The Times is reporting the Seahawks are set to sign free agent CB Ken Lucas and FB Justin Griffith. The moves are expected to be announced this afternoon. The terms of the deals are unknown, though Griffith signed for only one year.
Lucas became a free agent on March 11, when the Panthers cut him in order to trim salary after re-singing Pro Bowl free agent Jordan Gross and franchising Julius Peppers.
He spent the first four seasons of his career in Seattle after being drafted in the second round of the 2001 draft.
To continue...
Lucas has arguably seen his best years come and go, which would include his last season in Seattle and his first in Carolina. In both years, he recorded a career-high in interceptions with six.
He turned that career year in 2004 into a six-year $36.5 million deal with the Panthers.
At the time, Seattle was faced with Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and Walter Jones all becoming free agents, so Lucas became an afterthought.
As a 'Hawk, he was an immediate starter upon being drafted, though he did take some time to develop into a quality one. Considered a project at first, he had the perfect blend of size, strength and speed.
His breakout year came in 2004, when he stayed consistent with the occasional flash of shutdown ability. His performance even overshadowed that of Marcus Trufant, who was a second-year pro at the time.
Now at 30, Lucas has failed to develop into the consistent Pro Bowl corner the Panthers no doubt thought they were getting, but he still has plenty of ability.
At 6-foot, 205 pounds, he's larger than any of Seattle's top three corners, all of whom fall just under 6-foot.
He doesn't have flashy speed (though he's certainly not slow), but he has the strength to press at the line of scrimmage.
Click here to find out more on how Lucas' size and physicality will be an asset in the NFC West.
Griffith is a pure blocking fullback. He paved the way for the league's best rushing attack in Atlanta when Jim Mora and Greg Knapp were coaching there.
He can also be a decent threat in the passing game, totaling more than 20 receptions his past five seasons. He will be 29 at the start of the season.
Griffith will battle for the starting position with second-year FB Owen Schmitt, who the 'Hawks drafted in the fifth round of last year's draft. Like Griffith, Schmitt is known as a punishing blocker, and he outweighs Griffith by almost 20 pounds.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
Posts
