Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Seahawks with respect to former first-rounder L.J. Collier. The defensive lineman has one year remaining on his rookie contract, but might not spend it in Seattle. 
As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes, Collier’s hold on a roster spot is “more uncertain than ever.” The team’s top pick in 2019, he made just three tackles in 11 games as a rookie. Things changed the following season, however, when he started all 16 contests, registering 22 tackles and three sacks. That led to optimism he had turned a corner, but the 2021 campaign was a different story.
The TCU product came off the bench in 10 games last season, an underwhelming point in his brief NFL tenure. As a result, he found himself in trade talks in the weeks leading up to the deadline. Seattle held on to him, but, to no surprise, they declined his fifth-year option this offseason. Training camp has been disappointing and marked by injury, leaving little in the way of optimism amongst the team’s coaches.
“Right now, I mean, it’s difficult,” defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt said when asked about seeing a fit for Collier in the team’s new 3-4 scheme. “He was doing a nice job while he was out there on the field and he was healthy. But it’s a tough deal — I tell guys all the time, ‘It’s hard to make the club when you are in the tub.’ You’ve got to be out there and ready to go. When he’s out there practicing he gives great effort. But it’s tough.”
The Seahawks could rotate the 26-year-old at end and tackle with the new alignment, but Collier would have a number of players ahead of him on the depth chart at each spot. The team’s preseason finale could represent a final opportunity to earn a 53-man roster spot, but head coach Pete Carroll indicated that it remains unclear if the elbow injury he suffered earlier this month will be healed in time for him to play.
Especially is he doesn’t suit up, Collier could become the first Seahawks first-rounder in the Carroll/John Schneider era to fail to see out his rookie deal with the team. Seattle would save $986K by releasing him, but doing so would leave them with a dead cap charge of over $2.4MM. Collier’s name will be one to watch closely when final roster cuts are made next week.
They could waive him with an injury designation that would provide him with a settlement and allow him to sign with another team to play this season.
That’s what they did w/ the RB right?
They did it with Carson but he was actually injured not just bad. The problem I see with doing that with Collier is the settlement going to be more than what his contract will be for. If it is he can elect to play to take a gamble if it will be less it is a no questions yes.
Seattle went from a team with Super Bowl chances to probably the worst team in the league this year record wise.
And they did it on purpose!
Why not go all the way?