In what could be described as the end of the Seattle Seahawks “Legion of Boom” defense, one of the keys pieces is moving on to greener pastures.
Michael Bennett (and a seventh round pick) is being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fifth round pick and wide receiver Marcus Johnson. The trade won’t go through until March 14 when the new calendar year for the NFL starts.
Bennett notched 8.5 sacks last season and was one of the leaders on the Seahawks defensive line, but is turning 33 this year and has some injury concerns.
The deal gives Seattle four picks in the fifth round of the draft, as well as two in the seventh, which they could trade to get into the second and third rounds. The organization has eight draft picks in total.
They also clear about $21 million in cash over the next three years, after the two sides agreed on an extension back in 2016. In the short term, they save $2.2 million in cap space for 2018, cutting him short of him receiving a $3 million dollar bonus on March 18.
He is not the only Seahawk that may be departing. Richard Sherman has been telling teammates goodbye and doesn’t expect to be with the team next season.