Seahawks releasing vets Britt and Fluker
Frazier joins Dolphins
RENTON, Washington, April 27, (AP): The Seattle Seahawks are releasing Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker in a major overhaul of their offensive line that clears significant salary cap space.
A person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Sunday that Britt had been informed he is being released, ending six seasons with the Seahawks. The person spoke on the condition of anyonymity becuase the team had not announced the move. The Athletic first reported Britt’s release. Earlier Sunday, Fluker posted on Twitter that he had been released after two seasons as Seattle’s starting right guard.
The two moves were not unexpected, especially Britt. The 28-year-old has been a starter at three positions for the Seahawks, but his salary and Seattle’s flurry of offseason moves to add offensive linemen made him a potential target to be moved.
Seattle will save about $12 million combined in salary cap space between the two roster moves, most of that belonging to Britt. He was due $8.25 million in base salary for the upcoming season but had a salary cap hit of $11.4 million. His release saves Seattle $8.5 million.
The moves happened with the Seahawks set to begin their virtual offseason program Monday.
Britt was a second-round pick in 2014. He started at right tackle and left guard his first two seasons before settling in at center the past four seasons. Britt is coming off a torn ACL suffered midway through last season and limited him to eight games. He started 86 of 87 regular-season games with Seattle.
The Saints and quarterback Jameis Winston are working on a contract proposal to make the former Buccaneers starter a backup to Drew Brees in New Orleans, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Winston and the Saints are in “advanced” talks, the person said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because negotiations were ongoing. The person declined to say whether there was any agreement on either the length of the contract or financial terms.
Yahoo Sports first reported the Saints’ interest in signing Winston as a backup.
Meanwhile, the Saints have announced that dynamic reserve QB and utility player Taysom Hill has a new two-year contract.
Winston is coming off a season in which he led the NFL with 5,109 yards passing and ranked second with 33 touchdown passes, but he also led the NFL in interceptions with 30. That made Winston the first QB in NFL history to have at least 30 TDs and 30 interceptions. Tampa Bay allowed Winston, whom it drafted first overall out of Florida State in 2015, to enter free agency and replaced him with former Patriots QB Tom Brady.
Now it appears Winston is open to going from fiveyear NFL starter to being Brees’ understudy in hopes of rebuilding his credentials as a prospective franchise quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater recently did just that, serving as Brees’ backup for two seasons before the Carolina
Panthers signed him last month to replace their longtime starter, Cam Newton.
Winston was a two-year starter at Florida State, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Seminoles to a national title as a freshman in the 2013 season.
Safety Kavon Frazier, who missed most of last season with a pectoral injury, signed with the Miami Dolphins, his agent said. Frazier was limited to four games in 2019 for the Dallas Cowboys before going on injured reserve. In four seasons with Dallas, he played 44 games, starting twice, and also contributed on special teams.
Frazier becomes the 11th free agent to join the Dolphins this offseason. He was a sixth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Central Michigan.