A source says, the Seattle Seahawks signed Julian Love to a two-year, $12 million contract on Friday.
Love, who started 32 games in four seasons with the Giants and 16 last year, adds to the Seahawks’ position of uncertainty. Strong safety Jamal Adams is recovering from surgery to repair a torn quadriceps tendon, so their secondary is also a big question mark. Their most obvious defensive needs have been in their front seven.
Adams’ physical issue happened in Week 1 of last season, however mentor Pete Carroll said in January that his recuperation would go on into the mid year, bringing up an issue about whether he’ll be prepared by the opener.
Ryan Neal, one of Seattle’s best defenders, took Adams’ place last season. The Seahawks gave Neal the low tender for $2.627 million as a restricted free agent, which may have prompted other teams to make offers. Quandre Diggs, a free safety who was selected for the second time in a row to the Pro Bowl in 2022, is under contract for two more seasons while Adams is signed until 2025.
This past season, Love, 24, made his Giants debut as a full-time starting safety and served as team captain for the first time in his career. In addition to being a regular on special teams and playing the punt protector, he had a total of 124 tackles, tied for the team lead, and two interceptions.
During the first three years of his professional career, the Notre Dame graduate alternated between cornerback and safety. Despite starting 16 games over those three seasons, he never seemed to settle down.
However, Love could play a larger role after the Giants released Logan Ryan during the new regime’s offseason. He was an important part of Wink Martindale’s defense and even called defensive plays after safety Xavier McKinney broke his hand in an off-road accident during the bye week.
During the bye week, Love was the subject of contract negotiations with the Giants, who selected him as a cornerback out of Notre Dame in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
He has 291 handles and 5 capture attempts in four NFL seasons.
Likewise on Friday, the Seahawks tended to one of their greatest requirements by marking previous Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Devin Shrub. Schefter was informed by a source that his contract is only for one season. In 2019, the 10th pick was Bush, who was 24 years old. He gives Seattle a chance to sign the Washington Commanders’ Cody Barton, who left Seattle for free agency.