Seattle Seahawks: If Ever There Was a Year, 2017 Must Be It
By Erik Lambert
The Seattle Seahawks are out of excuses by this point. The roster they’ve managed to assemble is almost obligated to at least reach the Super Bowl.
By rights the Seahawks should have more than one Lombardi trophy. That’s how good this team is. Yet they haven’t really been the same since that crushing loss to the Patriots back in February of 2015. After two early playoff exits some have started to wonder if the window is starting to close. Marshawn Lynch is long gone. Michael Bennett is 31. Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman are about to turn 30. The vaunted core of that Legion of Boom unit is aging.
That is what makes the blockbuster deal for Sheldon Richardson so important. There’s no doubt the former Jets defensive lineman gives Seattle another dog in the front seven. On paper the defense looks stronger than ever. On offense, aside from big offensive line question marks they have weapons everywhere. It’s a loaded roster, but also one with a ticking clock.
Seattle Seahawks have money issues on the horizon
As with most talented rosters, there’s always a time limit. The primary reason being money. Richardson will be a free agent in 2018. Sherman and Chancellor will both count a combined $23 million against the salary cap. This doesn’t even include players like Jimmy Graham and Paul Richardson also having expiring contracts or other players who might push for new deals. It’s happened before.
Thus the overarching message becomes clear. Age and money issues make 2017 the best and possibly last chance to make a legitimate run at the Super Bowl before a miniature rebuild might be needed. As good as their heirarchy is, the fact remains a team only gets so many opportunities even with a top notch quarterback like Russell Wilson. The stars have aligned. It’s time to make the move.