Seattle Seahawks: 3 Key contributors departing in 2019 free agency
By Samuel Teets
The Seattle Seahawks have some important decisions to make this offseason regarding the impending loss of some key contributors.
The Seattle Seahawks have some scheming to do this offseason. The team needs to not only find a way past the Wild Card Round in 2019, but it needs to replace several key players that are set to become free agents. For a team like Seattle, that still needs to improve a lot before even being put in the conversation as a Super Bowl contender, this offseason will be huge. But that includes letting key pieces leave in free agency
Now, to the parameters for looking at potential departures. This list is not solely based on talent — it will take into account team needs and that will elevate the status of some of the chosen players. Also, Earl Thomas will be left off of this list because there is no chance that he’ll return to Seattle and play for the Seahawks in 2019.
His saga has dragged on long enough and it’s time for both Thomas and the Seahawks to move on. While he was playing at an All-Pro level during the first four games of the season, he missed the final 12 and the postseason, so it’s safe to not mark Thomas down as not being a “key” contributor in 2018.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that every team loses some players in free agency. No team brings back a full roster year in and year out, but the Seahawks are in a precarious situation because they are losing important players. Teams go through backups all the time, but Seattle is potentially losing several starters and players who had high snap counts in 2018.
That’s why this offseason will be so important in determining whether Seattle will continue to grow or if they’ll take a step back in 2019. Hopefully the team will find a way to replace these key contributors over the next few months.