Seahawks should target these potential NFC East cap casualties

As we make our way around the league, today we will be visiting the 4 teams in the NFC East and seeing if they have anything interesting to offer in terms of players cut for cap reasons.  The Seahawks are working with not a lot of room to go, so they’ll be looking for bargains as we get closer to the 2021 season.

On Tuesday, I’ll examine the NFC South rosters and look for talent the Seahawks may be able to purge.

Seahawks could target these NFC East cap cuts

Dallas Cowboys:  Randy Gregory, DE:  If Aldon Smith is unable to take the field for the Seahawks and Gregory is cut (saving Dallas $2.1 million), Gregory would be an interesting target.  He has combined for 9.5 sacks in his last two seasons and would be just as cheap as Smith.  He would probably only run the Seahawks around $1 million in 2021, and I think he has the potential to rotate as an edge rusher when the top dogs are resting.

New York Giants:  Lorenzo Carter, DE:  Carter resembles Gregory in a lot of ways.  He’s labeled as an outside linebacker but is used to rush the passer.  While he wouldn’t be a big weapon for Seattle, he would provide cheap depth for what’s already a pretty stout defensive line.  Cutting Carter after June 1 saves the Giants $2.2 million.

Philadelphia Eagles:  Fletcher Cox, DT:  This is the big fish.  Imagine this line if the Seahawks could add Cox.  The Eagles are projected by Spotrac to be over the cap, and cutting Cox would save them $15 million in 2021.  They would also have some dead money down the road, but the team has to stay under the cap now, and they could cut Cox to do it.  And the Seahawks can afford Cox fairly easily if they restructure Russell’s contract.

They may even be able to afford him just by extending Jamal Adams.  Either way, if Cox is cut I want this team knocking down his door.  Acquiring him would make this a top-6 defensive front in my mind.

Washington Football Team:  Cornelius Lucas, LT:  Washington is another team projected to be over the cap (though not by as much as Philly) currently by Spotrac, and cutting Lucas would save them $1.5 million.  He wouldn’t start over Duane Brown or Brandon Shell, but has excellent backup potential should Duane Brown injure himself.

Personally, I don’t think Stone Forsythe will be ready to step in for injured players this year, and I believe the Seahawks want to prep him to take Brown’s starting role next season.  Lucas would be a solid piece to bring in for emergencies in 2021, and wouldn’t make much more than the veteran minimum.

So, there are a few options here that are more interesting to me than the ones we have previously looked at.  Obviously, Fletcher Cox is the dream.  I would be more than happy if the Seahawks pushed some money down the road to get Cox to Seattle for a season or two.

Otherwise, there are some attractive depth options that may not make their teams that the Seahawks could go out and pick up for a small price as insurance for their roster as it stands.  June can’t come soon enough.