As the brand new NFL league 12 months approached, the Seattle Seahawks made a flurry of roster strikes, together with releasing a number of veterans for wage cap functions, buying and selling DK Metcalf and Geno Smith, extending Jarran Reed, Ernest Jones and Josh Jobe, whereas tendering Brady Russell.
The unique rights free agent tender prolonged to Russell got here as no shock, as he has shortly grow to be one of many workforce leaders in particular groups snaps because the Hawks poached him off the observe squad of the Philadelphia Eagles early within the 2023 season. Nonetheless, what did come as a shock was that Russell was the one one of many 4 unique rights free brokers the Hawks tendered. That call left the opposite three ERFAs as unrestricted free brokers, together with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and particular teamer Josh Ross.
Nonetheless, in keeping with a report Thursday from Corbin Smith, the Hawks have agreed to a one 12 months take care of Ross after initially opting to not lengthen a young provide to him.
I really slept in – a uncommon prevalence for me – however #Seahawks are bringing again linebacker Josh Ross on a separate one-year deal after not tendering him as an ERFA yesterday.
— Corbin Ok. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) March 13, 2025
There might be any of a lot of the explanation why a workforce may choose to not lengthen an ERFA tender to a participant earlier than signing them to a contract later. Particularly, ERFA tenders are standardized as to their phrases, that means any distinctive restrictions or obligations that the workforce desires added can’t be included in an ERFA tender.
Probably the most memorable occasion of this got here a number of years in the past when the Seahawks opted to not lengthen guard Jordan Simmons an ERFA tender due to his prolific damage historical past. As a substitute, Seattle supplied Simmons a contract which allowed them to cut back his base wage if he wound up on injured reserve, a clause that’s frequent in lots of contracts for youthful gamers however is just not included in ERFA tenders.