The first seven weeks of free agency have come and gone, with the 2020 NFL draft sprinkled in between, and while a handful of top-tier pass rushers remain available on the open market the Seattle Seahawks seem perfectly content to roll into the 2020 season with few, if any, more additions.
The recent release of Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker seemed to indicate a move was on the horizon, but those decisions appear to have been made to help the two veterans find a new job (which already happened for Fluker) rather than an immediate need to clear cap space.
With Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen and Clay Matthews still available via free agency, and Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue reportedly still available via trade, it looks more and more likely that Seattle will instead use their additional cap space as insurance during the season, something general manager John Schneider has repeatedly indicated is a priority for them.
“We have to be careful with our budget and our salary cap because as you guys have seen, we take pride in our ability to work with the coaches and try to build our team throughout the season,” Schneider said in a radio interview shortly after the draft. “This thing doesn’t stop when you get to 53. It doesn’t stop after the draft. There will be cap casualty guys out there throughout the offseason. What you don’t want to do is bring yourself right to the point where you’re not able to add players that are all of the sudden available on the market that you didn’t see coming.”
Another wrinkle is the recent report that Bruce Irvin will get paid a base value of $5.5 million in 2020, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. That figure is higher than many expected, and gives the Seahawks considerably less financial flexibility to pursue a big name pass rusher this offseason.
Bruce Irvin's contract with the Seahawks is for one year and has a base value of $5.5 million, according to a source. With some incentives that are currently counting against the cap, his cap number is around $5.9 million.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) May 8, 2020
The team will head into training camp with returners Rasheem Green, L.J. Collier, and Branden Jackson as well as Irvin and fellow free agent signing Benson Mayowa, and the two draft picks: Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson, all fighting for spots on the defensive line.
Whether that is enough talent to piece together an effective pass rush remains to be seen, but those holding their breath for another big addition may want to let go, at least for now.
Of course, this team has also proven time and time again they are willing to make big moves right before, or even during the season, so the door will never be fully closed.
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