Brad HendersonESPNRead for 2 minutes
The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with former New York Giants safety Julian Love, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Love, who started 16 games last year and 32 over four seasons with the Giants, cements a position of uncertainty for the Seahawks. While their most obvious defensive needs were concentrated in their front seven, their secondary also has a big question mark with strong safety Jamal Adams coming off surgery to repair a ruptured quadriceps tendon.
Adams’ injury occurred in Week 1 of last season, but coach Pete Carroll said in January that his recovery would continue into the summer, raising the question of whether he will be ready by the opener.
Ryan Neal took over from Adams last season and was one of Seattle’s top defensemen. The Seahawks gave Neal the low bid as a $2.627 million restricted free agent, which could invite offers from other teams. Free safety Quandre Diggs, who clinched his second Pro Bowl in a row in 2022, is under contract for two more seasons while Adams is signed through 2025.
Love, 24, was a captain of the Giants team and full-time starting safety for the first time in his career last season. He finished with 124 tackles as the team lead and tied for the team lead with two interceptions in addition to being a mainstay of special teams, including serving as a point guard.
The Notre Dame product bounced back and forth between cornerback and safety for the first three years of his pro career. He never seemed to find a permanent home, despite starting 16 games in those three seasons.
But after the Giants cut Logan Ryan last season when the new regime arrived, it opened the door for Love to play a bigger role. He was a mainstay in Wink Martindale’s defense, even becoming the team’s defensive play-caller after safety Xavier McKinney broke his hand in a farewell week off-road accident.
The Giants, who selected Love as cornerback in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft from Notre Dame, had contract talks with him during the bye week.
He has 291 tackles and 5 interceptions in four NFL seasons.
Also on Friday, the Seahawks addressed one of their biggest needs by bringing in former Pittsburgh Steelers from linebacker Devin Bush. His deal is for one season, a source told Schefter. The 24-year-old Bush was the 10th overall pick in 2019. He is giving Seattle an option to replace Cody Barton, who signed with the Washington Commanders on a free-duty basis.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.