What Should Seahawks Do With Ample Remaining Cap Space?
After the Seahawks released tight end Noah Fant, their effective cap space number rose to $34.9 million. That ranks as the sixth-most in the NFL. The heat of free agency is over. The draft picks are signed. The opportunity to make a huge splash with that free cap space has passed for the Seahawks this offseason.
So why have all this cap space?
Free Agents
While yes, the initial frenzy of NFL free agency is long over, there are still several available players who might interest the Seahawks. Given Uchenna Nwosu’s uncertain health status once again, they may want to add more depth at EDGE. A Seahawks and Mike Macdonald reunion with pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney makes a lot of sense. He made around $6 million last season for the Panthers. In 2023, he experienced a career resurgence under Macdonald’s leadership in Baltimore. In his age-30 season, he tied his career high with 9.5 sacks for the Ravens. His 19 quarterback hits were the second-most of his career.
Seattle can afford to sign Clowney with this budget. It’s just a matter of the two sides making it happen. The urgency may turn up as training camp continues and preseason games arrive.
Clowney isn’t the only free agent who makes sense. He also doesn’t have to be the only one they sign.
If the Seahawks want to add to the receiver room, Amari Cooper is still without a team this season. The five-time Pro Bowler underwhelmed for the Browns and Bills last year, but he can provide another wrinkle to this offense at the right price.
Rasul Douglas and Stephon Gilmore are both quality cornerbacks who don’t have a home for 2025 yet. That would provide the cornerback situation with a bit more veteran stability.
Veteran guard Will Hernandez was recently cleared from his ACL injury. Could he hop teams within the NFC West from the Cardinals to the Seahawks?
Extensions
The Seahawks enter this season in an intriguing place with a few of their young players. Left tackle Charles Cross got his fifth-year option picked up for 2026. But he is not under contract beyond next season. If he plays well in 2025, the Seahawks will need to rush to extend him as their franchise left tackle.
More urgently, players like Boye Mafe, Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, Abe Lucas and Kenneth Walker III are in the final year of their rookie deals. Seattle likely has some varying level of interest in extending one or more of that group from the 2022 draft class. More cap space for 2025 could mean having a bit more wiggle room to get some of those deals done sooner rather than later.
Trades
Having all this cap space means the Seahawks, better than most NFL teams, are in a position to make a big trade if needed. They likely do not want to deal away precious draft picks at this juncture, but if the right deal comes along for a franchise-altering veteran, they have the means to pull the trigger.
All offseason, the speculation has swirled around Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Totaling a whopping 35 sacks over the last two years, he is one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL right now. The disgruntled veteran may force his way out of Cincinnati. The $34.9 million in cap space Seattle has might be just about what Hendrickson wants per season. Maxx Crosby recently signed a four-year, $94 million contract along with $53 million in guarantees with the Raiders. That adds up to a $38 million cap hit for 2025.
That is the price for premier pass rushers these days. If the Seahawks don’t make a trade for Hendrickson, it won’t be because they don’t have the cash in 2025, because they could make that work.
The same can be said for Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons. The two sides have not agreed on what would be a market-resetting extension. If it comes to Parsons wanting out of Dallas, Seattle makes a lot of sense. That seems like even longer of a shot than Hendrickson, however.
The Seahawks have the resources to do some moving and shaking on the roster. Perhaps they will wait and see where they are as the NFL trade deadline gets closer in November.
