What a Seahawks trade for DE Ryan Kerrigan could look like
By Geoff Shull
Washington is rebuilding; The Seahawks are in the thick of a Super Bowl run. This trade would help both teams reach their goal.
Washington is exploding with talent on the defensive line. Not just talent but players that are incredibly productive and have yet to hit their peak. Kerrigan is the unfortunate odd man out. It fits though, he is on the last year of his contract. I can’t see him returning after this season regardless.
A trade today would ensure the WFT receive some value for their aging star. For Seattle, a trade would ensure you are putting the best roster on the field at all times. Kerrigan has been a beacon of health since entering the league. He has only missed 4 games out of 146 possible. This is important.
His production on the field is something Seattle desperately needs. The team has done well with stuffing the run, however, quarterback pressures have mostly been generated through blitzing. What if this one trade is enough to create pressure naturally through just a 4 man rush.
So what could a trade look like?
Seattle has very little draft capital due to the Jamal Adams trade. However, if there were ever a year to trade most of your capital away, it would be this one. The pandemic has really put teams in a difficult spot in terms of scouting. As for the 2022 4th, this would be one of two 4th round picks Seattle possesses lessening the burden.
Don’t worry about the 5th this year, I actually have a trade I think that could occur in the near future that will recoup some draft capital. I’ll have an article up in the next few days that covers that.
The next piece of the trade would be to get an extension in place:
My proposed extension:
Terms: 2 years, $18 million
Avg salary: $9 million
GTD salary: $11 million
Seattle would need this extension to get his cap hit lower, they can’t afford it as it is today.
Total contract including this season:
Terms: 3 years, $29.6 million
GTD salary: $11 million
Cap hits by year:
2020: $7 million
2021: $9 million
2022: $13.6 million
The last year would more or less be a void year. There would be little to no guaranteed money left. The team would push the majority of the cap hit to that year to ensure that they have money in the off-season for the many extensions that need to take place.
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This deal would give Kerrigan a chance to make a run at a title and give him some guaranteed money on his contract. This could be a win-win-win for the Seahawks, Kerrigan and the Washington Football Team.