Seattle Seahawks: Sorry John Schneider, you can’t keep everybody
At his press conference earlier this week, Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider said he’d like to sign all his internal free agents. For several reasons, that won’t happen.
Thursday, Seattle Seahawks General Manager Jon Schneider held a press conference at the NFL Combine. He was optimistic about the upcoming season, but that isn’t discussion-worthy. Among the most important things, Schneider said, was that he’d like to re-sign all his internal free agents. The phrase he used was, “what we’re going to try to do is to keep everybody.”
It’s a nice sentiment, and loyalty is important, but resigning everyone is a bad plan. First of all, it’s not financially feasible. Even though Seattle has the eighth-most cap space, it’s still just $34M. There is absolutely no way Schneider can afford to do it.
Aside from the money needed to sign this year’s draft picks and without restructuring a few veteran contracts, $34M is nowhere enough money. Players will want raises, and in some cases, they earned a raise. Bringing back just DJ Reed, Quandre Diggs, Duane Brown, and Rashaad Penny would eat up a good chunk of their available cap space. And by doing that, Schneider risks leaving several gaping holes on the Seahawks roster.
Look at the results
For the sake of argument, let’s say the Seattle Seahawks did have enough money to sign all their internal free agents. Why would he bring back everyone from a 7–10 team? With quarterback Russell Wilson approaching his mid-30s, there should be a premium on improvement.
Excluding safety Quandre Diggs and defensive tackle Al Woods, none of the Seattle Seahawks’ internal free agents can’t be replaced. Not only replaced but upgraded.
Adrian Phillips has been in touch with close friend Quandre Diggs, who is in good spirits after successful surgery: "He's healing great."
Phillips was very emotional after Diggs needed to be carted off the field last Sunday. pic.twitter.com/gezHFfn87s
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) January 13, 2022