Seahawks may have decision to make: Shaquill Griffin or Chris Carson
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks likely would not have beaten the Dolphins in week four without Chris Carson or Shaquill Griffin.
After the 2020 season, no matter how good or bad the Seahawks year ends, Seattle has several free agency decisions to make. K.J. Wright has been very good again this year but is a free agent. He will also be 32 next season. One of the biggest decisions the Seahawks have to make is re-signing either Chris Carson or Shaquill Griffin or maybe franchise tagging one of them.
Carson has been the best running back the Seahawks have had since he was drafted in the seventh round in 2017. In the last two years, he has rushed for 1,151 yards or more. In 2019, Carson had 1,496 total yards. This season he is on pace for 1,400 total yards. In week four, he rushed for 80 yards, caught passes for 20 more and nearly literally ran out the clock on the Dolphins.
Shaquill Griffin was a Pro Bowl cornerback in 2019. He had a rough game against the Cowboys in week three but in the fourth quarter in week four had an interception that turned into a touchdown on the Seahawks next drive and an extremely important batted pass on a sure touchdown late. Griffin is on pace for 20 passes defended in 2020 and 8 interceptions. He is crucial to whatever the Seahawks do defensively.
2021 salary cap
The salary cap is expected to be about $175 million for NFL teams next season. The number is down due to the effects of how COVID-19 is affecting the season. This means less money for teams to spend next offseason and less money that free agents will make. Griffin might want $18 million a season but he won’t get it. Carson might want $10 million a year but he won’t get that either.
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This means Seattle might choose to franchise tag one of these two players. Neither has a long-term proven backup who can step in a replicate what Griffin or Carson has done. Best case scenario, both get re-signed in Seattle. Worst-case, both leave and Seattle is the lesser for it next year and seasons beyond. In times like this, I am glad I am not general manager John Schneider.