The Seattle Seahawks did not pick up the fifth year contract option for Bruce Irvin this offseason and that came after trade reports that he could be moved to the Falcons and now that the draft is over, the team is getting some heat for its controversial pick of Frank Clark, while the selection of Tyler Lockett gives quarterback Russell Wilson a new weapon on offense.
The Seahawks have had a very good offseason with the addition of Jimmy Graham and after losing in the Super Bowl, they are still looked at ad main contenders. Russell Wilson and the team have started working on a contract extension and by the time the season starts, he could be paid like some of the best QBs in the league. The Seahawks offseason has not been perfect though, as the team is getting some push back about the Clark pick and from Irvin about his contract.
According to the Seattle Times, Irvin was not happy about the team not picking up his fifth year option and he vented on social media about the decision. Irvin now is heading into unrestricted free agency next year after the team declined the option, which would have been a non-guaranteed salary of $7.8 million for the 2016 season. Irvin now makes $1,663,935 this season and will be a free agent unless and extension gets done and that is looking unlikely.
The Seahawks have great confidence in Irvin, but clearly not enough to pick up the option. Irvin had his best season in 2014 while playing in 15 games, his most since being a rookie. Irvin had six sacks and 36 total tacked on the season and he also had two interceptions and two touchdown returns on picks. Irvin has become a key part of the defense and he also is more important now that Malcolm Smith is gone.
The team traded up to get receiver Tyler Lockett and they see him as a major weapon in the future for Wilson. The Seahawks traded four picks to Washington to get the 69th overall pick from the Redskins and they took Lockett. Lockett put up some great numbers while playing at Kansas State and he could be a top receiver option with Doug Baldwin after the team traded Percy Harvin. Last season Lockett had over 100 catches for 1515 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Wildcats, his second season with at least 81 catches, 1200 yards and 11 TDs in a row.
The Clark pick has had some push back, as the Seahawks have said that they thoroughly looked into a domestic violence incident with Clark and felt comfortable with what they found out. But a Seattle Times article by Geoff Baker stated that the team did not speak with witnesses to the incident and that the Seahawks took Clark's word that he did not hit his girlfriend.
John Schneider has done a good job in the draft over the years and he said that Clark is a top talent on the defensive line. Teams have overlooked things like this before to bring in players, but the NFL climate is different now. Clearly the Seahawks like Clark, as they took him with their first round pick, but they have to be careful after the way things have played out.