Seahawks release Aldon Smith but do not really need him
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks released defensive end and oft-troubled Aldon Smith on Wednesday. But Seattle has several edge rushers happy to take his snaps. In fact, Smith was a bit of an unneeded piece. Yes, Smith has potential. But he has greater potential to be a disruption. It is unclear if Smith was released for an already-known issue earlier this offseason or something more recent.
I do not know what’s going to happen in Smith’s upcoming court case for the known off-the-field issue from this offseason. That he hadn’t been released immediately after an incident in a New Orleans coffee shop but was now makes me think the Seahawks know something we do not. Maybe Smith serves time or gets suspended by the NFL again but whatever is about to happen, Seattle releasing him could make one wonder.
No matter what, though, the Seahawks have loaded themselves up with edge rushers this offseason. Smith no longer being a part of the team does not mean Seattle will not get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They will. Actually, Smith being released means more snaps for young players like Alton Robinson.
Seahawks release Aldon Smith but that’s OK
And Alton for an Aldon? Yes, at this stage in their careers I would 100 percent take that risk.
Last year, Smith had 5 sacks and 20 pressures in 16 games in 809 snaps with the Cowboys. In his rookie year, Robinson last year for the Seahawks had 4 sacks and 11 pressures in 14 games but just 336 snaps. Smith is a veteran who knows how NFL offensive lines want to block. Robinson was a rookie just learning his way.
Seattle already has Robinson, veteran Carlos Dunlap, Darrell Taylor, Kerry Hyder, Rasheem Green plus Jamal Adams and all those players are capable of individually putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. As a rotation, plus L.J. Collier and Poona Ford, that’s a formidable group.
Seahawks strengths by position group. dark. Next
Let me also say that releasing Smith saves the Seahawks a little less than $1 million and while that isn’t a lot it is some money to spend towards more important players like Adams and Duane Brown. Smith, though, wasn’t released for money reasons. It was something greater. But the Seahawks are more than just fine without him.