The Seattle Seahawks have a salary cap problem. Now, it’s not the way normal teams have a salary cap problem since Seattle hasn’t been giving out big contracts to players who won’t return that value (see: New Orleans). Instead, the Seahawks have too many good players who were -- or are -- cheap, and either will or have gotten massive raises.

Within the next year, both never seen the last year of any deal he’s had in his NFL career. Before that year approaches, Brady and the Patriots agree to an extension, restructure or both, which keeps new money continuously flowing to Brady. This basically serves as rolling three- to four-year contracts, which keeps Brady’s salary at around market value each year instead of locking the quarterback into high cap hits for seven years at a time, especially as the cap increases over the next few years. This would take some understanding from both the Seahawks and Wilson, but it could be preferable for both sides and leave additional room for other players on the roster.

Defensive Difference

Wilson’s going to get paid in some way, and that leaves the interesting Seattle decisions on the defensive side of the ball. Bobby Wagner is also up for a new deal, and reports suggest he’s looking for $10 per year for his next contract. That would place him as either the highest or second-highest paid inside linebacker in the league, depending on how you would categorize Clay Matthews and pending a new deal for Luke Kuechly in Carolina.

Wagner has been a big part of the Seattle defense patrolling the middle of the field, helping the Seahawks to fifth in schedule-adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP last season. Unlike the quarterback position, middle linebackers aren’t valued as highly in today’s NFL. The highest paid pure inside linebacker by AAV is San Francisco’s NaVorro Bowman at $9.05 million per year. Wagner might not be worth $1 million more per year over a player like Bowman, but as the MIKE in Seattle’s defense responsible for many play calls and adjustments, Wagner is also likely to receive a top of the market deal.

But there can be a case made for so many players on the Seahawks to be paid at the top of the market and there lies the problem. With at least $9 million going to Wagner and $20 going to Wilson, the Seahawks could have nearly $75 million tied to their top six players in 2016, pending how cap hits are spread out. Sure, it’s unlikely to be the $75 million number, but with all but two of those contracts already set, there’s only so much pushing back money in Wilson’s and Wagner’s deals can do. This also comes on the heels of Kam Chancellor threatening to hold out of training camp for a better deal than his current three-years and nearly $20 million left on his contract.

Meanwhile, Doug Baldwin is scheduled to make $5.6 million in 2016, and cutting ties would give the Seahawks $4 million in savings. That could be a viable option if Tyler Lockett or one of Seattle's recent draft picks at wide receiver like Kevin Norwood or Paul Richardson can provide value.

Seattle has already started to make some moves on the defensive side of the ball for the future, declining the fifth-year option for Bruce Irvin. Other players who could provide cap relief with a release just signed extensions, like defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. Both are integral parts of the pass rush, but both were also underrated before -- and possibly still are -- coming to Seattle, something the team could target elsewhere.

The Seahawks were put in this position by drafting incredibly well since John Schneider and Pete Carroll joined forces, but now those players are getting expensive. As the cap increases, the Seahawks may be aided in keeping many of these players under contract, but it might not be surprising to see a few changes made next offseason. Seattle’s window certainly isn’t closing -- we have them as the number-one team in the league, with the highest odds of making the Super Bowl -- but it will be interesting to see how the team continues to maneuver going forward.