Report: Seahawks keeping Jeremy Lane on four-year deal

Cornerback Jeremy Lane may have been the free agent that Seattle could least afford to lose. (AP)

After losing three starters in less than 24 hours, the Seahawks have put at least a temporary stop to that free-agent exodus by retaining cornerback Jeremy Lane.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Seattle is bringing Lane back on a four-year deal.

Lane was one of seven Seahawks starters who were or are unrestricted free agents.

He may have been the one among that group that Seattle could least afford to lose considering the team’s situation at cornerback, where the depth isn’t what it has been in recent seasons. Furthermore, Seattle has not had much success with free agents at that position, the Cary Williams flop from last season being the primary example.

That was presumably more incentive for the Seahawks to make sure Lane didn’t escape their grasp like the other free agents who have left: linebacker Bruce Irvin (Oakland), defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (San Diego) and right guard J.R. Sweezy (Tampa Bay).

Seattle’s other starters who are still unsigned are left tackle Russell Okung and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Punter Jon Ryan is also among Seattle’s unrestricted free agents.