Revisiting the Seahawks’ preseason pursuit of guard Evan Mathis

The Seahawks were interested in guard Evan Mathis before he signed with Denver in August. (AP)

The Seahawks’ offensive line didn’t play well on Sunday against St. Louis.

That was better than Broncos guard Evan Mathis, though. He barely played at all Monday night.

Six snaps. That was the total playing time for the former Pro Bowl guard who visited the Seahawks before the regular season started before ultimately choosing the Broncos, signing a one-year deal that will pay him about $3 million.

The reason this is worth noting is that there were people who believed the Seahawks erred in not paying what it took to add Mathis. That they negligently believed they were OK along their offensive line despite the shuffle that resulted in two new starters and one guy changing positions as Justin Britt went from right tackle to left guard.

But Seattle’s decision not to sign Mathis wasn’t entirely the result of some misguided belief the Seahawks were going to be great along the offensive line to start the season. It was a recognition that the upgrade from a veteran like Mathis wasn’t worth the price he was asking for.

And judging by the fact that Denver had him on the field for six plays on Monday when the Broncos’ season hung in the balance shows that the Seahawks weren’t wrong in that judgment.

It’s a good reminder the next time a recognizable veteran is mentioned as a possible addition. Teams often end up paying a premium for a veteran who doesn’t end up being a solution at all. That’s certainly what happened in Denver.