The Seattle Seahawks are coming into the offseason with Marshawn Lynch as their main priority and the team is also targeting a contract extension for Russell Wilson and this comes as Byron Maxwell, Malcolm Smith, Jordan Cameron, Owen Daniels, CJ Spiller, Mark Ingram and Torrey Smith could be potential free agent targets for the team.
The Seahawks are coming into 2015 after a tough loss in the Super Bowl to the Patriots and now the team is concentrating on bringing back key players for next year. Lynch is the main priority for the team, as his contract status remains up in the air. According to Pro Football Talk, there were conflicting reports about Lynch coming to terms with the Seahawks this offseason and the website reports that he has not yet signed a new deal with the team.
Lynch reportedly has considered retirement and general manager John Schneider has said to the press that he is not sure what the running back will do. Earlier in the season there were reports from ESPN and other outlets that speculated that Lynch would not be back for 2015, but things have pointed in a different direction once the season ended. The Seahawks have engaged Lynch on contract talks and reports have the team wanting him to come back for 2015. Pro Football Talk reports that the team will try and work out a contract extension with Lynch and that they have offered him a deal for over $10 million for the 2015 season.
Yahoo Sports reported last week that the Seahawks made Lynch an offer with the contract extension taking him through 2016. The deal would pay Lynch between $11 million and $12 million next year and the following season he would be in for $9 million. Lynch has dealt with back pain issues over the past couple years and that also could be a factor in his decision to stay in the NFL. Lynch has been as productive as any running back in the league over the past few years and last season he continued his streak of 1200 yard seasons with at least 11 touchdowns, as he had 1306 yards with 13 rushing scores.
Wilson is in line to get a contract extension and recent reports have him set to become one of the highest paid players in football. While Wilson doesn't put up numbers like other QBs, the results are hard to argue with, as he has been to the playoffs three times and has taken his team to two Super Bowl games, winning one. Wilson reportedly will be paid in line with players like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers and that could make for a tough cap situation depending on how the Seahawks structure the deal.
According to Ian Rapoport on Twitter, Wilson's deal could be 75-100 percent guaranteed to help with the cap hit, as the team could think "outside the box" at getting a deal done. The Seahawks have some pressing free agency concerns, as Byron Maxwell is a free agent and they are expected to bring him back. The team has a strong secondary and is hoping to keep it together. The team also may target names like Owen Daniels or Jordan Cameron, as they could use an upgrade at tight end.