The NFL is a business, and just like any other business, a team is going to make sure its financials are set many times before a player's happiness is taken into account. If the Seattle Seahawks sign a player to a huge contract but with a lot of money paid in the first years, the team might decide to move on from that player if they underperform, and releasing them can save the team millions.
This is what happened with safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams last offseason. Both either were injured or did not play as well as expected in 2023. While Seattle still owed them a bunch of money, moving on from them opened a lot of cap room for Seattle, too.
The Seahawks have had a solid reputation for how they treat employees and players since Paul Allen purchased the team in 1997. Since general manager John Schneider came to Seattle in 2010, that reputation has only been enhanced. Players might make more money elsewhere, but they will not feel as valued as human beings.
Seattle Seahawks treat quarterback Jaren Hall the way all employees should be treated
Another example of the Seahawks doing the right thing is the way they have handled the situation with quarterback Jaren Hall. Hall was released by the Minnesota Vikings when roster cuts were made before the season and Seattle signed him to their practice squad. The quarterback has only been in the league for two seasons, and he is very unlikely to ever earn a QB1 job.
As part of the agreement between Hall and the Seahawks, the team made a promise that Hall would be elevated at least three times from the practice squad. He might not ever be active on game days, but the elevation is the key thing. Once a player is part of the 53-man roster for three games (or more), he earns a credited season. For some players, this means their post-football life is a bit better financially.
Once a player earns three or more credited seasons, they become vested in the NFL's benefits program. This includes receiving a pension that could be around $43,000, they can be insured for five years after their career ends, among a number of other options. Hall now needs to be in the league for one more season to get to three credited years.
If the Seahawks were not a well-run organization, they might not care about players as people. They do. It's just another reason to be proud to be a Seattle football fan.