12th Man Rising
FanSided

Seahawks re-signing Akeem King is bad for Justin Coleman

By Lee Vowell

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 24: Akeem King #36 of the Seattle Seahawks attempts to block Jake Wieneke #9 of the Minnesota Vikings on his way to score a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 24, 2018 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 21-20. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 24: Akeem King #36 of the Seattle Seahawks attempts to block Jake Wieneke #9 of the Minnesota Vikings on his way to score a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 24, 2018 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 21-20. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Seahawks re-signed Akeem King on Friday. The is good news for Seattle but bad news for Justin Coleman.

The Seahawks re-signed restricted free agent Akeem King on Friday. This wasn’t all that surprising as Seattle wanted to keep a player who played in all 16 games for Seattle in 2018. But the team didn’t sign King for cheap. Seattle will pay King a one-year and $1.4 million deal with a $400 thousand signing bonus. With incentives, King could make a bit over $2 million. That amount of money means bad things for Justin Coleman.

Coleman has been Seattle’s slot cornerback the last two seasons and he has been a good one. He doesn’t play outside, though. He is a slot corner through and through and therefore expendable. Seattle has money to spend this offseason but the team won’t spend a lot on a slot corner.

Coleman is an unrestricted free agent when the NFL fiscal season begins next week. Because the Seahawks paid King more than a low restricted free agent tender might mean the team will be content to see what King does in Coleman’s spot in 2019.

Coleman gambled on himself before last season and signed only a one year deal with Seattle instead of the three years that the Seahawks were offering. Coleman was good enough again in 2018 to have someone pay him a good amount in 2019. It just seems like that team won’t be Seattle.

King is bigger than Coleman and just as fast. That doesn’t mean he has the same coverage skills. But in far fewer snaps than Coleman in 2018, King still graded about the same as Coleman, according to Pro Football Focus. Coleman made $2.9 million in 2018. King will make about $1 million less in 2019. Signing King, a comparable player to Coleman, for less gives Seattle even more cap flexibility.

Next. Seahawks mock draft post NFL Combine. dark

I am still hoping Seattle brings back Coleman as well. But outside corners are a priority and Seattle needs to find depth there. Having King and Coleman both at slot corner for what could be a combined $5 million or more just seems like too much. Seattle has probably made the decision to go with King and not Coleman. Now 12s just have to hope it works out next year.

Home/Seattle Seahawks News