TCU QB Trevone Boykin among Seahawks’ undrafted free agent signings

The Seattle Seahawks have signed quarterback Trevone Boykin of TCU as an undrafted free agent, according to a tweet from Boykin, news later confirmed by his agent. The Seahawks have yet to announce UDFA signings.

Teams can begin signing rookies who were not drafted the minute the draft ends, however, and it appears the team went hard after Boykin to add him to the competition for a backup spot behind Russell Wilson.

In fact, the Seahawks entered the weekend with just one QB on the roster in Wilson after waiving Philip Sims late last week.

The team also continues to negotiate with veteran Tarvaris Jackson, a backup the last three seasons and coach Pete Carroll has indicated that all things being equal, the team might prefer a veteran to work behind Wilson.

But with Jackson remaining unsigned, the Seahawks have to explore other options, and along with signing Boykin they have also invited Vernon Adams to rookie mini-camp as a tryout player.

A report from Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and the National Football Post stated that Boykin had received a $15,000 bonus to sign with the Seahawks, which is on the high end of the amount teams typically give to UDFAs and an amount that indicates Seattle pursued Boykin aggressively.

The 6-foot, 212-pound Boykin fits the run-pass mold the Seahawks like and turned in one of the best statistical seasons in college football last season throwing for 2,054 yards and running for 612 before suffering an ankle injury late in the season and then being suspended for the Alamo Bowl for his involvement in a bar fight. But his stature also helped lead to questions about his ability to play QB at the NFL level and he also had played as a receiver in college, leaving some to wonder if his NFL future might be at a spot other than quarterback.

Carroll said in a post-draft press conference the team had some things it was working on to add a quarterback to the roster.

“It’s a big day today,” Carroll said. “We’re working on stuff today.We’ll see how it goes.”

A few other reported UDFA signings include USC RB Tre Madden, Oregon linebacker Christian French (who was reported to have gotten a $5,000 bonus), Western Kentucky TE George Fant, Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell, Florida International DL Lars Koht (who reportedly got a $2,000 bonus), Arizona OL Lene Maiava, Colorado State cornerback DeAndre Elliot, Wisconsin safety Tanner McEvoy, North Alabama cornerback Darvell Harris, Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa, Michigan State receiver DeAnthony Arnett and Florida Atlantic defensive tackle Brandin Bryant.

Of that group, French and Maiava had reported visits to the VMAC in the runup to the draft. French is a player the Seahawks were known to be particularly enamored with, viewing him as a possible candidate at strongside linebacker, where the Seahawks need a replacement for Bruce Irvin.

Powell is also an intriguing name, a former Ohio State captain who some initially thought could go in the middle rounds (here is some detail on Powell).

McEvoy also has an interesting back story as a former Wisconsin quarterback now playing safety.

Considering Seattle’s current roster of 72 and then 10 draft picks, the Seahawks appeared to have room for just eight UDFAs. So that could mean some of the players reported as signing with Seattle are coming as tryout players — that the team is not revealing a list leaves a little mystery though those who have gotten bonuses have definitely signed. The Seahawks could also make other roster moves to open up other spots.

The Seahawks have been strategic, if not direct, with their approach to undrafted free agents: They have talked at length about their equal-opportunity attitude for selecting the roster — a core belief, sure, but also a good bit of advertising for any undrafted free agents in the future.

But the thing is, they have data to back up their contention. In every year since 2011, the Seahawks have signed at least one undrafted free agent immediately after the draft who has appeared on the 53-man roster. In three of those years, they signed multiple players who made the roster.

So keep that in mind with the list of Seahawks’ undrafted free agents that trickles out: There’s a good chance that at least one of those guys will make the team or contribute in some way.

Previous undrafted free agents who made the Seahawks’ roster:

2011:

WR Doug Baldwin

LB Mike Morgan

WR Ricardo Lockette

2012:

DB DeShawn Shead

WR Jermaine Kearse

WR Phil Bates

2013:

OL Alvin Bailey

2014:

LB Brock Coyle

OL Garry Gilliam

SS Dion Bailey

2015:

RB Thomas Rawls