Seattle
Seahawks

And the Seahawks gave up a lot to secure the services of the four-year pro who has never thrown a regular-season pass. The Seahawks agreed to swap second-round picks with the Chargers, giving up the 40th overall pick in the second round in exchange for San Diego's second-round pick at No. 60. Seattle also gave up the team's third-round pick in 2011.

Seattle gave up valuable draft position for a chance to get a quarterback on the upswing. Whitehurst reportedly signed a two-year, $8 million deal with $2 million more in incentives. Whitehurst was extended a third-round tender by San Diego, so in order to obtain his services Seattle either had to sign him to an offer sheet and give up a third-round pick, or negotiate a trade as compensation. Seattle has no third-round pick in this year's draft, so the team negotiated alternative compensation for Whitehurst.

Seattle outbid the Arizona Cardinals for Whitehurst's services. Instead, the Cardinals signed free agent quarterback Derek Anderson to a reported two-year deal worth a little over $7 million to compete with Matt Leinart for the starting job left vacant when Kurt Warner retired at the end of the season.

"Big, talented, athletic guy with a strong arm and a competitive streak," said Hawks general manager John Schneider about Seattle's newest addition. "We believe he has the potential to be a successful quarterback in this league."

Head coach Pete Carroll clearly stated that veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck remains the starter, but Whitehurst is expected to push him as the backup.

"Let the games begin," Carroll said. "Matt's obviously our guy that we've been excited about for a good while, and we're pumped to have him. Charlie's going to fit into this competition and take it as far as he can. And we have big expectations for him for the long haul."

Originally a 2006 third-round draft choice by San Diego out of Clemson, Whitehurst spent the last four seasons for the Chargers as the third-string quarterback behind Phillip Rivers and Billy Volek.

In Whitehurst, the Seahawks get a young quarterback who was trained under one of the best quarterback mentors in the game in San Diego head coach Norv Turner. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick out of Clemson, where he threw for nearly 10,000 yards with 49 touchdowns and 46 interceptions and a 60 percent completion percentage during a four-year career as a starter.

Whitehurst's playing time in the NFL has been limited to mostly preseason games. But at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, the scouting report on Whitehurst is he has a strong arm, is accurate and moves well in the pocket.

Whitehurst said the decision between Seattle and Arizona was made plain when he took his trip here.

"The decision was easy for me," Whitehurst said. "When I came and visited here. To get around coach (Carroll) and the people in this building, I think something special is going on here, and I really want to be a part of it."

"I don't think so," Schneider said. "I think we're going to take it day by day and see how it goes. ... In terms of where we're going in free agency, I think adding somebody like Charlie can only help you."

The Seahawks recently had Marshall in for a visit and are the only team in the league that has shown a clear interest in going after him. Denver extended a first-round tender to Marshall, and reportedly will accept nothing less than a team's first rounder in return as compensation for the right to sign Marshall.

--Schneider also said that even though the Seahawks made a move to add depth at quarterback, there's still a possibility they could select a quarterback in the first round. Seattle currently holds the No. 6 and No. 14 picks in the first round.

"Where we are now, a new culture here and everything coach Carroll and his staff are preaching, we're going to be looking at everything," Schneider said.

--Carroll was asked how the difference in scheme affected the Seahawks' evaluation. San Diego runs more of a vertical passing game, while Seattle's offense will require Whitehurst to move around more, with more plays based off of play-action.

Carroll said the team took that into consideration, but liked the fact that they were able to see Whitehurst showcase his arm in the vertical passing game, throwing deep balls and deep comebacks.

"Our game is a little different than them," Carroll said. "It plays off of our running game more than theirs. Charlie is going to be on the move a little bit more than they move their quarterback.

"The things that you want to see -- the dynamics of his arm strength and accuracy and downfield decision-making is really telling and helpful for us. So he didn't come out of a dink and dunk throwing game where you didn't know what he could do. We have seen the kinds of things that pumped us up about his play."

--Along with Whitehurst, the Seahawks added depth at running back by signing Washington Redskins free agent running back Quinton Ganther, who played for current Seahawks running backs coach Sherman Smith while in Washington.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "As we see him fitting in he's athletic. He's got the mobility that we love. He's got a big arm. He's hungry to play. He's been waiting for his turn. And that attitude he brings, as well as the athleticism and his throwing ability makes him a guy that we're really pumped up about." -- Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on new quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.

After a relatively quiet beginning to free agency things have heated up for the Seahawks. They made perhaps the most surprising move during the free agency period in trading for San Diego restricted free agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Both head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have said they believe current starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck can still be effective in the league. However, with Whitehurst in the fold, the clock appears to be ticking on Hasselbeck's future in Seattle.

Hasselbeck is entering the final year of his contract, and will make a little over $6 million in 2010. He will be 35 in September and is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro. He threw as many touchdowns (17) as interceptions.

Hasselbeck has had trouble staying healthy the past two seasons, and by releasing Deon Grant, trading Darryl Tapp and now trading for Whitehurst, Carroll and Schneider have shown they are not afraid to make bold moves in order to change the makeup of the team. Trading Hasselbeck may be another step in that process.

The Seahawks also signed Washington Redskins free agent running back Quinton Ganther, who can help them in third down and short-yardage situations.

Seattle likely is not done adding players through free agency. One big fish that remains is Denver Broncos restricted free agent Brandon Marshall. The Seahawks recently had Marshall in for a visit, and remain the only team that has shown a clear interest in the talented receiver.

The Broncos are asking for a first-round pick in return for the right to sign Marshall, which is where the team tendered him. But the Seahawks could have a shot at securing Marshall's services for a lesser draft pick as things move closer to April's draft.

TEAM NEEDS

1. Safety: The Seahawks parted ways with veteran Deon Grant, releasing the 31-year-old safety and his $4 million base salary for 2010. Seattle has struggled stopping the pass the last, two seasons, and will be looking to add a young playmaker in the back end of its defense.

2. Defensive end: With Patrick Kerney set to make $5.16 million in 2010, he likely will not be back this year. The Seahawks struggled to generate a consistent pass rush the past two seasons with Kerney on the field, so the team could use an elite pass rusher coming off the edge.

3. Offensive tackle: With Walter Jones likely retiring and Sean Locklear struggling to stay healthy, Seattle needs an upgrade at the left tackle position so it can move Locklear to his more comfortable spot at right tackle.

MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: PK Olindo Mare (tendered at $2.814M; signed tender March 9).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--FB Justin Griffith is a crafty veteran and experienced blocker in the zone running scheme. The Seahawks could use him.

--LS Kevin Houser finished the season on injured reserve after suffering a collapsed lung against Tampa Bay, missing the final two games of the season.

--LB D.D. Lewis was a capable fill-in and special-teams player, but he likely will not be back.

--CB Ken Lucas was supplanted by Josh Wilson in the starting lineup in the second half of the season. He likely will not be back.

--OT Damion McIntosh played solidly when the team picked him up midseason. He'll likely leave in free agency because he's looking for a starting job.

--S Lawyer Milloy played well in limited duty and would be a good person to hold onto as a mentor for younger players. A Tacoma native, Milloy would like to stay close to home.

--DL Cory Redding played both defensive end and defensive tackle for Seattle, coming on at the end of the year. However, he could be looking to get closer to his Texas roots.

--LS Jeff Robinson keeps rolling along, snapping when he gets the call.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--OL Brandon Frye (not tendered as RFA) showed some promise before going on injured reserve with a neck issue. He has some versatility with the ability to play guard and tackle.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)

--WR Ben Obomanu (tendered at $1.101M with seventh-round pick as compensation) played well on special teams and could get a chance to play more offensively next season.

--*OL Rob Sims (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) was the team's best offensive lineman last season and wants to return to Seattle.

--*OL Chris Spencer (tendered at $2.621M with first-round pick as compensation) was moved from center to guard because of issues snapping the ball with his off hand in the last three games of the year. Spencer still believes he's a center in the league.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--OL Trevor Canfield was a late-season pickup off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad and is a big body who can play both guard and tackle.

--LB David Hawthorne led the team in tackles with 117, starting 11 games for injured middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--K Olindo Mare: FFA; $2.814M/1 yr.

--P Jon Ryan: Potential RFA; $9.1M/6 yrs, SB unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--TE Chris Baker: FA Patriots; $4.75M/2 yrs, $2.75M guaranteed.

--DE Chris Clemons (trade Eagles).

--DE/LB Ricky Foley: CFL FA; terms unknown.

--RB Quinton Ganther: Not tendered as ERFA by Redskins; terms unknown.

--LS Patrick MacDonald: CFL FA; terms unknown.

--*WR Ruvell Martin: Not tendered as RFA by Rams; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--LB Matt McCoy: Not tendered as RFA by Buccaneers; terms unknown.

--QB Charlie Whitehurst (trade Chargers).

PLAYERS LOST

--WR Nate Burleson: UFA Lions; $25M/5 yrs, $11M guaranteed.

--S Deon Grant (released).

--LB Lance Laury (not tendered as RFA by Seahawks 3/4) signed with the Jets. Terms were not disclosed.

--*DE Darryl Tapp (traded Eagles); had been tendered at $1.176M with second-round pick as compensation, signed tender and traded.

--QB Seneca Wallace (traded Browns).