Could Seahawks really trade Kam Chancellor?
The Seattle Seahawks are trying to do something that no team has done since the 1992 Buffalo Bills; go to a third straight Super Bowl. Unfortunately, getting to that destination appears to be getting more difficult by the day.
This offseason has been laced with landmines for the Seahawks, who watched as Byron Maxwell, a member of their famed Legion of Boom, left for the Philadelphia Eagles via free agency. Then it was the contract back-and-forth with quarterback Russell Wilson, which finally resulted in a four-year contract extension.
General manager John Schneider has been very busy over the past two years, locking up not only Wilson but also safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman in 2014, before trading for All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham this March. Schneider appeared to have everything figured out, until training camp arrived and two of his defensive stars did not.
Defensive end Michael Bennett and strong safety Kam Chancellor were no-shows, holding out for larger deals. Both have two years left on their current contracts after the 2015 season, giving Schneider plenty of leverage to wait for their returns. While Bennett did come back into the fold quickly, Chancellor is not budging. With Week 1 now upon us, there has been real talk that Chancellor might be traded to break this stalemate.
The New York Giants are supposedly the team most interested. It would take quite a haul in the draft pick department, but perhaps the Giants would be willing to make the move. At this point, it all seems to be speculation, but Pro Football Talk says the talks have at least been explored.
Schneider needs to figure this mess out, and fast. While Seattle is not built around one player (no Super Bowl champion is), it does rely heavily on its secondary. This is not a team with a major pass rush or a prolific offense. If Chancellor does not return, the Legion of Boom could fast become the Legion of Pretty Good. Sherman is elite and Thomas is the best ball-hawk in the league, but the other two spots are sub-par.
Without Chancellor, the Seahawks are still the class of the NFC West. Seattle is still going to win double-digit games and reach the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Yet, reaching the Super Bowl will be a far tougher task without the league’s most versatile safety. Very few safeties can play in the box and cover, perhaps a group limited to Eric Berry, Eric Weddle, Eric Reid and Chancellor. Losing a player of that caliber would be a major blow.
Without Chancellor in the starting lineup and Thomas coming back from surgery on his shoulder, the Seahawks are a wounded group. It will be telling to see how they stack up early in the season with a schedule that includes trips to St. Louis and Green Bay.
This team has the heart of a champion, but can it still be one if Chancellor is gone?
