Where Seahawks’ salary cap situation now stands

The Seattle Seahawks entered the offseason with one of the worst salary cap situations in the league.

They sit in a much more comfortable spot right now.

ESPN’s Mina Kimes weighs in on Lockett, Metcalf news

After restructuring star defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ contract last month and then releasing five players this week, the Seahawks now have a projected $32.6 million in salary cap space for the 2025 season, according to OverTheCap. And they have $29.3 million in effective cap space, which factors in money needed to pay this year’s draft picks. Both figures rank 21st in the NFL.

It’s a roughly $60 million swing from where the Seahawks were a month ago, when they had the third-worst cap situation in the league at $27.5 million in the red.

Last month, Seattle reportedly freed up approximately $14 million in cap space by restructuring Williams’ contract. The Seahawks then created another $44.25 million in cap space with a handful of releases this week.

On Tuesday, Seattle released edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones ($11.57 million in cap savings), rotational defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris ($6.6 million), third safety Rayshawn Jenkins ($5.28 million) and backup offensive tackle George Fant ($3.8 million). Then on Wednesday, the Seahawks released longtime wide receiver Tyler Lockett ($17 million in cap savings).

All five players had been projected as potential cap casualties, with their current level of production not matching up to their impending 2025 cap hits. With those five releases, Seattle will take on roughly $32.3 million in dead cap space.

The Seahawks still have more avenues to add cap space.

They are expected to negotiate a contract extension with veteran quarterback Geno Smith, which could bring down his $44.5 million cap hit for 2025. They also are trying to restructure edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu’s contract, general manager John Schneider told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob last week. Nwosu carries a roughly $21.2 million cap hit.

And then there’s the case of star wide receiver DK Metcalf, who has requested to be traded from the Seahawks, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Metcalf’s cap hit skyrockets to $31.875 million this season, which is set to be the highest of any wide receiver in the league, according to OTC.

If the Seahawks trade Metcalf before June 1, they would save $10.875 in cap space. A post-June 1 trade would clear $18 million in cap space.

Seattle Seahawks news and analysis

• Why did DK request trade from Seattle Seahawks? Bump’s take
• What’s next for Seahawks icon Lockett? Perhaps a Carroll reunion
• Reports: Seattle Seahawks star WR DK Metcalf requests trade
• Seattle Seahawks release Tyler Lockett, ending historic 10-year tenure
• Seattle Seahawks cut 4 to get under salary cap, including Jones

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