Seattle Seahawks: Should Kam Chancellor be cut?

Even though he’s no longer playing, Kam Chancellor is still under contract. The Seattle Seahawks could save money by cutting the former Pro Bowler.

Feb. 8 was a good day for Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. On that day, $5.2 million on his current contract for 2019 became guaranteed, per Seahawks Wire. Chancellor is set to make a base salary of $10 million if he remains with the team through the 2019 season.

Things likely won’t get that far though. The Seahawks can save money by cutting Chancellor later in the offseason, which they will probably do to make room for free agents and Russell Wilson‘s upcoming extension.

The Seahawks didn’t cut Chancellor prior to some of his money becoming guaranteed on Feb. 8 because it would have actually cost them more in the long run. The Chancellor situation really is complicated and will draw more attention when the Seahawks end up making a decision with how to proceed. While he can’t contribute on the field, the city of Seattle and the 12th Man absolutely love him for everything he’s done in his career.

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Chancellor is a high-profile player who will never play in another game because of that neck injury he suffered back during the 2017 season, more than a year ago. He’s also one of the best players in Seahawks history and played a crucial role as the enforcer on the Legion of Boom defense that won the franchise its only Super Bowl.

While he is one of the most beloved players in team history and fans probably won’t be happy with the team parting ways with him, the organization needs to work towards the immediate future. Chancellor will always hold a special place in the team’s past, but he’s not in the team’s future, as a player at least.

Chancellor still is set to make $10.5 million in base salary in 2020, but he shouldn’t remain in the team that long. As much as keeping him around would be such a cool thing to do, Seattle needs that money to keep the team at a playoff caliber.

I also mentioned that Wilson will need a hefty contract extension. His deal ends after the 2019 season. Bobby Wagner, the team’s All-Pro middle linebacker, will also be playing on an expiring contract in 2019. Those are two players that Seattle cannot afford to lose.

While Seattle hasn’t decided what to do with Chancellor or his contract yet, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be on the roster when Week 1 of the 2019 season rolls around. He is guaranteed $5.2 million for 2019, but there’s no significant reason why the team would be afraid about him impacting the cap in 2020. Chancellor’s days in Seattle are numbered.