The Seahawks, the salary cap, and free agent spending

The Seattle Seahawks haven’t made any additions in free agency yet, but they’ve used up a big chunk of their cap space in retaining their own starters.

The Seahawks entered the offseason with approximately $29 million of salary cap space. Some of that must be held in reserve for signing rookies, practice squad players and for replacing rostered players that have to be placed on injured reserve.

A surprisingly low $3.25 million of that was spend on retaining Jeremy Lane. Another $3 million was used on defensive tackle Ahtyba Ruben, and other $1.67 million on Patrick Lewis. That is $7.92 million spent on retaining three starters.

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Since only the top 51 contracts count against the cap in the offseason, those three contracts pushed 3 minimum-salary contracts off the cap. That means that the adjustment to Seattle’s cap space is about $1.3 million less than that $7.92 million figure.

Do the math, and factor in rookie/PS/IR reserve, and you’ll end up with Seattle having $12-$13 million left to play with in free agency. That’s not too bad, given they only have one significant starter that still could be re-signed.

They can add to that if they spread Lynch’s dead money out over 2 seasons but using their post-June-1st exemption. I don’t expect them to do that, but it is a possibility.

That $12-13 million sounds like a lot given that the big money players are no longer on the market, but it isn’t. Keep in mind that Seattle’s offensive line is still trash, and they no longer have a nose tackle.

The Seahawks want to bring Russell Okung back. Looking at the market rates for LTs this offseason, he’s likely to eat up $8-9 million of that cap room. Throw in a veteran defensive tackle, and the Seahawks will be done shopping for anyone that isn’t willing to play for the minimum.

Next: Seahawks hoping add veteran lineman

The elephant in the room here would be tight end Jimmy Graham and his contract. Graham’s cap number is $9 million for next season, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll play because of his patellar tendon injury.

The Seahawks are going to have to address that situation soon, but this is a topic best saved for another article.