Change is inevitable in the NFL and the Seattle Seahawks have already seen a big one with Mike Macdonald being hired as the team's new head coach.
While that move was big, the defensive personnel department could see a couple more mainstays leave this offseason.
With several contracts needing to be addressed on the defensive side and the Seahawks being over the cap at the time of writing, NFL.com thinks that Jamal Adams could be moved on from.
"The end of the Pete Carroll era should also bring the end of the Jamal Adams run," NFL.com writes. "It's time to admit the trade and contract was an error and move on. The Seahawks can save $16.5 million if they release Adams after June 1. Could new coach Mike Macdonald use a fun chess piece like Adams, similar to how he unleashed Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore? Sure. However, Adams is no longer that player -- and he can't stay healthy, having played 10 games combined in the past two seasons."
Adams seems like the most logical move for the Seahawks given his $16.5 million salary hit coupled with his injury troubles that have seen him barely be a factor in the last two seasons.
The move to bring Adams to Seattle simply hasn't panned out the way the Seahawks thought, which is fine as all moves don't "hit."
But Adams isn't the only defensive player Seattle could part ways with.
"Seattle, which is currently over the projected salary cap, could also part with fellow safety Quandre Diggs, who's set to count for $21.26 million against the salary cap," NFL.com writes. "I'd love to see Diggs in Macdonald's defense, but saving $11 million by releasing the 31-year-old safety is probably too much to pass up for a Seattle squad starting a new reign."
The veteran safety could also be looking for a new team and despite playing 17 games for the Seahawks this season, only has one year left on his current deal.
Diggs is set to make $10.4 million in base salary in 2024 and has proven to be a viable contributor for Seattle. He's been a Pro Bowler in three of his four years with the organization, but business is business.
Diggs seems less likely to be moved on than Adams, but if both are to be pushed out the door, the defense under Macdonald will have a different feel to it.
There are a couple of decisions that the Seahawks could make to help alleviate the salary cap squeeze as Macdonald looks to begin the new era in Seattle with a bang.
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