The Deal:  Michael Bennett & a 7th Round Pick to the Eagles for Marcus Johnson & a 5th Round Pick.

Don’t get too excited about that 5th rounder, since the Eagles pick last in every round.  More or less a 6th rounder at that point.  But, I digress.

You can’t expect the market to be all that amazing for a defensive lineman who’s going to be 33 years old in November.  So, all things considered, that’s a decent haul for Michael Bennett.  On top of it, the Seahawks get out from under a $3 million bonus that would’ve come due next week, as well as his base salary for the year.  We’re still on the hook for quite a bit of dead money, and we only save about $2.2 million in cap space (not counting that other $3 million, as that didn’t reflect on our cap numbers yet), but at least we don’t have to pay out the remaining 3 years’ worth of salary (2018-2020).  That’s Philly’s problem now (which means it’s not a problem at all, since they should have zero dead money to deal with, since it’s a trade).

In return, the Seahawks get Marcus Johnson, a wide receiver who was – I guess – an undrafted free agent in 2016?  He got nominal playing time last year (5 catches in 10 games), but apparently is super fast.  And, obviously cheap.  At this point, he’s another body to throw onto the pile (with the anticipated loss of Paul Richardson), with some upside hopefully.  I imagine the Seahawks have to like him if he’s being tossed into this deal, so I’m sure he’ll get every opportunity to win a job out of Training Camp.

I’m also sure the Eagles are thrilled right now.  You don’t know what you’re going to get out of Michael Bennett at this stage of his career, but if you can get over 10 games out of him, on a rotational basis, he’s still got a lot of skills and savvy to wreak havoc.  A quality defensive line just got a lot better for 2018, for not that high a price.

As for me, the Seahawks fan, I’m a little sad.  I don’t give a shit about the Anthem protests and all that, that stuff has never bothered me.  Michael Bennett was a guy who was instrumental in the Seahawks winning their first-ever championship, and getting back to the Super Bowl in 2014.  Everyone likes to rag on him for the offsides penalties and everything – and yes, they were always aggravating – but come on, man.  What he brings from a pass rush perspective as well as a run-stopping perspective TOTALLY outweighs any on-field negatives.

Plus, you know, Michael Bennett is a funny, smart guy.  Always an entertaining interview.  And always entertaining on the field.  I’ll miss him.

But, it’s time.  It’s time to do what you can to blow up this defense and get younger in as many areas as you can.  Word on the Twitter Streets is that Richard Sherman is next.  I’ll write about that when I hear something more concrete, but let’s take it one legend at a time.

Is Michael Bennett a Ring of Honor candidate?  Abso-fucking-lutely!  Probably not a number retirement guy, but certainly an all-time Seahawks great.  Pay that man his respect!