The Seattle Seahawks have some major personnel questions heading into next season, as players like Bruce Irvin, Jermaine Kearse and Russell Okung are hitting free agency, while Marshawn Lynch potentially could be released or could retire.
Lynch's status with the Seahawks has been up in the air all season, as the running back dealt with multiple injuries in 2015 and missed over half of the regular season schedule. Lynch started last season with a contract dispute and while that resulted in a pay bump for this year, it gave Lynch no real security moving forward. According to John Clayton at ESPN, Lynch is very unlikely to return to the team at his current salary, which will count for over $11 million on the salary cap.
The Seahawks can save over $6 million by cutting Lynch and after the way Thomas Rawls played with Lynch injured, there is a chance the team could give Rawls the chance to start. Rawls costs less than $1 million for next season and that could be a major factor in making a move with Lynch. Head coach Pete Carroll told the Seattle Times that he is unsure of how things will go with Lynch heading into next season and that could be a sign of what is to come for the running back. GM John Schneider said to ESPN on Friday that Lynch is "leaning" towards retirement heading into 2016.
Lynch will be 30 by the time next season starts and that is the age that most running backs start to break down. Lynch has been one of the most utilized running backs in the league over the past four seasons and his injuries this season could be a result of that. Lynch went for at least 280 carries and at least 300 touches in each of the past four seasons before 2015 and after dealing with hamstring and abdominal injuries this year and playing in just seven games, his time could be up in Seattle.
The Seahawks also have some significant players hitting free agency in Bruce Irvin, Jermaine Kearse and Russell Okung. According to the Seattle Times, Irvin is willing to take a "hometown discount" to stay in Seattle, but Kearse has said that he will not be looking to do the same. Kearse has been a solid player for the Seahawks, but the emergence of Tyler Lockett could keep the team from meeting the number that Kearse wants. Irvin has been a key part of the defense for Seattle and him taking a discount could be a huge factor in whether he stays or goes this offseason.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports that Okung wants to stay with the Seahawks and that he would "love to stay" with the team. The Seahawks would like to keep Okung on the offensive line, as the team traded Max Unger in the Jimmy Graham deal and Okung has been one of the most consistent players at his position over the past few years.
