cap space (approximately $55M) and a fairly large group of players on expiring deals—30 between unrestricted Kam Chancellor Color Rush Jersey , restricted and exclusive rights free agents. On Friday, we went through the team’s unrestricted free agents and assessed who is likely to be re-signed and who isn’t. Today, we’ll do something similar with their four restricted free agents—Quinton Jefferson, Akeem King, George Fant and Tre Madden—while also assessing which tender they could receive from the Seahawks. Quick explanation of the three tenders available to teams: (1) First-round tender (the team would receive a first-round pick as compensation), (2) Second-round tender (second-round pick as compensation) and (3) Original-round tender (the round the player was selected as compensation). A team could also simply not extend a qualifying offer, thus making the potential RFA into an unrestricted free agent. With all three tenders, the team placing the tender has right of first refusal; the difference is in the cost of the tender. Per Over The Cap’s projection for 2019, a first-round tender would cost Seattle $4.429M, a second $3.11M and original round $2.035M. So how will the Seahawks handle their restricted free agents?George FantFant is the most interesting RFA of the group. Entering 2017, there was optimism the former UDFA with a tremendous athletic profile would be able to develop into the long-term solution at left tackle. A torn ACL robbed him of that season, and in 2018 he returned to play 34 percent of the offense’s snaps—the majority of which came as a sixth offensive lineman.An original-round tender would see Seattle lose him for nothing if they didn’t match an offer sheet from another team. However, with Duane Brown and Germain Ifedi under contract for 2019, Fant’s role on a one-year deal would likely remain restricted to that of a sixth lineman. Would the Seahawks pony up the extra $1.1M necessary to place a second-round tender on Fant, all but assuring no team would give him an offer sheet? It wouldn’t be a terrible use of money, but I don’t expect them to do so. Verdict: Original-round tender.Quinton JeffersonAnother valuable rotational piece for Seattle in 2018, Jefferson stepped up in a big way and was evidence of how important utilization is: Used as a 5-tech/big end capable of reducing inside for the first time, Jefferson enjoyed his best season yet and started 12 games. The Seahawks will surely be adding pieces to their defensive line ahead of the 2019 season, but lessening Jefferson’s workload wouldn’t lessen the value his versatility brings. However, his draft position (fifth-round pick) makes it a fairly easy decision. It’s doubtful another team would sacrifice a fifth-round pick of their own to sign Jefferson to an offer sheet, and if they did, Seattle would have no issue finding a similarly useful rotational player. Verdict: Original-round tender. Akeem KingKing was a pleasant surprise for the Seahawks in 2018, playing meaningful snaps after injuries forced Delano Hill out of the big nickel role and into the starting lineup. The fifth year cornerback has the profile Seattle seeks and impressed after initially being cut at the end of training camp. However Shaquem Griffin Color Rush Jersey , if the Seahawks were to even offer an original-round tender to King, one would have to imagine he would sign it immediately. Per Over The Cap, King’s career earnings are just over $1.3M. A tender of more than $2M would be highly appealing to King, even coming off his best season to date.Verdict: No qualifying offer made, though Seattle would be interested in having him in training camp on a smaller deal with no guarantees. Tre MaddenIt’s kind of incredible that in 2018, Madden was on the Seahawks’ roster for the entire season. Injuries limited him to 14 games, but Madden stuck around despite existing in a crowded backfield and playing just eight percent of the offense’s snaps. On special teams—the reason Madden’s on the roster—he played 55 percent on a unit that finished 24th in DVOA. Madden’s situation is closely similar to King’s. Seattle may want him to return to again compete for a roster spot in camp, but a tender of roughly $2M would guarantee him $700,000 more than he’s made in his career up to this point. Verdict: No qualifying offer made, could return on a deal with no guarantees. Though the decisions aren’t nearly as difficult as some of the Seahawks’ unrestricted free agents, it will be fascinating to see how Seattle navigates restricted free agency, particularly in the case of Fant. It’s doubtful the Seahawks will be in line for compensation, but if it means hanging on to several rotational players from 2018, then they’ll be in good shape. RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Once Pete Carroll was finished answering for the shortcomings of a disappointing playoff loss, the oldest coach in the NFL started articulating why he’s so excited about what the future holds for the Seattle Seahawks.After listening to his enthusiasm it’s no wonder Carroll signed a contract extension to stick around Seattle a few more years to see if this group of Seahawks can develop into another championship team.“That connection they have to what we are asking them to do, and the willingness to practice that on a regular basis, to bring their attitude and bring their energy all the time, that’s rare. It’s special,” Carroll said on Monday.“And that’s what gives me the thought; I can go back a few years, I said the same thing four, five, six years ago Bradley McDougald Color Rush Jersey , whatever it was now, you know? You can tell that the nucleus and the core of the team that you need to have a championship club is here.”Carroll’s feeling about the direction of the Seahawks after an unexpected 10-6 regular season and opening-round playoff loss to Dallas mirrors that of many of his veterans who believe Seattle is on a similar track to its 2012 team that unexpectedly made the playoffs with a mix of young talent and important veterans, and a year later won a Super Bowl.No one is going as far as to expect Seattle is going to be playing for a championship a year from now, but the Seahawks overhaul last offseason ended up being a quicker rebuild than most expected and has them in a place with fewer question marks headed into 2019.Instead of continuing a rebuild, the Seahawks could be more supplementing with the belief they are a contender.“We’re pleased with the progress that we’ve made with the guys we have, so we know we’re adding to. We don’t feel like there’s big voids and big holes, so we’re going to add,” Carroll said.“To make this roster more competitive across the board is really the intent and make guys have to work harder to hold their spots and have to get better to do that. That’s right at the heart of what we’re all about, so we’re really looking forward to that.”In the short term there was still disappointment about last Saturday’s 24-22 loss to Dallas that ended Seattle’s season.Much of the frustration about Seattle’s loss centered on the offense and a game plan that seemed conservative and slow to adjust.Carroll tried to deflect criticism being thrown at offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, pointing out the success the offense had during the season both developing the top running offense in the NFL and having one of the best scoring teams in franchise history.Seattle was held to just 73 yards rushing by the Cowboys and was 2 of 13 on third-down conversions.“For somebody to look at this game and (say) somebody didn’t do this or didn’t do that, and try to hold that against them or whatever, is really unfair. Hold it against me, I’m the guy that’s in charge of this thing,” Carroll said.“There’s nowhere to look at an individual guy, it’s a team thing. But I’m on top of it and I’m the one to be pointed at. We couldn’t have been more committed to being an aggressive football team than we were this year.”Carroll did note that perhaps they were asking too much for starting offensive guards J.R. Sweezy and D.J. Fluker to play against a top defensive line after missing time with injuries. Fluker had not played in three of the final four regular-season games because of a hamstring injury, and Sweezy played against the Cowboys with a chipped bone in his foot.“They hadn’t been able to practice full speed for some time. (Fluker) had some plays a couple weeks ago, but no preparation for that and no preparation (last) week to speak of,” Carroll said. “They were very limited in the prep. That’s why I felt like it was a lot to ask of them but we went for it, and that’s the way we decided to do it.”Eventually Carroll is hoping the playoff disappointment against Dallas is the same kind of catalyst as the playoff loss to Atlanta in January 2013. That Seahawks team felt they let a chance slip away and it became a driving motivation in their championship run a year later.“It was a blast,” Carroll said of the season. “I love that game (vs. Dallas). I know it was ugly and hard at times and all that, but I loved that we were in it fighting and clawing and scratching up and down the sidelines seeing guys find their belief and again rediscover that belief and why we should keep believing.“Sure enough, Russell hits Tyler (Lockett) and here we go. We’re coming back. It’s an exciting part of it. This season was just kind of the tip of it with so much more. There’s so much more out there.”