GM John Schneider updates where things stand with Frank Clark, Bobby Wagner, Doug Baldwin

The hard work of an NFL offseason never really stops anymore.

Getting Russell Wilson's future secure may have been one job for Seahawks general manager John Schneider this spring, but there is still a lot left in his inbox, including the NFL draft next week, and figuring out whether to re-sign the likes of Frank Clark, Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed.

Schneider took a brief break from it all Thursday night, though, to host, along with his wife Traci, his annual charity dinner and auction for Ben's Fund, which is named after the couple and provides financial support for families impacted by autism. The event is held every April during Autism Awareness Month.

But before he headed into El Gaucho in Bellevue, he was speaking to reporters for a few minutes to provide some updates.

SCHNEIDER EXPECTS CLARK WILL NOT HOLD, 'UNDER IMPRESSION' HE'LL BE A SEAHAWK IN 2019

$ 17.1 million for the 2019 season. $ 17.1 million for the next season. That prevented Clark from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Clark would rather have a long-term deal with Seattle, and a recent contract signed by Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence appeared to set the market for Clark as likely to be $ 18-20 million a year for four or five seasons, and $ 50-60 million guaranteed.

One report suggests that Clark would get out of control and get a new deal, and that the Seahawks could have difficulty signing it.

Asked if he could give an assurance that Clark will play for the Seahawks in 2019, Schneider said "Yeah. I'm not under the impression that he will not. I do not know that he will not.

But Schneider did not say that the team would listen to Clark for trade.

"We are always trying to understand what the landscape is throughout the National Football League," he said. "If we did not, we would not be doing our job. We can not have our head in the sand with anything. But we love Frank, obviously. That's why we franchised him. ''

The Seahawks can negotiate with Clark until July 15, after which he can play only with the new season. However, Clark can sign it as long as it is not in the process of doing so, but it does not require mandatory training and minicamps or training camp.

Schneider, though, said he does not anticipate Clark holding out.

"That's not my understanding at all," Schneider said. "We've had very direct conversations, both myself and Frank and people in the organization and Frank and Erik Burkhardt."

When asked about Clark's expectations, Schneider said "that's obviously the expectation. But do I expect it? I have no idea. The only time we have been through this franchise (with a franchise tagged player) is with (kicker) Olindo Mare (in 2010). ''

Many have wondered if Wilson's four-year, $ 140 million extension would make it more difficult for the team to keep Clark.

"We budgeted for Frank at the franchise number so," Schneider said. "Not necessarily, no."

In the same vein, some have also wondered if Lawrence's deal changed with the likes of Clark, who would logically be one of the highly-paid defensive players in the NFL on a per-year basis to re-sign.

But Schneider also said that it is not a real impediment.

"Not really, no," he said. "I mean, we're not expect. Aimed at those things happen you just go to it and try to adjust everything. You have to be able to roll with the punches. ''

Clark's status is always on the agenda – and a time when deals often happen – a week away.

But one thing worth remembering is the Seahawks do not have to rush to anything with Clark. It's not going to be in 2019 and it's up to $ 17 million, and the Seahawks would still have a few months following the 2019 season to work out with Clark.

SCHNEIDER HOPES TO GET DEALS WITH WAGNER, REED, EVENTUALLY

Wagner and Reed are the two most important players who will be following the 2019 season that the Seahawks would like to sign to extensions.

Asked specifically about Wagner, Schneider said: "There are several guys we would like to extend. … Bobby has been incredible, so yeah, he's a guy who has a year left on his contract. He is representing himself, so. ''

Wagner made the decision in the last year to serve as his own agent, following the footsteps of the Seahawks Russell Okung and Richard Sherman.

Neither of those players re-signed with Seattle, but especially in Sherman's case there were such circumstances (such as his Achilles injury) that make it risky to read that as a trend.

Schneider said negotiating directly with a player presents some unique variables.

"I guess we are going to do it with you now?" Schneider said. "Negotiating, it's not fun, you know what I mean? And anytime you do it with a player you are going to have those conversations that are very direct, very blunt, and it's a process you have to go through. I 've never been involved with anybody in 27 years of having a life in the world and I am very young. what I mean? It never really happens that way. ''

With Wilson done, the Seahawks will now turn their full attention to the draft. But expectation to heat up with Wagner and probably Reed in the spring and summertime, with Seattle in the background.

NO DECISION YET ON OPTION FOR IFEDI

A deadline that may have crept up quietly arrives May 3, the last day teams can enact a fifth-year option on which players were first round picks in 2016.

For Seattle, who means right tackle Germain Ifedi, who was the 31^st overall selection in that draft.

The option would have a salary in the $ 10 million range or so for the 2020 season (the salary will be set as the average of the third through 25th highest salaries at his position). The salary would be guaranteed for the next season.

Schneider said the Seahawks have yet to make a decision on Ifedi, who is the first player they've had in this situation since Bruce Irvin in 2015 – the Seahawks did not pick up his option and Irvin became a free agent with the following offseason and signed the Raiders.

If Seattle does not pick up the option on Ifedi they can still negotiate a long-term contract at any time.

BALDWIN STILL IN RECOVERY PROCESS

Schneider confirmed that Doug Baldwin had had a recent sports hernia surgery. That's the third surgery Baldwin has been known to have this offseason, others on his knee and his shoulder.

Schneider said it's too soon to put an ETA on when Baldwin will be healthy.

"That's a process we're still working through," he said. "He is recovering from that right now and we will see where it goes. … he's a tough guy, though. If anybody can recover from surgeries like this, it's Doug.