Three Seattle Seahawks who will not be back in 2022
By Lee Vowell
Chris Carson
Carson’s salary in 2022 jumps from $2.7 million in 2021 to $6.425 million next year. That is simply too much for a player who does not stay healthy in any season he has played in the NFL in his career. I like Carson as a player. He is Seattle’s best running back since Marshawn Lynch was younger. But if he can’t stay healthy then he is eating up payroll where Seattle could get another running back or two.
Plus, Seattle has Rashaad Penny. (OK, I joke.)
Truthfully, while Carson is very good, Alex Collins showed what can be done in week 6 if Seattle blocks well. I am not saying Collins is the equal of Carson but I also don’t think there is so great a difference that Seattle could let Carson walk and the Seahawks would be hurting at running back a great deal.
Carson’s $6.425 million is not guaranteed in 2022 though it would entail $3 million in dead cap for one season. Still, Seattle will likely be re-tooling its roster to a decent degree and actually still has cap left from the current year to help make up what might be lost in dead cap.
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I don’t want Carson to leave. He is a good running back. But if he does play 2022 in Seattle, it needs to be at a reduced rate and not $6 million. Maybe another $2 million. But Carson might not agree to that re-working and Seattle would have to release him meaning Carson is playing elsewhere next year.