If the Seattle Seahawks are going to make a return trip to the postseason in 2018, they’ll have to do it without defensive end Michael Bennett. While the trade can’t officially happen until the new league year, the Seahawks have agreed to trade Bennett and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Johnson and the Eagles’ 2018 fifth-round pick.
Here it goes: Seahawks are trading DE Michael Bennett and a seventh-round pick to Eagles for a fifth-round pick and WR Marcus Johnson, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2018
The league is buzzing, and the Seahawks players as well, that Richard Sherman will soon be hitting the bricks too.
Bennett is a good player, but he’s also been one of the most overrated defensive players in the league over the last few years. He’s recorded just one double-digit sack season in his entire career, notching 10 in 2015. Last season he finished with 40 tackles, one pass defense and 8.5 sacks. His sack total was tied for the third highest of his career. In spite of a decent, but not star performance, Seattle paid Bennett $10.768 million last season.
This year his cap hit would have been $8.383 million and with other gaping holes in their roster, it’s one they didn’t want to swallow for a guy that was outperformed by his own backup. Frank Clark racked up nine sacks and 32 tackles in 2017.
Soon-to-be Eagles DE Michael Bennett has $18 million over 3 years left on his deal, with another $3 million in per-game roster bonuses attached to that. His cap hit for 2018, as it stands now, is $5.5 million.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2018
With three years left on his current contract, Bennett could finish up his career in Philadelphia, though it’s highly likely they’re just taking him on a one-year test run. There’s an out in his contract after the 2018 season with just $3.475 in dead cap space. It’s also possible the Eagles could look to negotiate a lower yearly salary for Bennett after the season if they like what they see.
WHAT ABOUT RICHARD SHERMAN?
For cornerback Richard Sherman, 2017 was an injury-shortened season in Seattle. It could also be his last. After rumblings last off-season that the Seahawks were looking to trade the former three-time All-Pro defensive back, it appears it’s actually happening this year.
#Seahawks star Richard Sherman is scheduled to meet with coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider later today to discuss his future, I'm told.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 7, 2018
According to the NFL Network, Sherman has been texting and communicating with his teammates that he’s on his way out of Seattle. The Seahawks have made no official announcement as of this writing.
Sherman played in nine games last season and finished with 35 tackles, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended and two interceptions. This upcoming season is the final year of his contract and he’s due to count $13.2 million against the cap.
#Seahawks CB Richard Sherman has told teammates goodbye over the past 24 hours, sources say, and that he won’t be on the team. Those close to him say nothing is set in stone and there has been no official word. But clearly bears watching.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2018
If the Seahawks don’t trade, but cut Sherman, they’ll have only a $2.2 million dead cap hit. Last season it would have been $15.831 million.
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