If you keep him, you're keeping a WR1 that's going to be 27 years old this year. You're going to have give him a new deal that averages about $30 million a year for his late prime years (27, 28, 29), with cap hits about half that for his 1st two years on the new deal. And you'll be spending that when you don't really have an elite QB1 to take advantage of his talents.
Currently, per OTC, the #Seahawks have $1.5 million in 2024 cap space, and need $9,366,188 just to sign their rookies. For 2025, the Seahawks are currently $663K OVER the cap.
IF they can get an "AJ Brown Deal" from a team like the Steelers (2025 1st and 2025 3rd) post June 1, their caps for the next two years will look like this:
2024: $18.5M.
2025: $21.3M.
35-year-old journeyman Geno Smith will be taking up $38.5M in Cap space, Tyler Lockett $30.9M, Draymont Jones $23.3M and Leonard Williams $29.15M.
Cutting all four of those players over 30 years old (Jones would be 29) in addition to trading DK this year would clear $92.39M in 2025 cap space.
In addition, they would have two 1sts, a 2nd, two 3rds, two 4ths and a 5th in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Trading DK would likely leave them with $5-$8 million in cap space after the deal to find a new WR1 through trade or free agency for 2024. They could probably sign Hunter Renfrow, Allen Robinson, Michael Thomas or Mecole Hardman to fill DK's spot on a 1-year deal for 2024. (All available per Spotrac).
This would leave them with $92.4M in cap space and 8 valuable draft picks to fill their needs. That's enough cap to make a run at Dak Prescott, should he make it to free agency, or enough draft capital to trade up to the top 3 to take the QB of their choice, like Texas' Quinn Ewers in the 2025 draft.
Either way, their QB1 need is filled for the next 5 years...
So which situation would you rather be in?
$1.5M in 2024 cap space, and needing to cut or extend a bunch of 30+year old players just to sign your rookies...
- OR -
Enough 2024 Cap space to sign your rookies, take care of the practice squad and IR, sign a veteran (or two) to boost your 2024 outlook, and enough 2025 Cap space and draft capital to get any players you want, and make the team younger and better all-around?
This would leave the Seahawks with needs at the following positions:
QB1
WR1
DT2
DT3
WR3
I assume JSN would be WR2 in this scenario. In all likelihood, the #Seahawks would be picking between 12-20 in the 1st round, and the #Steelers 21-32.
So I get $92.3M in cap space, two 1sts, a 2nd, two 3rds, two 4ths, a fifth and younger roster if I trade this guy June 1? I'm sorry, but I'm doing it.
If the #Seahawks had taken Spencer Rattler in the 4th or 5th round in 2024, I might be saying something different. Keep DK and let him grow with the young QB.
But if you're telling me I get Dak or Ewers, plus all those other resources to fill out my roster just by trading DK, I'm doing it.
I will miss him, but gone are the days when we had Hall of Famer Russell Wilson slinging him the ball 50 yards downfield.
I'm doing it.
Mike
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