Seahawks stand pat at NFL trade deadline

By Brady Henderson

The NFL’s trade deadline came and went Tuesday afternoon without the Seahawks — or any other team — swinging a deal for Minnesota’s Jared Allen.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday morning that the Seahawks were one of two teams making a late push to acquire the Pro Bowl pass rusher, whose expiring contract and the Vikings’ 1-6 start made him a candidate to be dealt.

A trade to the Seahawks seemed like a longshot given the finances and the fact that Allen — a five-time Pro Bowl selection who has 121.5 sacks over his 10-year career — plays a position that is one of Seattle’s strengths. The only reason it seemed at all plausible was because of Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s history of aggressive and unexpected moves.

This is one he didn’t make, and perhaps one he never came close to. Allen is counting more than $17 million against Minnesota’s salary cap in the final year of his contract, and according to ESPN’s John Clayton, Seattle has only $2.6 million remaining in salary-cap space.

Furthermore, Seattle might have lacked the draft capital to make a deal work. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the Vikings were seeking a second-round pick for Allen but would consider a conditional third-round selection. Minnesota already has Seattle’s third-round pick in 2014, acquiring it among other choices in the Percy Harvin trade in March.

So the Seahawks will move forward with the same group of pass rushers that has helped the team total 26 sacks this season, the third most in the NFL.