the Seahawks have retained this week after locking up defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin on a three-year contract on Monday.
The decision to keep Lane indicates the importance Seattle has placed on keeping players developed through its system rather than adding from the outside – especially in the secondary.
Williams was the most recent example of a defensive back being brought in, but struggling to learn Seattle’s defensive system and the technique played by the cornerbacks.
Having been developed by Seattle, Lane fully understands the system and what is required of playing in one of the top defensive back units in the NFL.
“I think I showed enough, but I didn’t show all I’ve got,” Lane said. “I’ve still got more in me. I felt like I was getting better every week.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.