The Seattle Seahawks will likely be looking for a new starting right tackle early in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. A day after the San Francisco 49ers signed restricted free agent Garry Gilliam to an offfer sheet, it is being reported that Seattle will not match said offer.
The Seahawks had placed an original round tender on the former undrafted free agent, meaning that they won’t get any compensation for him signing with their division rival.
In the grand scheme of things, this likely isn’t horrible news for Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Co. Sure Gilliam provided them with a body that has started 29 games over the past two seasons.
He also played pretty well back in 2015. But this past season saw the three-year vet put up one of the worst performances for a starting tackle in the NFL.
Finding an upgrade at right tackle now has to be seen as inevitable for a Seahawks squad that has boasted a downright anemic offensive line.
As it relates to San Francisco, the team adds a potential starting right tackle should it decide that Trent Brown is not up for the task in Kyle Shanahan’s new zone-blocking scheme. It comes cheap and creates competition during camp. This is unlikely to change what the 49ers do in next week’s draft.