The Seattle Seahawks pulled off another great draft this year, but they have only begun the difficult task of assembling the best possible roster. Like every other season, we're bound to see some veterans move on. The salary cap will play a significant role in determining which vets will look for new addresses.
Yes, the salary cap already played a significant role in some of the Seahawks' biggest offseason changes. Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Dre'Mont Jones, and Tyler Lockett were the most notable departures. It's no coincidence that those four players had the four highest cap hits in 2024.
We won't see the same thing happen before the 2025 season kicks off in September. The Big Cat, Leonard Williams, has the highest cap at just over $15 million. If John Schneider trades him, he better get the 1985 Chicago Bears defensive line in return.
And I don't mean those guys now, either, smartypants. Williams is far too valuable to the Seahawks to worry about his dollars. But there are a few other guys... well...
Three Seahawks are likely salary-cap cut candidates based on draft moves
Uchenna Nwosu
I greatly like Nwosu, and I'd hate to see him go. But some fundamental realities must be faced. Not to be cruel, those realities are in play, unlike Nwosu. He was terrific when he first joined the Seahawks in 2022.
He tied for the team lead in sacks, had twice as many QB hits as any other player, literally two times as many, and led in tackles for loss. Neither 2023 nor 2024 was quite as exciting. Injuries kept Nwosu off the field for 11 games in each season.
After 904 defensive snaps in his first season in College Navy and Wolf Gray, he only got 283 in 2023. Last year was far worse as he only saw 190 snaps and just two starts. Yes, John Schneider already renegotiated his contract, but with Nwosu's availability still in question, that $11.8 million cap hit seems awfully high for a player who'd have to fight for a starting role.
Edge rusher Jared Ivey adds to an already crowded space. He's not a draft pick, but he's part of a very solid UDFA group.
Noah Fant
Sure, I could have led with Fant, but it's so obvious, right? I've already written about it a few times, as has, oh, I think everyone else who writes about our beloved Seahawks. At $13.4 million, Fant has the second-highest cap hit on the team. There is definitely a counterargument that Seattle doesn't need the extra cap space. Seattle is sixth in the league, at $34.6 million, per overthecap.com.
But if Seattle's third overall pick, Elijah Arroyo, is as good as expected, Fant is just extra baggage. I know all good little 12s remember that the tight end who wasn't a weapon, A.J. Barner, caught four touchdowns last year, compared to Fant's lone score. That $8.9 million in savings could go toward a position of actual need, like maybe a proven guard?
Riq Woolen
Oh, please don't act like you haven't already thought about it. I'll admit, this is by far the least likely of the scenarios here. For one thing, this would bring the Seahawks the least cap relief of the three players. Moving the Freak would only save Seattle $5.3 million. I say only, as if that would buy more than a pallet of eggs.
The other reason it isn't very likely is the old saying, "You can never have too many cornerbacks." I believe Cicero was the first to write about this in his seminal work, De angulus defensor. Or, maybe not. The point is that Woolen is still good, even if he hasn't ever played up to his rookie level.
Like Nwosu, his competition wouldn't be from a draftee, but another of those hot undrafted free agents. In this case, it's LSU's Zy Alexander. Seattle does have a way of finding exceptional talent after the draft. And it's often veterans who pay the price of that discovery.