Seahawks sign another center who used to snap to Jared Goff
Seahawks sign another center who used to snap to Jared Goff
Evan Brown is the latest in a long line of Pete Carroll centers, 3/16/2023
On Thursday morning, I made a comment in the article about three free agents who the Seahawks are visiting with today saying that I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle was slow to add a center. About an hour later, as if Pete Carroll was upset with me, the Seahawks signed a center.
And as if Pete is indeed a Seaside Joe daily reader, the Seahawks signed Evan Brown from the Detroit Lions, the second player to come to Seattle so far who was in my exclusive list of “One free agent from all 31 other teams who make sense for the Seattle Seahawks” article back on January 20. The other—which I had forgotten until today—was Dre’Mont Jones.
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The Seahawks signed Brown to a one-year deal after he split time at both center and guard for the Lions over the past two seasons. A former undrafted free agent out of SMU who had barely any coverage (his NFL.com draft profile is blank, a rarity for NFL players), Brown received fairly high marks for his play at center in 2021 and Detroit was able to keep him as a restricted free agent.
Brown’s play at guard was not quite as well received in 2022, which may be why he didn’t get a longer deal and had a more limited market. He was backing up Frank Ragnow in 2021, regarded as maybe the best center in the league, but Lions fans were rather happy with his performance that season as as the snapper to Jared Goff.
Perhaps coincidentally, he’s replacing Austin Blythe, himself a former Goff center when they were together on the L.A. Rams. Of course, Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was also a part of those Rams teams.
Without trying to look too deeply into his past performances, because I think same as Dre’Mont Jones it is more important to wait and see how he fits with the Seahawks next season, it seems like Seattle has a comfortable starting option at center before we get to the draft. The Seahawks were never likely to start a rookie center in 2023, something that Pete Carroll has never done in his 13 seasons as the head coach, and the team has never picked an interior offensive lineman (intentionally) in the top-50 selections.
The team was reportedly at the pro day for John Michael Schmitz, the top center prospect in the draft, but it could be more like Pete to take on a project center on day three, if not after all the picks have been made. No, this does not preclude the Seahawks from picking an interior lineman on day two either.
Read next: Welcome back Drew Lock! What it means for pick #5
UPDATE: The Seahawks signed Devin Bush as of late Thursday; read all about it here
The Seahawks current offensive line would seem to be Charles Cross, Damien Lewis, Evan Brown, Phil Haynes, and Abe Lucas, with backups Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, Joey Hunt, Jalen McKenzie, and Greg Eiland. There are more offensive line moves to come—maybe more of my free agent targets too?—in free agency and the draft. But for now, Seattle does have a line.
Here’s what I wrote about Jones and Brown two months ago:
If the Seahawks are ready to spend, then Dre’Mont Jones could be their benefactor. Jones had 47 tackles (1 missed) in 13 games for the Broncos, plus 6.5 sacks. He’d be a tough one for Denver to lose but will Russell Wilson’s contract push him out?
Lions: iOL Evan Brown
Injuries have given the 26-year-old opportunities to start 24 games at center and guard for the last two years. He is blocked in Detroit, so Brown should leave the Lions for a chance to start. RB Jamaal Williams would be a fun addition, but the Lions will work hard to keep him and he might get overpaid anyway because of his career-season in 2022.
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He played some on the nose, and more at the 3 technique at Michigan last year...but his numbers look he could try the 5 as well...
Evin Brown is a JAG. He might be a better JAG than the JAG that just retired, but he's a JAG. Go 'Hawks!!