John Schneider has been thinking about the future quite a bit, most likely. All good executives do. The Seattle Seahawks' general manager had a plan for 2025, but he also has a financial plan that extends well beyond this season. He has to, as it's his job to build the roster and make sure there is money to do so.
One issue that Schneider will need to address whenever the offseason arrives for Seattle is how much the team wants to offer safety Coby Bryant. According to ESPN's Brady Henderson, the team tried to work out an extension with Bryant before the season, but the safety and his people weren't ready.
This week, Bryant's decision to wait might have paid dividends. That is because the Los Angeles Rams signed Quentin Lake to a three-year, $42 million extension, with $25.7 million guaranteed. The similarities between Lake and Bryant are plenty.
Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant just learned his asking price in the coming offseason
Both were chosen in the 2022 NFL draft, Bryant in the fourth round and Lake in the sixth round. Neither started much before 2024, their third seasons in the NFL. Once given the chance to start, each proved they likely should have been starting previously.
Lake is the better tackler, but Bryant creates more turnovers. The Rams safety has missed just 9.9 percent of his tackle attempts in his career, while Bryant's number is 15.7. But Lake has only forced two turnovers (one fumble and one interception) in his career. Bryant has forced 14 (seven fumbles and seven interceptions).
Bryant is better in coverage, and Lake is better against the run. But their numbers in both facets are close, and neither has an outlier that implies he is not a well-rounded player. Bryant has 14 run stuffs this season, for instance, while Lake has 16.
The question for John Schneider is whether he wants to pay Coby Bryant $42 million over the next three seasons. That should be the asking price (if not more) for Bryant and his agent when speaking with the Seahawks. Lake got that much, and so should Bryant.
The Seattle Seahawks proved this past offseason that they also like consistency and low attrition in terms of their defense. Nearly every player was brought back defensively from 2024. Bringing Bryant back would be ideal, of course, but Seattle won't get into a bidding war. Hopefully, Bryant knows what a great fit he is in the Seattle defense and decides to stay.