The Seattle Seahawks have a little cap room to work with currently. At least, they have more now than they did just four days ago. After signing Uchenna Nwosu to an extension and reworking Quandre Diggs' base salary for into a signing bonus, Seattle likely has around $15-16 million in cap room currently. Sort of.
The exact details of Nwosu's base 2023 salary are being worked out. Prior to the extension, Nwosu's base salary was $7.5 million and his per-game roster bonuses meant he really ate up about $8 million in cap. But after the extension, Seattle can lower his base to around $2 million. After accounting for his signing bonus (which would be 25 percent since the extension was for three years after this season), Nwosu will eat up about $4-5 million.
Basically, extending Nwosu will free up about $4-5 million as well (maybe a bit more) right now. The Seahawks had about $7.6 million in cap room before the Nwosu extension and could have as much as $18 million (maybe a bit less) afterward, including the Quandre Diggs restructure. But Seattle still has to sign practice squad players and first-round draft pick Devon Witherspoon.
Three free agents Seattle Seahawks should try to sign with newly created cap room
Witherspoon, of course, was not at the start of training camp as Seattle and Witherspoon's were still trying to work out how much of his contract will be frontloaded. As far as the cap goes, whatever Witherspoon's people and the Seahawks figure out shouldn't affect the cap. Witherspoon will eat up around $5 million of the cap.
Seattle can sign up to 16 players for their practice squad and each of those players makes $12,000 a week. Over an 18-game season, that equates to $3.456 million going toward the practice squad. Seattle also won't want to get down to absolute zero in cap room as they have to assume players will get injured during the season and may have to add replacement players. Teams like to keep around $3 million, give or take, in cap room for those situations.
So let's assume Seattle currently has $18 million in cap room currently, subtract Witherspoon's deal, the practice squad, and the bumper for injuries and that brings the cap to around $6.5 million to spend. So which players should they try to bring in?
Seahawks should add defensive end Jadeveon Clowney
I've been on the Clowney train for a while and I am not yet ready to deboard. Do I think Seattle could bring Clowney in for $6 million? Yes. Clowney is now 30 years old and has struggled mightily at times with injuries, and that is likely to scare some teams away. Last year he missed five games, but in 2021 he missed three.
I in no way expect Clowney to come in and play a full season. He's done that once in his career and that was in 2017. He is going to miss some games. But other than 2020 and 2013, Clowney hasn't missed half the season or more. If he comes back to the Seahawks and plays 13 games, I would pay Clowney $6 million for that.
When I first thought of making this list I had a nose tackle here instead of Clowney. But to begin training camp, Seattle was playing Jarran Reed at nose tackle, and from what Pete Carroll said post-practice, Reed might stay at nose tackle. This opens up a spot for a defensive end to either be a starter or add depth.
Clowney excels because of two things. He can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, though his production can be a bit inconsistent there. But he is fantastic at setting a hard edge against the run. Seattle struggled stopping the run in 2022 and there's no guarantee that problem is resolved for 2023. But adding Clowney would go a long way toward remedying the situation.
Seahawks should sign linebacker Kwon Alexander
I worry a bit about the Seahawks' inside linebacker depth. Bobby Wagner should have another good season as he has never had a bad one. But he holds one of the two spots between the edge rushers so whoever slides in next to him needs to be good as well. Devin Bush was signed in free agency this offseason but there's no guarantee he will be good in 2023. Bush was also only signed to a one-year deal.
Behind Wagner and Bush are Jon Rhattigan and Vi Jones, most likely. Rhattigan and Jones are fine in short bursts, but expecting either to be good when starting multiple games is asking a bit too much. Basically, inside linebacker is really thin for the Seahawks. Also, Jordyn Brooks could be back sooner than expected after a knee injury late in 2022, but a more realistic scenario might be he comes back by midseason.
Alexander made an excellent 2022 Jets defense better when he was on the field last year. He started 12 games but played in all 17. He is a former Pro Bowler who is well-respected by his former teammates and fans know how much effort he puts into trying to be the best player he can be and helping whatever team he is on win games.
Alexander is pretty good in pass coverage and is even better in pass rush. He's better in both those areas than Devin Bush, in fact. Alexander also consistently grades higher in run defense, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), than Bush. Signing the nearly-29-year-old Alexander, which definitely would not cost the Seahawks anywhere close to $6 million, would relegate Alexander or Bush to a backup role, but that still is much better depth than Jones or Rhattigan.
Seahawks should add defensive end Robert Quinn
Quinn is also a player who won't cost close to $6 million at this stage of his career. The question might be if the 33-year-old still wants to play. For this exercise, let's assume he does. While Quinn wasn't near his production in 2022, which was arguably Quinn's second-best season in his career, he is still a very formidable pass rusher. Imagine a defensive line that has Quinn, Reed, and Dre'Mont Jones on third downs for Seattle in 2023.
Quinn still has so much value than even while having a down year in 2022, the charging Philadelphia Eagles made a trade for him midseason last year because they wanted even more help chasing down quarterbacks. Adding Quinn would also add another veteran voice for young edge rushers Derick Hall and Boye Mafe.
Quinn isn't going to help much against the run, but Seattle added Mario Edwards, Jr. this offseason to help there. Edwards and Quinn could simply rotate out based on the situation. Combine the two, and Seattle would have a well-rounded defensive end who an opposing offense can't show them anything they haven't ever seen before.
Quinn would also be a smart choice. If the Seahawks really have around $6 million to spend after taking into account the Witherspoon deal and the practice squad being filled, Quinn could be signed and there would still be a little money left over that Seattle could save for this season or roll into 2024. But Quinn would simply give Seattle another upgrade over 2022 in terms of pass rush.