Seahawks 2020 offseason plan: Getting Seattle back to the Super Bowl

Establishing the Seahawks off-season needs

The Seahawks enter the off-season with several key players hitting free agency and a very clear set of needs. The below list is what I believe are the off-season needs for Seattle are (in this order):

DE, DT, RT, C, WR, CB, S, RB, G

With all 4 of the Seahawks defensive line starters set to hit free agency, this was always going to be a key need for the off-season. Then we add on that the unit ended with the second-worst sack total in the NFL and it becomes a light beaming in the sky saying please address me, and do it fast.

The next need would be on the offensive line. Both of Seattle’s right tackles (Fant and Ifedi) are set to hit free agency. With Seattle electing to cut the starting center Justin Britt, there will need to be someone to fill in this role in the starting line-up. The final 5 needs, WR, CB, RB, S and G are more for depth and competition than anything else.

Now that we have established a clear set of needs, let’s work through who Seattle should re-sign.

Extensions of existing players

Before the extensions, Seattle has $49 million in cap space to spend.

Seattle re-signs Jadeveon Clowney to a 4-year contract worth $75 million.

This gives Clowney top 10 money ($18.75 million per year) and the ability to play for a contender. I think the talk that he will receive $22-23 million per year is a lot of smoke he and his camp are spreading. He has struggled with injuries and has yet to become a dominant pass rusher. $18.75 million is still great money for an elite run defender. His year one cap hit will be $11.5 million.

Seattle re-signs Quinton Jefferson to a 3-year contract worth $13.5 million.

This brings back a very versatile piece (both DT and DE) for a modest deal. Jefferson broke his foot at the end of the season and is still on the mend, this should play into Seattle’s favor in re-signing him. His first-year cap hit will be $3.5 million.

Seattle re-signs Joey Hunt to a 2-year contract worth $3.75 million.

This ensures the Seahawks have at least one player who can cover the center position. Preferably, as the backup. His year 1 cap hit will be $1.75 million.

Seattle re-signs George Fant to a 3-year contract worth $27 million.

This brings back a starting-caliber tackle and helps with the continuity Coach Carroll has preached. He will fill in at right tackle next year and if Duane Brown decides to call it quits, he can swing out to cover Russell Wilson’s blindside. His year 1 cap hit will be $5.5 million.

Seattle places an original round on both Jacob Hollister and Malik Turner. This will cost Seattle $2.14 in cap space for Hollister and $660k for Turner.

Seattle’s current cap space entering free agency sits at $24 million. The remaining needs in order are: DT, C, DE, WR, RT, CB, RB and S.