The Seattle Seahawks made big changes to their team for the 2024 NFL season. To meet the salary cap, the team's general manager, John Schneider, suddenly let go of tight end Will Dissly, as well as the starting safety pair of Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs.
Releasing Dissly saved the Seahawks $6.97 million and he then joined the Los Angeles Chargers. By releasing Adams and Diggs, who were among the highest-paid safeties in the NFL, Seattle saved $27.5 million in cash. Both Pro Bowlers are now free agents.
Schneider told Seattle Sports 710 that they have not completely ruled out the possibility of any of them returning. However, when making these contracts and trying to create cap space, there are consequences. It's like a credit card situation. Eventually, you have to pay the bills, and if you want to keep progressing, you need to deal with that.
However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero revealed that the Seahawks were adding safety K’Von Wallace on Tuesday, March 19. After Seattle signed former Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins on a two-year $12 million contract, it seems highly unlikely that Diggs or Adams will return.
The Seattle Times reported, “Wallace will be part of the Seattle safety group, which also includes returning Julian Love and veteran free agent Rayshawn Jenkins, who joined the team last week. With these three players, Seattle now has three safeties on its roster who started a combined 41 games last season.
“And it's probably unlikely that there is still a chance for either Diggs or Adams to return.”
Seahawks News: K’Von Wallace Can Play Both Free & Strong Safety
Wallace was initially drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. In his three seasons with the Eagles, the Clemson alum appeared in 45 games and started seven. He made 64 total tackles, defended 2 passes, and recovered 1 fumble.
After being released, the Arizona Cardinals claimed Wallace. In seven games and five starts, he recorded 43 total tackles, 4 passes defensed, and 1 interception. He was released after Buddha Baker returned, and then signed with the Titans. In 10 games and seven starts, he recorded 46 total tackles and 2 passes defensed.
SI’s Corbin K. Smith stated, “Despite moving between teams in 2023, Wallace performed quite well for both. According to PFF analysis, he ranked 21st out of 61 qualified safeties with a 70.7 coverage grade, making a pass breakup on nearly 15% of his 35 targets while only allowing one touchdown. He also achieved a career-high 89 combined tackles while playing nearly an equal amount of time as a free and strong safety.”
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound player has also spent 134 snaps in the slot.
The Seahawks May No Longer Need to Draft a Safety in the 2024 NFL Draft
Rayshawn Jenkins lands in Seattle eight days after the Seahawks released safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs.
Jenkins led all safeties with -5.6 receptions over expected allowed last season.#Seahawks https://t.co/u3vamqzjRx pic.twitter.com/ie1lltGCED
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 13, 2024
Seahawks' new head coach Mike Macdonald previously used three-safety formations as the defensive coordinator for the Ravens and could have all three play together as interchangeable pieces during the upcoming season, according to Smith.
The Seahawks can now focus on filling other positions in the April draft because they have Love, Jenkins, and Wallace on their team. USA Today’s Tim Weaver wrote, “Seattle may no longer need to pick a safety in the 2024 NFL draft, with Jenkins and Wallace effectively replacing Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. Seattle still has plenty of youth at this spot on their depth chart in Jerrick Reed, Coby Bryant and Ty Okada.”
