The Blue Bird Herd

Adam Schefter has tweeted that Seattle signed former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Alan Branch to a 2 year, $8 million contract with $4 million guaranteed.

This may be an indication that talks with Brandon Mebane aren’t going well, or it may simply be a team with a lot of cap room wanting to add depth to a line that sorely needs it.  With Colin Cole projected to miss some time early this season, Branch would be an adequate fill-in at the 1 Technique (nose) tackle spot but he possesses the burst and quickness off the line to rotate in at the 3 Tech, and may actually see the majority of his time at the 5 Technique strong side end position where Red Bryant was moved to last year.

Branch, 26, was the 33rd pick overall (2nd round) by Arizona in the 2006 draft, and played all of his first four years there, mostly as a rotational nose tackle but lined up frequently at end in the Cardinals’ 3-4 alignment.  He made 3 starts in 2010 (played in all 16 games), collecting 2 sacks and forcing 2 fumbles, after a 2 sack year in 2009 (no starts).

At 6’6, 335lbs, Branch’s size is a welcomed addition to a team that has stated it wants to get bigger and more athletic.  His versatility is where his value lies, as a guy who can play either of the interior positions as well as the 5 Tech.

If Seattle can retain Brandon Mebane, things will be looking quite a bit better along the D-line after the team failed to address either of the interior positions in this year’s draft.

Replacing Mebane with Branch straight up doesn’t do much in terms of improving the D-line, although Seattle should get a better pass rush and an explosiveness upgrade in Branch.  You’ve still got a depth problem if Mebane goes.

In another depth move, Seattle re-signed DT Junior Siavii who played all over the line last season after coming over from Dallas.  Yahoo.