According to a report late Wednesday night by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks do not plan to exercise the fifth-year option on LB Bruce Irvin’s rookie contract. Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk speculates that Irvin, the club’s No. 1 pick in 2012, could be traded to the Atlanta Falcons, where he would be reunited with head coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator in Seattle.
Exercising Irvin’s 2016 option would result in a $7.751 million salary, perhaps prohibitive for a team already paying big bucks for Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, K.J. Wright, Marshawn Lynch and newly acquired Jimmy Graham. Also, the Seahawks are trying to negotiate mega deals for QB Russell Wilson and LB Bobby Wagner.
Per Rapoport, the Seahawks would love to extend the 27-year-old Irvin, who had 37 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season, but the issue is whether Irvin would sign with Seattle on the relative cheap.
Quinn and the Falcons are desperate for an edge rusher and trading for Irvin would allow Atlanta to address other positions early in the 2015 draft, which begins Thursday night in Chicago.
4 Comments
Disappointing but not entirely surprising. Irvin has been a great player for the Hawks, much like a lot of the Super Bowl team with the exception of Percy Harvin. Personally, I hope he follows Michael Bennett’s lead and does a one year contract. LB depth will be in question with him and Malcolm Smith gone. I imagine the Hawks will want a second round pick for him though IMO at best teams would give up a 3rd rounder max for him. Might have to throw in a lower pick to even it out.
Cap related decisions are so frustrating. Makes it hard to be a fan sometimes. I suppose if the Falcons are willing to give a relatively high draft choice (3rd or 4th?) the pain can be mitigated to a certain extent. Mr. Irvin’s been developing into a 3 down player. I wish him well if true.
I would not call Irvin a “great” player. He has had his moments, but he also disappears for long stretches. Plus he has shown a lack of judgement and maturity in his decision making. Being suspended for PEDs is inexcusable. He also has had public displays of aggression towards Graham. I’d rather have him on the team than not, but if he goes I will not be heartbroken.
Agreed, although I’d say Irvin has improved annually and was one of Seattle’s best defensive players by the end of last season. On the other hand, as you mentioned, his judgment is questionable at best. That on-field fight at the end of the Super Bowl was an execrable way to finish a season. Irvin’s absence would be felt, but Schneider seems to find guys from nowhere to fill a need. The LB corps will be fine.
I’m a lot more concerned about the O-line, especially if Graham is getting the majority of snaps at TE because he’s not going to be of much use as a blocker. The biggest loss of the offseason will prove to be Unger.