3 surprise cuts the Seahawks can make this offseason

The Seattle Seahawks have a lot of cap space heading into the 2022 league year. Here are three players that could be cut.

2021 was not a good year for the Seattle Seahawks, as they were the only team in the NFC West to not make it to the playoffs. Not only that, but they watched the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl 56 and the San Francisco 49ers go on a miracle run to the NFC Championship Game.

Luckily for the Seahawks, they are set to have the eighth-most cap space in the NFL with $35.4 million. Even so, they still have the opportunity to free up additional space by parting ways with players on their roster to pursue the top names in free agency and to keep players from signing elsewhere.

Here are three names the Seahawks can choose to part ways from, which could be considered surprising to some.

Seahawks: Surprise cuts Seattle could make in the 2022 offseason

3. Benson Mayowa, DE

Seattle’s defensive line is, well, not the greatest. Luckily for the Seahawks, they have the cap space to make a run at a pass rusher this offseason, considering they do not have a first-round pick this year. Yet, they will have to free up room on the depth chart.

Benson Mayowa is an option that can free up a spot and additional cap space.

Mayowa joined the Seahawks in 2020 for his second stint with the team. After recording six sacks in 13 games, the team re-signed Mayowa to a two-year, $7.6 million contract. His first year on his new deal, well, was not great.

In 15 regular-season games, Mayowa recorded 30 combined tackles, but just one sack. In terms of getting to the quarterback, Mayowa only recorded six pressures in 2021, as opposed to 22 the year prior, per Pro Football Reference.

If the Seahawks choose to part ways with Mayowa, the best opportunity to do so would be after June 1, as they would free up $3 million in cap space.