Where Seahawks stand after NFL’s reported salary cap increase

The Seattle Seahawks have received some good news on the salary cap front.

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According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFL informed teams on Wednesday that the salary cap for the 2025 season will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million. The final number won’t be finalized until next week, but this means there will be at least a $22 million increase from last year’s $255.4 cap.

It also means the Seahawks have a tad more breathing room than expected.

Prior to Wednesday, OverTheCap.com had projected this year’s cap to be $272.5 million. According to OTC, that would have put the Seahawks $13.5 million over the cap.

Following Wednesday’s news, OTC adjusted its projected cap to $279.5 million – the midpoint of the league’s reported cap range. That reduces the Seahawks to $6.5 million over the cap.

Seattle’s effective cap space – an estimate that factors in money needed to pay this year’s draft picks – fell from $16.7 million to $9.7 million.

Since the cap is the same for every team, Wednesday’s news doesn’t change the fact the Seahawks still sit in the league’s fourth-worst cap situation. Only the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are projected to be more in the red than Seattle.

But it does give the Seahawks a bit more wiggle room ahead of March 10, the start of the free-agent negotiating window. All teams need to be cap-compliant by then, but the reality is that teams actually need to be far enough under the cap to have adequate room to spend in free agency.

The Seahawks also might need some extra cap space for any players they want to extend from their talented 2022 NFL Draft class. That group – which has produced a half-dozen starters in left tackle Charles Cross, right tackle Abraham Lucas, running back Kenneth Walker III, outside linebacker Boye Mafe, safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Riq Woolen – is now eligible for extensions with one year left on their rookie contracts.

How Seahawks can clear space

Seattle has already begun its cap-clearing process, having reportedly freed up about $14 million in cap space by restructuring star defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ contract.

The Seahawks still have a number of other avenues to free up space.

According to OTC, Seattle could clear $17 million in cap room by releasing veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, whose declining production and massive $30.895 million cap hit make him a potential cap casualty.

Other possible cap casualties for the Seahawks include defensive end Dre’Mont Jones ($16.51 million in cap savings if released with a post-June 1 designation), tight end Noah Fant ($8.91 million in cap savings), safety Rayshawn Jenkins ($5.28 million) and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris ($6.6 million).

The Seahawks also could clear cap space by reaching extensions with quarterback Geno Smith and star wideout DK Metcalf, which would spread their cap hits into future years. Smith’s 2025 cap hit is currently $44.5 million and Metcalf’s is $31.875 million. Both have one year remaining on their current contracts.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Analyst: How ‘wild card’ Seattle Seahawks could surprise with 1st-round pick
• Could loaded WR market affect Seattle Seahawks’ plans for DK Metcalf?
• Is there any chance Lockett remains on Seattle Seahawks in 2025?
• How Seattle Seahawks are approaching salary cap situation
• Two ways Kubiak’s Seahawks offense could resemble high-scoring Lions

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