The Seattle Seahawks are in a tough spot. The team, according to Over the Cap, currently has negative-$5 million to use in the coming offseason. In fact, that money is really using the team more than the team is using the money. Seattle will have to make some difficult cap decisions this offseason.
The good part, if there is one, is that the team can open up a lot of cap space with only five moves. Seattle could go from being 30th in cap space in 2025 to 18th. Sure, that still doesn't mean the team has a ton of money to spend, but if spent wisely, the Seahawks could at least rebuild their terrible offensive line.
We can assume general manager John Schneider is not going to draft an interior offensive lineman high in the draft (he has said those players are over-drafted and overpaid, though many would argue he is completely wrong), so Seattle will need to try to sign a decent right guard or left guard.
Five ways the Seattle Seahawks can create a lot of cash for 2025
Center Olu Oluwatimi might be fine with consistent playing time. Or the team could draft a center in the third round. No matter what happens at that spot, Seattle has options to make at least $45 million in cap space.
Seahawks could release quarterback Geno Smith
2025 cap hit: $38.5 million
Cap savings: $25 million
Smith has not been a bad quarterback in the last three seasons, but he has had far too many red zone mistakes this year. He leads the league in red zone interceptions with four, and he should have had another against the Chicago Bears. That isn't winning football.
The quarterback has not shown that he can lead a decent offense toward greatness, and there is no proof Smith can limit his errors in the playoffs. If the Seahawks do not see him as anything other than a bridge quarterback, the team should move on from Smith, likely take a step back in 2025, but set up the team for potential high-end success in 2026 if Seattle chooses a quarterback in the next draft.
Seahawks could release wide receiver Tyler Lockett
2025 cap hit: $30,895,000
Cap savings: $17 million
Lockett has been a great person and a very good player for Seattle. He is also no better than the third option at wide receiver now and into the future. For a WR3 to carry a cap hit of over $30 million would be criminal. Lockett might simply choose to retire instead of forcing the Seahawks to release him.
Lockett has business interests outside of football, and he and his wife are expecting their first child. He has made more than enough money in the NFL to say goodbye.
Seahawks should release edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones
2025 cap hit: $25,645,418
Cap savings: $11,572,500
Jones is what he is at this point. He is likely never going to sniff getting close to double-digit sacks in a season, and he is inconsistent against the run. Through 16 games this season, he has four sacks and seven tackles for loss. That last number is not terrible as it ranks third on the team. Still, as big of a cap hit as Jones has next year, his sack and TFL numbers need to be double what they are.
Seahawks could release tight end Noah Fant
2025 cap hit: $13.5 million
Cap savings: $9 million
Fant is probably going to find a good home in the NFL and with an offense that knows how to best use his combination of size and speed. He isn't a great blocker, but he also is not a transformative receiver. He has not scored a receiving touchdown since 2022. Meanwhile, rookie AJ Barner appears capable of becoming a TE1 and is much less expensive than Fant.
Seahawks should release safety Rayshawn Jenkins
2025 cap hit: $7.9 million
Cap savings: $5.4 million
Jenkins was signed this last offseason to be a starter with the Seahawks, and he began the season that way. He wasn't overly efficient, though. After getting hurt and replaced by Coby Bryant, Jenkins rightfully could not get his job back. A backup safety should not be making nearly $8 million.