Another training camp, another year of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett complaining about his contract. Bennett is in the third year of the four-year, $28.5 million deal he signed with the Seahawks in 2014 with $16 million in guaranteed money. His average yearly salary is $7.125 million. Specifically this year he’ll make $7 million right on the dot.
He doesn’t like this. Bennett thinks he’s worth more than that per season. He is wrong.
Bennett is a decent player. Don’t get me wrong. But he’s not an elite player by any measurable standard. Bennett has exactly one double-digit sack season in his six-year career. One. And it was last year and he barely got there with 10 sacks.
DE @mosesbread72 polishing his skills to shine come gametime. 🎅🏿#SeahawksCamp pic.twitter.com/L5SU4nJoBv
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 6, 2016
Bennett’s salary has him tied at 14th in the league in defensive end contracts. That’s pretty damn good for a guy that set mediocre career highs in sacks and tackles last season.
Bennett makes more money right now than Mario Williams $6.5 million), Ezekiel Ansah ($5.9 million), Carolos Dunlap ($5.95 million), Michael Johnson ($6.1 million), Cameron Jordan ($5.8 million), Rob Ninkovich ($4.75 million) and Sheldon Richardson ($3.1 million).
All of those players, each and every one of them, are better than Bennett. And in the cases of Williams, Ansah and Richardson, even the comparison with Bennett is insulting.
The thing is, this is no secret. It’s exactly why the Seahawks are in no hurry to negotiate a new contract with Bennett. My guess is they wouldn’t be too broken up to shed his remaining contract in a trade. They still owe him $9.5 million in 2017. That’ll make him the 10th highest paid defensive end. Is he the 10th best defense end? Are you kidding?
End of Michael Bennett's latest rage at stud rookie Germain Ifedi & #Seahawks O line: Pro Bowl DE led away by coach pic.twitter.com/EJhsQ4MPAQ
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 5, 2016
Bennett was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Texas A&M back in 2009. He took over the starting DE job in his third season and produced a whopping four sacks and 39 tackles. He had a decent year in 2012 with nine sacks and 42 tackles and cashed in as a free agent, signing with the Seahawks and getting a Super Bowl ring along the way.
Though he’s on a much better team with an elite defense, Bennett’s play has made no real improvement. His 2013 stats? He didn’t even break into the starting line up until the final three games of the season. He had 32 tackles and 8.5 sacks. In 2014 he had seven sacks and 47 tackles. These are OK statistics. They belong to a player that deserves to have a job in the NFL. They don’t belong to an elite player that deserves to be in the Top 10 highest paid at his position.
Richard Sherman on if #Seahawks give Bennett more $ now, RS, ET will want theirs: "I'm happy here. But more is more" pic.twitter.com/fDaWmtTXnr
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 2, 2016
This offseason Bennett complained about his already ridiculous contract again and then wanted to be patted on the back like a hero because he decided to show up on time to training camp.
“I just wanted to show up and be a great teammate,” Bennett told reporters. “No distractions for the team. I just want to be a Seahawk for the rest of my life and that’s just the most important thing.”
And the thing is, he could be. The Seahawks have spent a lot of money keeping the key players on their defense together and if Bennett was realistic about his value, he could finish up his career in Seattle making $5 or $6 million a year. But that’s not what he wants.
“I mean, I just think I deserve to be paid in the position that I play in,”Bennett said. “You know, I play four positions for the team. I do whatever I can to help the team win. So hopefully everything works out and you’re compensated the way you play.”
I don't understand why people keeping making Michael Bennett a "victim" with his current contract. 1. He's 2 years deep & almost 31. 1/2
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) August 1, 2016
Which by any standard would mean Bennett should already get a pay cut. He’s not worth $7 million a year. He’s sure as hell not worth $10 million and I guarantee even that isn’t the number that’s bouncing around his head. He wants Olivier Vernon or Muhammad Walkerson money. That’s what he’s thinking. And it’s exactly why his time with the Seahawks will be wrapping up after next season.
