Report:The Seahawks are investing significant funds in two positions

The Seattle Seahawks boasted the NFL’s priciest safety group last season, and had they retained Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs this offseason, they would have maintained that top spot by a significant margin in 2024. However, with Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Love stepping in as the starting safety duo, the team will see a notable reduction in costs.

Seattle’s top-10 spending is evident in two positions, which are relatively straightforward to identify. According to OverTheCap, the Seahawks’ interior defensive line ranks sixth in terms of expenditure, totaling $37,823,543. This figure is expected to rise to fourth place once Johnathan Hankins’ contract specifics are disclosed. Dre’Mont Jones commands the highest cap hit at over $18 million, followed by Leonard Williams at around $10 million following his recent three-year extension, and then Jarran Reed at $6,370,000. Overall, the Seahawks are projected to enter the NFL Draft with approximately $40 million allocated to their interior defensive line.

Breaking down the cap hits:
– Dre’Mont Jones: $18,176,666
– Leonard Williams: $10,400,000
– Jarran Reed: $6,370,000
– Cameron Young: $1,096,877
– Myles Adams: $985,000
– LaTrell Bumphus: $795,000
– Johnathan Hankins: TBD

There’s a discrepancy with Mike Morris listed as an edge rusher on OverTheCap, although he’s anticipated to play inside for the Seahawks. This adjustment could add another $875,519 to the total.

While Reed becomes a free agent in 2025, the combined cap hits of Jones and Williams currently exceed $50 million. Jones’ $16 million salary in 2025 is not guaranteed, so monitoring this situation will be important.

The Seattle Seahawks also boast the second-most expensive wide receiver group for the 2024 season, making it the team’s priciest position in terms of total cap charges. With $51,537,726 allocated to its receivers, the Seahawks trail only the San Francisco 49ers in this regard. However, if the 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk as speculated, the Seahawks could potentially claim the top spot outright.

Here’s the breakdown of the cap hits for Seattle’s wide receivers:
– DK Metcalf: $24,500,000
– Tyler Lockett: $18,555,000
– Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $3,276,661
– Dee Eskridge: $1,447,457
– Dareke Young: $1,010,275
– Jake Bobo: $918,333
– Easop Winston: $915,000
– Cody White: $915,000

Realistically, only Metcalf, Lockett, Smith-Njigba, and Bobo are considered secure roster members for this season. However, the group remains costly, primarily due to Metcalf’s significant cap increase from $13.72 million to $24.5 million. Looking ahead to the 2025 offseason, both Metcalf and Lockett are projected to have combined cap hits of around $60 million.

While it may seem premature to focus on 2025, it’s evident that substantial decisions will need to be made by John Schneider regarding the interior defensive line and wide receiver positions by next offseason.