The Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson are talking a contract extension this offseason and the two sides may get a deal done soon and as that is going on, the team has to decide on Bruce Irvin's fifth year contract option and they are also focused on the NFL draft and names like TJ Yeldon, Phillip Dorsett, Chris Conley and Breshad Perriman could be potential targets.
The Seahawks won the NFC and added Jimmy Graham in the offseason and that has many thinking the team can get back to the Super Bowl. After signing Marshawn Lynch to a new deal, the Seahawks took care of their biggest offseason issue and now they can focus on Wilson and on Bruce Irvin. According to the Seattle Times, the Seahawks have a deadline coming up on the fifth year option for linebacker Bruce Irvin.
The report says that the team has until May 3 to decide on the contract option for Irvin, who was a first round pick for the team in 2012. The Seahawks previously did not pick up the fifth year option for James Carpenter and they lost him to the Jets this offseason. Irvin has become a key player for the Seahawks and that means John Schneider has to decide if he wants to keep him long term or work out an extension down the line.
If the team picks up the option, Irvin would get $7.751 million in 2016, but with Lynch's deal, Graham and Wilson's new deal coming, it could make the cap situation tough. Irving had 37 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions last season and played in every game for the team except for one and he could be even more important now after the team lost Malcolm Smith in free agency. The team also has Bobby Wagner and the Seahawks may have to sign him to an extension soon as well.
All of this hangs over the next couple years for the Seahawks and the team is also working on a contract extension with Wilson. According to NFL.com, the team is discussing making all or part of Wilson's contract guaranteed, which would help with the cap situation. The reports from Ian Rapoport have the Seahawks thinking about making 75 percent or more of the contract guaranteed. Wilson has been very successful in the NFL, going to the playoffs three times and winning one Super Bowl while appearing in two with Seattle.
According to ESPN.com, the Seahawks may target a WR in the draft and names like Phillip Dorsett, Chris Conley, Breshad Perriman or Justin Hardy. The team also may look at names like TJ Yeldon, Maxx Williams, Devin Funchess and Tre' Jackson, as they do not have a first round pick after trading for Graham.
There was some major controversy with the way the Super Bowl ended, as many came out to say Pete Carroll should have given Lynch the ball on the goal line. The Patriots emerged victorious after a late interception from Wilson and after the game Lynch was diplomatic about the decision, saying it's a team sport and he was not offended. Now Lynch is back and the team will be determined to get back to the Super Bowl.