Tom Pelissero of USA Today takes a look at some Seahawks players who could be released or approached to rework their contracts in order to free up cap space that can be used for free agency and to re-sign some of their core players.
Zach Miller
Pelissero mentions that TE Zach Miller has a $1 million roster bonus on the tenth day of the 2014 league year. On top of that, Miller has a base salary of $4.8 million to go along with a cap figure of $7 million next season.
With this in mind, Miller looks like an obvious candidate to be approach regarding a restructured deal or possibly released outright. Seattle stands to gain $5 million if they were to release Miller.
Miller, 28, totaled 33 receptions for 387 yards receiving and five touchdowns over the course 14 games.
Sidney Rice
Pelissero writes that WR Sidney Rice has “probably has played his last game for the Seahawks unless he’s willing to accept a substantial cut.”
This coincides with some speculation from over the weekend.
Rice, 27, signed a five-year contract worth $41 million that included $18.5 million guaranteed with the Seahawks back in 2011. He still has two years remaining on his contract with base salaries of $8.5 million and $9 million coming his way.
As things stand right now, Rice counts $9.7 million against the Seahawks 2014 salary cap. Seattle could free up $7.3 million by releasing Rice, according to Overthecap.com.
Seattle was forced to play Rice on season-ending injured reserve with a torn ACL back in Week 7.
Chris Clemons & Red Bryant
According to Pelissero, the Seahawks may also take a look at the contracts of defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons given that they both have high cap figures next season.
Clemons, 32, is one year removed from a torn ACL and has a cap figure of $9.66 million next season. He’ll be entering the final year of his contract, so the Seahawks could free up $7.5 million just by releasing.
As for Bryant, his cap number is $8.5 million with potential saving of $5.5 million coming to Seattle if he were to be released. Pelissero points out that Bryant is due a $3 million roster bonus on the fourth day of the new league year, so it makes for them make a decision well in advance of that date.
As of now, the Seahawks have just over $2.2 million in available cap space with players like CB Richard Sherman and S Earl Thomas heading into the final year of their contracts. On top of that, DE Michael Bennett, WR Golden Tate and CB Walter Thurmond will be unrestricted free agents, so they will need plenty of room even if they only intend to keep a few of these guys.
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