Seattle Seahawks expected to host Samson Satele

The Seattle Seahawks are clearly in the market for interior offensive line help of any kind, and their first look went to the best of the bunch in Evan Mathis, who can only be described as a pipe dream for a cash-strapped franchise loaded with huge contracts. Even though the Seahawks are fully expected to ignore Kam Chancellor‘s unsurprising demands for a raise, they simply don’t seem to have the ammunition to go after Mathis, who is finally starting to generate more interest.

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Now, the ‘Hawks have turned their attention from an expensive, elite left guard to a cheap, veteran center in Samson Satele, who could competently play the position. ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports that the Seahawks are expected to host Satele on a visit today, and Caplan notes that the 30-year-old Hawaii product has a vast amount of experience, having started in 114 games in his career over eight seasons.

Satele has never been a truly solid starting center, but he’s a passable starter on a team that currently lacks a set solution at the position after trading star Max Unger to the New Orleans Saints in the Jimmy Graham deal. While the Seahawks did “win” that trade, parting ways with Unger was certainly tough, as he’s been their most reliable offensive lineman (Russell Okung‘s injury bouts prevented him from achieving that unofficial title).

The Seahawks aren’t the only team to have shown interest in Satele this offseason, as another Super Bowl contender, in the Denver Broncos, showed interest. It also appeared that the Chicago Bears were once seriously considering him, but they are set at center with veteran Will Montgomery and Oregon Ducks rookie Hroniss Grasu, who could prove to be a solid pick-up for first-year GM Ryan Pace.

John Schneider is, of course, not a first-year GM, but rather an elite and experienced hand at leading a franchise, but even he might find it difficult to work enough magic to bring in Mathis. Satele is a more realistic option financially for the Seattle Seahawks, and he would bring in some stability to the table. He’d also be an upgrade, but it’s fair for skeptics to wonder how much of an upgrade he’d be, given that he’s been unsigned to this point.

As for Mathis, look for him to pick a team this week.

And if the Seahawks (or Satele) don’t like what they see in this visit, then it will be Drew Nowak vs. Lemuel Jeanpierre at center. That’s not a recipe for success, so Satele would likely be a welcome signing for Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.

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