Three ways the Seahawks can easily create cap space
By Geoff Shull
This is the most commonly talked-about option. Sure, teams could cut a player and recoup some cap space. However, for some players, it’s hard to see them go.
When a team needs cap space, the most common idea fans throw out would be simply cutting players. I want to cut player A, player B and player C to recoup X amount. However, cutting a player is not as simple as just gaining cap space.
It’s uprooting families. It is removing a player who has (potentially) been a strong contributor to the organization. It’s releasing a veteran demeanor or a leader for the team. It could be removing a strong community presence. Teams take all this into serious consideration before making a move.
The reward from cutting the player has to outweigh the cost of not having them around. That being said, there are a few options for players who could be cut this season. Either the team has too many players at a specific position, or it is simply time for a changing of the guards.
Players who carry at least a small amount of risk to being released/traded:
Player: Cap Hit: Dead Cap: Cap Savings:
KJ Wright $10 million $3.5 million $6.5 million
Quandre Diggs $5 million $0 $5 million
B. McDougald $5.4 million $1.3 million $4.1 million
J. Hollister $3.2 million $0 $3.2 million
David Moore $2.1 million $0 $2.1 million
Joey Hunt $2.1 million $0 $2.1 million
B. Jackson $2.1 million $0 $2.1 million
Carlos Hyde $2.75 million $750k $2 million
Ethan Pocic $1.4 million $366k $1.1 million
After this point, things get below a material level. Some of these players I would consider safe, such as Quandre Diggs. However, others like Branden Jackson and Ethan Pocic have an uphill battle to win a roster spot.
Players like Bradley McDougald and KJ Wright are veterans presences that are still solid contributors. They are also very well known in the communities, making it difficult to see the team cutting them. However, they are both fighting for their jobs this off-season with an influx of young talent at their positions.
dark. Next. 5 Seahawks would could be cut before playing a snap in Seattle
Anyway, as you can see, if the Seahawks need to clear cap space there are several avenues they could go down. Whether it is restructuring a player’s base salary, extending a player and pushing the burden later in the contract, or releasing a player. If there is a move the team really wants to make and they need cap space. There are 3 very real options for how to create the room they need.