Wyman: Seahawks can make a statement by rewarding Michael Bennett and not Kam Chancellor

Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett and strong safety Kam Chancellor have a lot in common. Both are integral members of the Seahawks’ dominant defense, both are known for hard hits that sometimes send opposing players back to the sidelines, and – most importantly – both have expressed dissatisfaction with their current contracts.

With 17 unrestricted free agents and uncertainty looming around Marshawn Lynch’s future, Seahawks general manager John Schneider has a lot to consider this offseason. But if you ask Dave Wyman of 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Danny, Dave and Moore,” addressing the deals of Bennett and/or Chancellor will be his most important task.

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“You can’t really separate those two,” said Wyman, a former Seahawks linebacker. “I think the second you do something with either one of those, the other one’s gonna want the same thing.”

Bennett and Chancellor each have two years left on their current contracts, and both made it known publicly before the 2015 campaign that they felt their deals fall short of what they believe they are worth. They did so in different ways, though, and it’s for that reason that Wyman believes Schneider has a chance to set an example if he decides to give one player a raise but not the other.

“If you really want to send a statement to everyone else, if he were to (restructure the contract of) Bennett and not Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett showed up on time,” he said, referencing Chancellor’s holdout that lasted through the first two weeks of the regular season. “Yes, (Bennett) complained … (but) he was here, he showed up, he worked hard, and also he had a really good season. A really good season.”

That much is certainly true/ Bennett tied for 15th in the NFL with 10 sacks on his way to his first career Pro Bowl nod at the age of 30.

“Maybe they should do something, because I think he’s one of the premier defensive linemen in the league,” Wyman said.

As for Chancellor, 27, the 2015 season may have been his most inconsistent since he was drafted by Seattle in 2010. At the very least, it fell short of what Seahawks fans had grown accustomed to from the four-time Pro Bowler, which makes it hard to prioritize over Bennett after his career year.

“You look at Kam Chancellor … it wasn’t a Kam Chancellor-like season,” Wyman said, “and also he didn’t show up on time.”

You can hear the full conversation at the start of this podcast of “Danny, Dave and Moore.”