A look at free agent Oday Aboushi, who played more than most expected

A series looking at the players on the Seattle Seahawks who are set to become free agents in March, as well as potential trade and cap casualty candidates.

Player: Oday Aboushi

Position: Guard

2017 Cap Hit: ~916k (OverTheCap.com)

2017 Stats: 8 starts, 6 penalties (5 holding)

The Seahawks signed Aboushi to a one-year contract on March 20, giving them a low-risk, low-ceiling option to throw into the competition at guard. The favorites at that position were Luke Joeckel and Mark Glowinski, even after George Fant tore his ACL and Seattle needed to push someone to left tackle. Rather than that person being Joeckel, they took Rees Odhiambo from guard and placed him there, further ensuring Aboushi’s place as the backup to enter the season.

Glowinski was demoted around September 24, and Aboushi was named as the new starter at right guard, debuting against the Titans in Week 3. The Seahawks lost that game, and ultimately went 5-3 when Aboushi played; he did however have two holding penalties in the close 17-14 loss to Washington in Week 9. Aboushi’s final start was against the Falcons in Week 11, and he dislocated his shoulder in the loss.

The next week, Joeckel returned from knee surgery, pushing rookie Ethan Pocic from the left side — where he was filling in — to the right side, where he’d at least get some more reps, which we all mostly preferred to see instead of Aboushi. His injury was unfortunate but he may have been replaced by the rookie regardless.

We didn’t see Aboushi again after that.

2018 Contract Outlook

Aboushi had an opportunity to get some reps and showcase himself as a starter, if not a valuable backup, but he did little to prove worthy of either role. Playing on one of the worst offensive lines in football, he lost a preseason battle to Glowinski — who was later waived — then was perhaps about to lose an in-season battle to Pocic. His next contract, if he gets one, will also be around $1 million.

Likelihood to be re-signed by Seahawks: <5%

Joeckel is a free agent and guard will be a big need but they saw what Aboushi could do for them and it wasn’t much, even on this unit. Time to take another shot in the dark on a different guard/center/tackle.