RB Marshawn Lynch is a free agent and big priority for Seattle this offseason.
photo by Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks

by Curtis Crabtree
KJR reporter
Twitter: @Curtis_Crabtree

According to a report by the NFL Network, the Seattle Seahawks are willing to franchise RB Marshawn Lynch.

Jason La Canfora reports that Lynch and the Seahawks are deep in talks to secure a long-term deal before the March 5 deadline, but that Seattle is prepared to use the franchise tag if a deal cannot be reached.

Seattle hasn’t had a position player play a season under the tag since RB Shaun Alexander in 2005. K Josh Brown (2007) and K Olindo Mare (2010) both played under the franchise designation.

G Steve Hutchinson was given the transition tag in 2006 before signing an offer sheet from Minnesota that Seattle couldn't match due to language in the contract.

Brown played under the one-year tender in 2007. CB Marcus Trufant was tagged in 2008 but agreed to a long-term contract before the season began. LB Leroy Hill was given the franchise tag in 2009 but Seattle removed the tag during the draft. Hill re-signed with Seattle anyway and Mare also played under the one-year tender before signing a four-year deal with Carolina last offseason.

No one was given the franchise tag last season. It was the first time for Seattle in 10 seasons they had not placed either the franchise or transition tag on a player.

Seattle sends 5th-round pick to Buffalo for RB Lynch.

Speaking of Lynch, Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com reports that the Seahawks will send a fifth-round pick to Buffalo to complete the trade to acquire Lynch a season ago.

The trade was initially for a fourth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2012. With Lynch meeting the playing time thresholds of the deal, the pick has improved to a fifth-round selection.

That leaves Seattle with six selections currently in the 2012 NFL Draft, although compensatory selections have yet to be assigned.* They are a selection in every round except the fifth-round. They received a seventh-round pick from Oakland in exchange for LB Aaron Curry but also sent a seventh-round selection to Detroit in exchange for T Tyler Polumbus.

*Prior version didn't take Polumbus draft-pick into account.

CB Walter Thurmond still unable to run after ankle leg injury.

Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com reports that CB Walter Thurmond is still a couple weeks away from running after suffering a cracked fibula and high ankle sprain in a Week 7 loss at Cleveland.

Thurmond was tracking a pass from QB Colt McCoy intended for WR Greg Little when he collided with Little and teammate S Earl Thomas. Upon landing Thurmond injured his leg and was placed on injured reserve.

Thurmond was still walking in a boot and on crutches when the players cleaned out their lockers in early January so it's still not a surprise he hasn't been able to get on the field yet.

Farnsworth also reports that Thurmond is hopeful to be able to participate in offseason workouts.