The Seahawks’ Cap-Clearing Moves Set Off Sudden Rebuild

The Seahawks are moving on from the Russell Wilson era, dismantling a roster that made them a force in the NFC West for the better part of a decade.

After dealing the franchise quarterback to the Broncos on Tuesday, Seattle turned its attention to the other side of the ball, informing eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker and defensive captain Bobby Wagner that he will be released, per ESPN.

It’s a sudden, full-blown rebuild for a team that made the postseason in eight of Wilson’s 10 years, which included a Super Bowl title in 2013.

• Seattle cleared around $600,000 in cap space with the Wilson trade, and $16.6M with Wagner’s release.
• The Seahawks currently have $51.4M in cap space, second-most behind the Chargers ($57.5M).
• They have eight picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, including No. 9 overall (from the Broncos) and two second-rounders (Nos. 40 and 41).

General manager John Schneider may not be done with the teardown, with receiver Tyler Lockett ($10M cap hit) reportedly available for a trade. 

Understandably, without Wilson, oddsmakers dropped Seattle to the fifth-worst odds (+10,000*) to win the Super Bowl.

Pete Carroll — whose contract runs through 2025 — faces the decision of drafting the next franchise QB or relying on Drew Lock and Jacob Eason.