The Seahawks’ contract deadline for Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, and other players is this Friday.
The Seahawks are set to introduce their three new coordinators, Ryan Grubb for offense, Aden Durde for defense, and Jay Harbaugh for special teams, at a news conference on Thursday morning. These coordinators will then engage in discussions with the new head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider to make crucial decisions regarding the 2024 roster.
A pressing concern is the impending guaranteed salaries for four players if they remain on the roster through Friday. The players and their 2024 salaries that become fully guaranteed are:
1. Quarterback Geno Smith – $12.7 million.
2. Wide receiver DK Metcalf – $13 million.
3. Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones – $7 million of $11 million.
4. Kicker Jason Myers – $3.635 million.
The Seahawks, currently $5.2 million over the cap for 2024, need to create salary-cap space. Teams must be under the cap by the beginning of the new league year on March 13.
Seattle is not alone in facing cap challenges, as eleven other teams are also over the cap. The contracts for Myers and Metcalf include significant dead-cap hits, providing the team with flexibility in case they decide to part ways. However, Smith’s contract poses the biggest immediate question, as his base salary for 2024 becomes guaranteed if he remains on the roster through Friday.
While there haven’t been any indications of Smith not being on the roster on Friday, his contract includes a clause that grants him a $9.6 million bonus if he remains on the roster until March 18. This five-day window allows Seattle to explore options and provides more flexibility. If both dates pass, Smith would be owed $22.5 million in cash in 2024, making him a likely starter. If the Seahawks were to cut Smith, they would receive $13.8 million in cap savings but incur a $17.4 million dead hit, with the option of more savings with a post-June 1 cut.
