The Seattle Seahawks have already lost running back Marshawn Lynch to retirement this offseason, and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse has reiterated that he plans to leave the team in free agency.
While Kearse is on his way out the door, free agent linebacker Bruce Irvin has made it known that he would like to stay with the franchise that drafted him. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound linebacker is a consistent playmaker for Seattle's dominant defense and recorded 38 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks and forced a fumble during the 2015 regular season.
"I mean, I love Seattle, and I want to spend the rest of my career there," said Irvin. "So like I said, man, if the money was close, I would definitely consider it because the brotherhood I have with those guys, it's like no other. I'm as close to most of those guys as I am with my real brothers, so leaving those guys would be very hard on me, but not only me, my family also."
The Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams since hiring head coach Pete Carroll, but general manager John Schneider knows the team has plenty of needs they need to fill this offseason, likely none bigger than their offensive line. The need for other positions may force Seattle's front office to let Irvin walk this offseason, as he is expected to receive interest from multiple franchises.
Irvin is considered one of the NFL's top five free agents this offseason, and his versatility makes him a unique talent that many teams would love to acquire. It will likely depend on the offers the former West Virginia linebacker receives on the open market, but Seattle is 18th in the league in salary cap space for the 2016 season.
Seattle's front office likely won't be able to match the offers Irvin receives in free agency, but it will be interesting to see how "close" the soon-to-be free agent linebacker's offer would have to be to keep him a Seahawk. Irvin said he believes Seattle took a chance on him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft and knows it will be hard for him to say goodbye to the Seahawks organization after spending the first four years of his NFL career in Seattle.
