NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Saints, Seahawks

Buccaneers

• Buccaneers have tendered contracts to exclusive-rights free agent S Isaiah Johnson and OL Mike Liedtke. (Greg Auman)

Saints

• ESPN’s Mike Triplett writes that with the free agent quarterback market starting to dry up, it’s more likely that QB Teddy Bridgewater could stay in New Orleans as a backup and potential heir to QB Drew Brees. 
• Bridgewater’s hometown team, the Miami Dolphins, has not yet settled on a starting quarterback, but Triplett doesn’t think Bridgewater is an option for the supposedly tanking Dolphins. 
• Regardless of where he signs, Bridgewater will likely only take a one or two year deal in an effort to capitalize on higher demand for quarterbacks in the future.   

Seahawks

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano expects the Seahawks’ main priority in free agency to be re-signing LB K.J. Wright and DE Frank Clark rather than bringing in other big names.  
• Seattle is also eyeing extensions for DL Jarran Reed, LB Bobby Wagner and QB Russell Wilson. 
• One area the Seahawks could bring in free agent help is guard, according to Graziano, as both starters are slated to hit free agency.  
• ESPN’s Brady Henderson says there’s a “miniscule” chance S Earl Thomas re-signs with the Seahawks if he doesn’t find what he wants on a potentially depressed safety market.  
• However, even if Thomas wants to be back, the Seahawks are apparently high on returning safeties Delano Hill, Tedric Thompson and Bradley McDougald.
• Of the Seahawks’ pending free agents, Henderson thinks they’ll keep LB Mychal Kendricks, G J.R. Sweezy, QB Brett Hundley and S Maurice Alexander.
• Henderson doesn’t expect any of LB K.J. Wright, CB Justin Coleman, G D.J. Fluker, RB Mike Davis, K Sebastian Janikowski, DE Dion Jordan, DT Shamar Stephen and CB Neiko Thorpe to return, either because Seattle can’t afford them or they want upgrades.