The Seattle Seahawks tendered key special teams player and reserve tight end Brady Russell as an exclusive rights free agent on Friday, which secures his rights for the 2025 season.
Seahawks GM details where they are on DK Metcalf trade talks
Russell is one of four exclusive rights free agents for the Seahawks, along with with linebacker Josh Ross, outside linebacker Joshua Onujiogu and wide receiver Cody White. When an exclusive rights free agent is tendered, that means he can only sign with that particular team.
Russell, a 26-year-old undrafted free agent out of Colorado, signed with Seattle in 2023. He appeared in 26 games over the past two seasons, playing mostly on special teams. He also was the Seahawks’ fourth tight end last year, behind Noah Fant, AJ Barner and Pharaoh Brown.
Russell logged a team-high 542 special teams snaps over past two seasons while playing on Seattle’s kick return, punt return, kick coverage and punt coverage units. He had a team-high 10 special teams tackles last season, despite being limited to 11 games with a foot injury.
Russell played 49 offensive snaps over the past two seasons, including 19 at fullback, according to Pro Football Focus. That could make him a potential candidate for more snaps at fullback this season, with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak saying during his introductory press conference last month that he plans to use a fullback in his offense.
Exclusive rights free agents are players whose contract has expired and who have two or fewer accrued seasons. Any exclusive rights free agent who isn’t tendered by the start of the new league year next Wednesday will become an unrestricted free agent.
Seattle Seahawks news and analysis
• Seattle Seahawks Draft: Potential early-round WR targets to replace DK
• Seattle Seahawks GM gives update on Ernest Jones IV’s knee, contract talks
• Seattle Seahawks re-sign surprising contributor from 2024 defense
• Two new things from NFL insiders on DK Metcalf trade rumors
• Mina Kimes weighs in on Seattle Seahawks’ Metcalf, Lockett news