Seahawks free agency 2018: Seattle reportedly signs LB Barkevious Mingo

As expected, the Seattle Seahawks had a quiet first day of free agency, but they didn’t end Wednesday without bringing anyone on board.

Ian Rapoport reported that former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Barkevious Mingo has signed a two-year deal with Seattle.

Aaron Wilson says that it’s two years and $6.8 million, so maybe that $3.3 million difference has to do with extra money he can earn by hitting performance bonuses. Either way, Mingo looks to be a Seahawk.

The superbly first-named Mingo hasn’t lived up to expectations in his five seasons in the NFL. Drafted sixth overall by the Cleveland Browns in what was a pretty underwhelming 2013 class, Mingo was traded to the New England Patriots in 2016, and played 323 of his 370 snaps on special teams. He did win a Super Bowl, so he shall henceforth be known as “Super Bowl champion Barkevious Mingo.”

After New England did not re-sign him in free agency, Mingo inked a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts, recording two sacks, three forced fumbles, and more than 30 tackles.

Here are some of his advanced stats:

Incredibly, Mingo is the fourth first-rounder from the 2013 draft to be acquired by the Seahawks in the past twelve months. They picked up Luke Joeckel and Dion Jordan in the 2017 offseason, traded for Sheldon Richardson later that preseason, and now have Mingo on the roster to start the 2018 offseason.

This seems like one of the classic “reward is greater than the already low risk” signings John Schneider is known for. Mingo is still just 27 years old and might be replacing Terence Garvin and Michael Wilhoite, both of whom are free agents and were special teams contributors. Ideally Mingo can provide more on defense than either one of those two.