Dead Money and Cap Space: How Some Seahawks Shape Up
By Aaron Thomas
This season there are a few guys the Seahawks have a decision to make whether they use the June 1 designation and cap space. These players do not figure into the long-term plans with the team. They have little or no dead money tied to the contract.
Which guys don’t fit this profile? Despite the blog-o-sphere and many fans clamoring for Jermaine Kearse’s release, he does not fit this profile. His contract hit for 2017 is high ($3.2 million) and he only saves the team $366,666. He has high dead money and low cap savings.
Another player that many have asked about the team releasing is Jeremy Lane after having a below average first year of his new contract. He too has high dead money ($7.75M) and no cap savings. In the event Lane was traded, however, he would count $3.75M in dead money and $1.5M in savings. I highly doubt that the Seahawks have a trade scenario worked out this late in the off-season.
Michael Wilhoyte, LB (formerly of the 49ers)
He has a dead money number of $500,000 and a cap savings of $1.5M. Wilhoyte provides much needed depth at LB and could fit in nicely in the weak-side OLB role.
Paul Richardson, WR
He has a better dead money rating at $436,879 and a cap savings of a little over $1M. P-rich isn’t going anywhere, as he showed flashes of brilliance at times last season. If he stays healthy, he will make defensive coordinators crazy trying to figure out who to cover: P-rich (thunder) or Tyler Lockett (lightning).
Justin Britt, C
Britt has a dead money rating of $208,533 and a cap savings of $899,391. Britt is coming off a Pro Bowl season. He is very much needed in keeping Russell Wilson alive in 2017 and beyond.
Bradley McDougald, DB
Although his dead money is over $750,000, he has a gorgeous $1.25M in cap savings the team could enjoy if they release him before June 1. With the drama surrounding Sherman possibly ending soon, McDougald could be expendible. Is the $1.25M cap savings worth the team considering releasing him in a position that is very much in need of depth? McDougald, if healthy, could compete for the starting nickel position for a long time.
Alex Collins, RB
Collins has a dead money number of over $138,000 and a cap savings of $447,808. Collins like P-rich showed flashes of brilliance. Another season in Seattle could convince the team has a solid long-term backup RB. Or they could flip him for a mid-round draft pick next season.
Thomas Rawls, RB
He has a dead money number of only $5,000 and a cap savings of $615,000. This has every bean counter in the Seahawks organization licking their chops. However, Rawls, who has every chance to compete for the starting RB position, isn’t going anywhere.
Terrance Garvin, ILB
Garvin was brought in as a free agent and counts only $60,000 in dead money and a cap savings of $635,000. Again, they brought him in for a purpose: he provides depth behind the real MVP of the defense, Bobby Wagner. Garvin could be as important as whomever the Seahawks decide the backup is at QB.
In Summary
It’s possible that the Seahawks verbally agreed to a contract with Colin Kaepernick. Maybe they are waiting for the June 1 designation to free up some cap space. If that is the truth, then the number one person I think they would consider releasing is McDougald. His $1.25 cap space savings could mean the Seahawks loading up in the QB position and they are now relying on one of the several DBs they got in the draft and/or free agency.
Alex Collins and his $447,808 cap savings could also be up for discussion. Sure, I rave about him earlier in the post, but the Seahawks have a crowded backfield. Even though they love competition, they could lessen the load at RB and free up cap savings in return.