Seahawks: To re-sign Quandre Diggs or to not re-sign Quandre Diggs

The offseason is quickly approaching, especially for the Seattle Seahawks, and with it may come franchise-altering levels of change.  In 2022 we may be watching a Seahawks team that just faintly resembles the one we’ve been watching for a decade.

There may be no Bobby Wagner commanding the defense, there could be a different man under center, and there may even be new bigwigs sitting in the all-you-can-eat suites upstairs.  While the decision on whether to resign Quandre Diggs isn’t likely to be something Seahawks fans lose their minds over, it is nevertheless important.

Let’s examine all the factors that will go into this decision and then you can decide for yourself whether it’s smart to resign Quandre Diggs.

Whether the Seahawks should re-sign Quandre Diggs or not

Like it or not (I’m personally not the biggest fan), the Seahawks traded a boatload of future draft capital for Jamal Adams before last season and extended him in a big way before this season.  He signed a 4-years, $70 million extension that keeps him in Seattle through 2025 unless he is cut.

This is my argument against keeping Diggs.  While Jamal only carries a cap hit of $9.11 million in 2022, it skyrockets after that to $18.11 and $23.61 million in 2023 and 2024, respectively.  I know the salary cap will continue to rise, but Diggs has garnered a fair amount of market value by way of back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.

If I had to guess, some team likely thinks Quandre is worth $10 to $11 million per year.  How would the Seahawks handle a contract like that?  3-years, $30 million would be tough, and the Seahawks may actually have to frontload a deal like that.  Typically it would be heavier on the back end since the rising salary cap helps to relieve some pressure.

If Diggs signs for $30 million then it’s entirely possible the Seahawks are paying nearly $30 million to the safety position alone in 2023, and up to $35 million in 2024.  Even with a rapidly rising cap number, I think paying upwards of $30 million each season to safeties seems crazy.  However, Quandre is a valuable player so I have to at least examine what he brings to the field.

Ken Norton said recently that Quandre Diggs does for the Seahawk defense what Russell Wilson does for the offense.  That can’t be understated.  It would be really tough for the Seattle defense to lose Wagner and Diggs, who seem to be its two strongest leaders, in the same offseason.

Quandre is also having a superb year, maybe even better than last year.  He’s allowed just one touchdown all year and has 5 interceptions, matching his total from last season.  He’s made his second straight Pro Bowl and has only allowed a passer rating of 62.3 when targeted.  When the Seahawks have Jamal Adams and Diggs healthy at the same time, I think they have a top-3 safety combination in the league.

Comments about Diggs’ play coming from his teammates like Ryan Neal put on display just how good of a football IQ Quandre has.  He’s truly an excellent free safety, and I would love to see him re-signed.

But that doesn’t mean I want to have Diggs back at any cost.  If he’s willing to be paid a bit less in order to play next to Jamal Adams for the coming years, I’ll gladly accept him back.  However, paying Diggs $10 to $11 million per year doesn’t sit well with me just because of Adams’ cap hits.

I’ll let you decide.  Would you rather keep the amazing safety tandem going but pay an incredulous amount for it, or let Carroll (if he’s back) try to make something out of nothing at safety?