Seahawks pick up $5M 2020 option for Justin Britt

The Seattle Seahawks have triggered an option confirming the third year of starting center Justin Britt’s latest contract, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. The option doesn’t change the structure of Britt’s extension he signed in 2017, it just ensures the former second-round pick remains under club control through 2020.

As Henderson reports, the option includes a $5 million bonus that doesn’t affect Britt’s 2018 salary cap figure, and actually keeps Britt’s base salary next season at a reasonable $2.75 million instead of ballooning to $7.75 million. This solution eases financial pressure on the Seahawks organization slightly as they are tasked with replacing several superstars including Jimmy Graham, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett while aiming to balance prospective future pay raises for Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas, among others. At the same time it signals a commitment to some kind of continuity on the offensive line, as Britt advances into the core of the established team leadership.