hawknation2017
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I was just looking over the contract details, which were announced by ESPN last week, and it's a highly team-friendly deal.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seah ... alsh-9996/
* No guaranteed money. His $300k bonus doesn't even kick in until Week 1. This means Walsh will have to win the job (and make the 53-man roster in Week 1) in order to get paid. If Walsh fails to win the job and is released before Week 1, there is zero cap hit. Meaning, there was zero risk in signing him.
* The $1.1 million salary is well below the $2.5-4.5 million market rate of most veteran kickers. Walsh is only 27 years old and a former Pro Bowler. A change of scenery could do him good. Many players have responded well to Carroll's ethos of positivism, competition, and self actualization.
* Since the team has in no way committed to Walsh as its starting kicker, the Seahawks could choose to bring in young competition and then pick whomever they want. Maybe they have their eyes on the top rookie kicker in this draft: ASU's Zane Gonzalez (unanimous All-American in 2016, 23/25 FGs with 6 made from 50+ yards).
* Looked at in this way, the Walsh contract may simply be an insurance plan. If Gonzalez is off the board, they could even sign an undrafted free agent kicker (perhaps Memphis kicker Jake Elliott will be available), take him for a test spin in training camp, and fall back on Walsh if need be.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seah ... alsh-9996/
* No guaranteed money. His $300k bonus doesn't even kick in until Week 1. This means Walsh will have to win the job (and make the 53-man roster in Week 1) in order to get paid. If Walsh fails to win the job and is released before Week 1, there is zero cap hit. Meaning, there was zero risk in signing him.
* The $1.1 million salary is well below the $2.5-4.5 million market rate of most veteran kickers. Walsh is only 27 years old and a former Pro Bowler. A change of scenery could do him good. Many players have responded well to Carroll's ethos of positivism, competition, and self actualization.
* Since the team has in no way committed to Walsh as its starting kicker, the Seahawks could choose to bring in young competition and then pick whomever they want. Maybe they have their eyes on the top rookie kicker in this draft: ASU's Zane Gonzalez (unanimous All-American in 2016, 23/25 FGs with 6 made from 50+ yards).
* Looked at in this way, the Walsh contract may simply be an insurance plan. If Gonzalez is off the board, they could even sign an undrafted free agent kicker (perhaps Memphis kicker Jake Elliott will be available), take him for a test spin in training camp, and fall back on Walsh if need be.