Seahawks should target these potential AFC East cap casualties
We only have two divisions remaining. June 1 is ten days away, and soon we will begin to see these players get released by their teams for cap savings in the coming year. Besides who the Seahawks cut, it will be intriguing to see what other teams do.
Today, we’ll check out the AFC East and see if there are veterans that may come available that the Seahawks will want to go after.
Seahawks potential cap casualty targets: AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Jerry Hughes, DE: The Bills are in some cap trouble, according to Spotrac. They may have to cut costs to afford Stefon Diggs and prepare to give Josh Allen a big extension. Cutting Hughes saves the Bills $6.35 million in 2021 with no dead cap in 2022. I believe if he goes somewhere else he would get less money than he’s getting in Buffalo, just due to his age.
I’d be excited to get Hughes, who has averaged over 5 sacks a year in his past 3 seasons, but I think the Seahawks are deep enough at defensive end. That’s not to say I wouldn’t be pumped to have him, though.
Miami Dolphins
Eric Rowe, SS: I highlighted two safeties from the AFC North because I don’t think the Seahawks have the depth they need. Rowe would provide good depth behind Adams and Diggs, and has starter potential should the Seahawks move on from Diggs next season. Rowe is only giving up an average passer rating of 80 when targeted over the past two seasons and a completion percentage of 60%. Cutting Rowe saves the Dolphins $5.5 million in 2021.
New England Patriots
Stephon Gilmore, CB: Crazier things have happened. After the Pats went on a spending spree in free agency, they are over the cap and will have to slim down. I feel like there’s been some noise on Gilmore leaving New England, and cutting Gilmore saves them over $8.5 million. I would certainly be intrigued in using a restructure of Russell Wilson’s deal to bring Gilmore in.
He’s 30, so he won’t demand as much money on an open market as he is getting from the Patriots. I think he’s got at least 3 more good seasons in him, and he’s been a true lockdown corner over the past few years (60 passer rating, 54% completion rate). In 2019, Gilmore had 6 picks and allowed 0 touchdowns.
New York Jets
Foley Fatukasi, DT: The Jets aren’t in any sort of imposing cap situation, but they could cut Fatukasi to save $2.2 million. He’s not a starting-caliber player by any means, but I think he would add nice depth to the tackle position to backup Poona Ford and Al Woods. He had 42 tackles including 2 sacks in 2020.
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There are a few really intriguing players here. Obviously, Stephon Gilmore would be the crown jewel, but Eric Rowe and Foley Fatukasi would provide good depth play at positions of need. If any of these 4 guys don’t make the cut on their current rosters, the Seahawks should go out and at least make contact with them. I think each player here has something that would make the Seahawks roster, as a whole, better for 2021.