Now that left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is off the board after signing a four-year deal with the Bengals, guard Isaac Seumalo is the top available offensive lineman on Pro Football Network’s Top 100 Free Agents list.
There’s a significant gap between Seumalo — who ranks 12th overall on our FA list — and former Jets center Connor McGovern, the next-best lineman at No. 57. However, through three days of NFL free agency, there hasn’t been a peep of news about the seven-year veteran.
Could the Eagles still retain Seumalo? They’re pressed for salary cap space, but Philadelphia found a way to keep Darius Slay after “having a hard time letting go” of the veteran corner, as CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported Wednesday. Still, several teams around the league have a more pressing need at guard.
Isaac Seumalo Free Agency Best Fits
Could Isaac Seumalo Follow Shane Steichen to Indianapolis?
Seumalo’s connection with the Indianapolis Colts is obvious. Indianapolis hired former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as their head coach this offseason, and we know that coaches are often enthusiastic about bringing known commodities to their new destination.
“You got to double down on what you believe in,” Steichen said at his introductory press conference. “You know what I mean? And I think that’s the biggest thing is staying true to who you are and believing what you’re doing. And if you’re going to fail, do it the way you want to fail. And if you’re going to succeed, do it the way you want to do it.”
Seumalo could help Steichen implement his vision, while Indy also happens to have a gaping hole at right guard. Will Fries, Danny Pinter, and Matt Pryor all played snaps at RG in 2022, but no member of that cadre established themselves as even a league-average starting option. If the season started today, Fries — a seventh-round pick in 2021 — would probably start, but the Colts can do better.
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Adding a veteran like Seumalo could become even more critical for Indianapolis if it ends up trading or cutting center Ryan Kelly, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported is a possibility. If the Colts plan to draft and start a rookie quarterback, they won’t want unproven options at two interior offensive line spots.
Indianapolis still has more than $23 million in available cap space, even after signing Samson Ebukam, Taven Bryan, and Matt Gay. If the club wants its offensive line to return to its glory days, adding Seumalo would be a good start.
Could Seumalo Follow Another Coordinator to Arizona?
Steichen wasn’t the only ex-Eagles coordinator hired as a head coach this offseason. Former Philadelphia DC Jonathan Gannon is now in charge in Arizona, and he already forged an Eagles-to-Cardinals path by signing linebacker Kyzir White to a two-year deal earlier this week.
Arizona has begun to bring back several members of its 2022 offensive line. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum re-signed on a two-year, $5.15 million pact, while right guard Will Hernandez received $9 million over two years. But the Cards still have problems at left guard, where Justin Pugh is unsigned, and center, where Rodney Hudson is expected to retire.
Seumalo played right guard in 2022, but nearly all of his NFL snaps prior to last season came on the left side. He could instantly take over for Pugh, and the Cardinals have plenty of space remaining ($26.8 million) to sign him.
Arizona’s roster needs a complete overhaul, and at age 29, Seumalo isn’t exactly a long-term piece. But he could help solidify the Cardinals’ front five, help Arizona’s other linemen learn the club’s new offensive scheme, and potentially become a mentor if the Cardinals opt to draft a young center.
Will Seumalo Be the Next Big Addition for the Raiders?
The Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive line progressed as the season went on and looked like a relatively competent unit by year’s unit. Left tackle Kolton Miller is the best member of the group, but rookie Dylan Parham was also impressive and figures to start at left guard in 2023.
There are more issues on the right side. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor posted the best season of his career but is now a free agent. Meanwhile, Alex Bars largely struggled at right guard — he’s a free agent, too, and Las Vegas should use the opportunity to upgrade.
Josh McDaniels’ Patriots always prioritized guard play, so it makes sense that the Raiders would want to stabilize their interior. A veteran right guard like Seumalo could become especially crucial if Las Vegas decides to draft and start a rookie at right tackle.
During his time in San Francisco and New England, new Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo generally played behind excellent offensive lines. He’s not athletic enough to be asked to escape the pocket and create second-reaction plays, so ensuring that Garoppolo is well-protected has to be a priority for Vegas.
The Giants Could Upgrade the Left Side With Seumalo Addition
The Giants were supposed to enter free agency with swaths of cap space, but an extension for Daniel Jones and a franchise tag for Saquon Barkley ate up a lot of those available funds.
Still, New York has found ways to be active in the market. They added to their offense by acquiring Darren Waller from the Raiders and signing former Colts receiver Parris Campbell, while the additions of linebacker Bobby Okereke and lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches will boost Big Blue’s defense.
All told, the Giants now have just over $7 million in cap space. General manager Joe Schoen could create more breathing room by restructuring Leonard Williams’ contract or extending Dexter Lawrence, moves which could allow New York to sign a few more external free agents.
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The Giants finished as a bottom-seven unit in both pass-block and run-block win rate, so they can’t bring back the same offensive line that struggled a year ago. Mark Glowinski is locked at right guard, but New York could upgrade the left side, where Ben Bredeson, Joshua Ezeudu, and Nick Gates each played 250+ snaps in 2022.
Although left tackle Andrew Thomas is a star, we ranked the Giants’ OL as a bottom-three line last season. Offensive line is a weak-link system where holes will be exposed. Seumalo isn’t an All-Pro, but he’s a steady, dependable force who could help New York’s front move out of the doldrums.