Following a disappointing season for the Seattle Seahawks where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2011, veteran defensive end Michael Bennett told reporters that he doesn't expect to be back in 2018. From Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune:
“I probably won't be back next year.
“Just seems like it's a young man's game. I can see them going younger, with younger players,” Bennett told me. “That's part of the game.”
According to Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer, Bennett is right:
Bennett is 32, and although he played another full season in 2017, age and injuries caught up to him a little. Regardless of the limited cap savings, he's headed for a break-up with the Seahawks.
Bennett has a $3 million bonus due on March 18th if he's still on the team, so that's the de facto deadline for a decision to be made. He's been with the Seahawks since 2013, reaching three Pro Bowls while helping Seattle win its first Super Bowl title in February of 2014.
Bennett played with a torn plantar fascia for much of this season, and while he was still impactful, the injury clearly hampered his ability to collapse the pocket off the edge. In December of 2016, he signed an extension through the 2020 season worth $29.5 million.
If they cut him now, Seattle will have to take on just over $5 million in dead money in 2018, but none in 2019. They will only save $2.175 million in cap space, but the additional bonus has to be factored in as well as the massive savings for the following offseason.
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