:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45851950/183457070.0.jpg)
The Seahawks have signed veteran cornerback Will Blackmon, bolstering their depth at the position prior to the Draft. Blackmon spent the last two seasons with the Jaguars after being cut from the Seahawks out of camp in 2013, and while he played well in in time down there, Jacksonville decided to get younger at that spot.
"I don't want to say I saw it coming, but I knew they wanted to build through the draft," he said recently on being released by Dave Caldwell and Gus Bradley. "So, it wasn't a surprise. I knew if I was still going to be on this roster, I was going to have to be near perfect to solidify myself on this team. I know these young guys now have more experience. They want to go in their direction. So, when I got the word they were going to release me, that seemed to make the most sense."
His departure from Jacksonville is somewhat similar to how things went down in Seattle back in 2013, when the Hawks were very flush at cornerback and Blackmon was simply a casualty of the numbers game. Now, with the Jaguars decision to release him prior to camp, Blackmon had his options open and it just so happens that Seattle needs depth at the cornerback spot after losing Byron Maxwell to free agency and Jeremy Lane to injury. He'll come in and compete for a roster spot and could even vie for the starting position opposite Richard Sherman, depending on how things shake out in the rest of free agency, with Tharold Simon, and with the draft.
Blackmon also provides some value as a special teamer, having returned kicks and punts in the past. It wouldn't be surprising if he factored in there going forward.
----
Speaking of that, per Bob Condotta, the Seahawks have not tendered a contract to RFA Bryan Walters. One correction to make -- earlier it was reported the Seahawks did not tender exclusive rights free agent Ricardo Lockette, but Condotta reports that did make qualifying offers to Lockette and safety DeShawn Shead, meaning both will be with the team once camp opens next year.