RENTON -- Seahawks general manager John Schneider said that he wanted Duane Brown to finish his career in Seattle after acquiring the enormous left tackle in a trade with the Houston Texans last October.
Getting Brown locked up with a contract extension on Saturday almost assures that vision will become a reality. The deal - worth a reported $36.5 million over three years - keeps Brown under contract through the 2021 season.
"It's a great feeling," Brown said. "I'm extremely happy and grateful. Very thankful to the organization, Paul Allen, John Schneider, coach (Pete) Carroll, everybody that worked to secure me here for a long time. I'm looking forward to finishing my career here. It's a great organization. I love the team, love the city, love the fans and I'm just immensely grateful for this opportunity."
Brown, who turns 33 next month, held out from training camp and well into the regular season with the Houston Texans last year in hopes of getting a new contract from the team. Instead, he returned to the roster in mid-October and played one game, against Seattle, before being traded to the Seahawks before the deadline.
“Because we acquired Duane, we want him to finish his career here and have him be here for several more years,” Schneider said last October.
Added Brown: "They communicated that early on and there was no doubt in any of our minds that it would get done. I wanted to show my commitment to the team and our future by being here."
He played in the final nine games of the season for Seattle at left tackle. While free safety Earl Thomas has skipped all offseason workouts, including the team's mandatory mini-camp in June and the first three days of training camp, Brown has been with the team throughout and had confidence a deal would get done sooner or later.
"I've had a sense of peace for a long time," Brown said. "Last year, this time of year, I was very anxious and uncertain. This whole year I've been at peace. I wasn't worried about anything when I showed up for workouts or when I showed up for OTAs. I wasn't worried about what was going on behind the scenes. I was just handling my business and controlling what I can control. So I've been at peace for a long time. Yesterday when I signed the paper and everything was finalized, just ultimate joy and (gratitude). That's just where I'm at right now."
Brown becomes the anchor for Seattle's offensive line as they try and forge a new identity after a few disappointing campaigns under previous offensive line coach Tom Cable. While Cable isn't solely at fault for the struggles of the offensive line, the Seahawks are hoping some new messaging and an adjustment in scheme brought be new line coach Mike Solari will help move the group forward.
Getting Brown locked up is a significant move from the Seahawks front office. However, it likely won't sit well with Thomas, whose holdout has reached has netted over $150,000 in fines dating back to mini-camp. Thomas was the second draft pick of Carroll and Schneider in Seattle and has spent the entirety of his eight-year career with the Seahawks. Brown has played all of nine games for Seattle and is nearly four years older than Thomas, and yet, he's the one getting the new contract and not Thomas.
Notes:
-- FS Earl Thomas (hold out), CB Dontae Johnson (foot/PUP), DE Dion Jordan (PUP), TE Clayton Wilson (PUP), TE Ed Dickson (groin/NFI), WR Doug Baldwin (undisclosed), CB Alex Carter (undisclosed), LB Joshua Perry (undisclosed) and LB Jake Pugh (undisclosed) did not practice on Sunday.
-- Marcus Johnson and Tyler Lockett each made nice touchdown grabs in early red zone drills on throws from Russell Wilson. Johnson caught a back-shoulder pass against Byron Maxwell while Lockett caught a fade over the top against Tedric Thompson.
-- Thompson had a highlight of his own as he ranged over the top to intercept a Wilson pass intended for Malik Turner up the left sideline.
-- Former Seahawks safety Jeron Johnson and defensive tackle Chuck Darby were in attendance to watch practice on Sunday.
Photo Credit: Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown discusses his new contract extension with the team on July 29, 2018. (photo by Curtis Crabtree / Sports Radio 950 KJR)