Where the Seahawks are allocating their 2020 cap dollars

While questions abound whether or not the 2020 NFL Season will happen, Monday marked the lifting of lockdown restrictions in New York City, allowing non-essential businesses to return to their offices under certain guidelines. One of the companies that chose to return to the office was the NFL.

Ready to go for the 2020 season means taking a look at the Seattle Seahawks and their salary cap situation. Before digging into more specific matters later in the offseason, here’s a quick overview of how the team has allocated their cap dollars for the 2020 season by position group. Just a couple of notes on these numbers:

• The cap hits are only pulled from the top 51 salaries on the roster,
• Unsigned draft picks (like Jordyn Brooks or Darrell Taylor) are not included, even though they will move into the top 51 salaries once they do sign,
• No cap cuts or roster projections are made, so the numbers account for a roster with five tight ends and four linebackers.

In any case, it’s no surprise which position group is at the top of the list. Russell Wilson, with an unpaid Jugs machine as his backup would represent the highest paid position group on the roster. However, the group with the second highest combined cap hits is likely to surprise many fans.

• Quarterback: $31,887,500
• Offensive line: $30,158,593
• Linebacker: $26,406,761
• Defensive Line: $25,430,957
• Defensive Back: $22,788,132
• Wide Receiver: $16,312,784
• Tight End: $12,742,927
• Running Back: $9,035,313
• Specialists: $5,457,538

Whether or not the offseason investment into free agents like B.J. Finney and Brandon Shell, paired with rookie Damien Lewis will make for an improved offensive line won’t be known until summer. However, what can be said at this point is that the Seahawks are not neglecting the offensive line, they simply haven’t been able to put together a line that performs the way many wish it would.

In the coming weeks and months we can dig deeper into the cap situation of the Seahawks, and what it means for how the team tends to build its roster.