The Seattle Seahawks’ secondary will look quite different next season under new head coach Mike Macdonald.
The Seahawks released safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs on Tuesday, the team announced. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero first reported the news.
The tandem had been starting in Seattle’s defensive backfield since the start of the 2020 season, although Adams never played a full season for the team.
The cuts will save the Seahawks $27.5 million in cash, per Pelissero, as well as free up significant salary-cap space for Seattle. Prior to the moves, the Seahawks had roughly $12 million in cap space available, according to Over The Cap.
Seattle also released tight end Will Dissly on Tuesday, which will save $7 million in cash and salary space, the team announced.
The cutting of Diggs was the more surprising of the two moves. He was a three-time Pro Bowler for the Seahawks since arriving via trade midway through the 2019 season — at the cost of only a fifth-round selection. That was one of the more impressive trades pulled off by general manager John Schneider during Pete Carroll’s tenure in Seattle.
The 31-year-old Diggs had one year remaining on his deal. He started every game the past four seasons, but 2023 was his first full season in Seattle not making the Pro Bowl, grabbing only one pick after logging at least three interceptions in the prior six campaigns.
Adams was far less of a surprise. Unlike the Diggs swap, the Seahawks didn’t get anywhere close to what they paid for him in a 2020 trade — and his subsequent contract extension. Adams doesn’t turn 29 years old until October but has missed 29 of his past 51 starts and hasn’t played a full season since 2018, his second year with the New York Jets.
The Seahawks have drafted several defensive backs in recent years, including Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen the past two years, but they’re suddenly pretty thin at safety. Julian Love is now Seattle’s most experienced returning safety.
Macdonald’s specialty is on the defensive side of the ball, having built up the Ravens’ defense the past two seasons to become one of the best units in football.