Just a few days after Geno Smith’s 2024 salary became guaranteed, the Seahawks made a mildly surprising move to give him even more guaranteed money, converting his March roster bonus into a pay-now bonus to add $4.8 million in cap space.

Why did they decide to pay the $9.6 million now, three weeks before the league year begins and 25 days before it was technically due?

On his weekly radio show, John Schneider said it was just a cap maneuver that was baked into Smith’s contract, something the team could do at any time. But why at this time?

The GM did not answer that, but the obvious thought is it has something to do with the Combine, which begins next week in Indianapolis. There are three possible reasons for this timing.

(1) Maybe the Seahawks want to show Leonard Williams they are going to keep Smith and look to contend in Mike Macdonald’s first year. Williams’ agent will be shopping for teams in Indianapolis, looking for the best combination of money and postseason possibilities. Maybe John Schneider thought this was a good time to show Williams (and other possible free agents) that the Hawks intend to win in 2024.

(2) Less likely but also possible: Maybe Schneider wants to make Smith more enticing to any teams that might be interested in trading for him. By removing $9.6 million from the 2024 cap hit, teams might be more amenable to offering something of value knowing they would be on the hook only for Smith’s guaranteed $12.7 million salary.

Maybe Schneider already has a loose deal in place and this was a condition — and they will consummate the trade in Indy. Seems unlikely, but it’s possible.

(3) Or maybe this is just the first of a flurry of cap moves coming soon. Cutting Jamal Adams, Will Dissly, Bryan Mone and Nick Bellore would return about $22.5 million in space.

The Hawks and every other team got a big boon Friday when the NFL announced a much bigger salary cap for 2024 than initially projected. The $255.4 million cap is about $13 million more than expected and means the Hawks have about that space before making any more moves.

The Hawks need about $10 million for draft picks, practice squad (and promotions) and in-season injury replacements. But they don’t need that money until July, so they could pull it from another player’s deal later, allowing them to use all of the $35.5 million on re-signing guys and pursuing free agents when the league year begins March 13 (deals can be struck March 11).

They will need probably $17 million to re-sign Williams, Jordyn Brooks, Damien Lewis, Colby Parkinson and Evan Brown – or similar replacement players for the latter four. If they want to actually upgrade their roster, it will take maybe $7 million more for another quality guard and linebacker. (These are just the 2024 cap hit aggregates, not the total deals.)

That would leave them with $11 million or so, enough for their reserves. They could spend more if they were willing to later create the $10 million in reserves off some combination of Tyler Lockett, Quandre Diggs, DK Metcalf, Dre Jones and/or Smith.

A look at these players’ cap situations:

Jamal Adams

If he is let go by March 13, the first day of the league year, he would give the team $7 million in added space.

He also could be a June cut, which would add $10.5 million to the return. But, in that case, all $16.5 million would not be available until June.  

Adams probably will be gone in March.

If Adams, who ended the season on IR due to a knee injury, is released with a failed physical, he would be entitled to up to $2.05 million in injury-protection payments if he doesn’t sign elsewhere for next season. The Hawks would take a cap hit of $1.23 million in that case.

Lockett options

Before the salary cap blew up by $13 million, some fans were ready to part with Lockett, who is due $17 million in total compensation. The Hawks could create anywhere from $7 million to $17 million, depending on whether they want to move on from Lockett, ask him to take a pay cut (and get him to agree to it) or simply restructure.

Quandre question

Schneider and Mike Macdonald need to decide what they think of Diggs. Does Macdonald think he can turn him into something more than a “deep space” safety, like he was for Clint Hurtt and Pete Carroll?

Brock Huard thinks Macdonald can get a lot more out of Diggs: “I think Quandre has still got a whole lot of instinct, a whole lot of disguise, a whole lot more skill in there.”

Or would Macdonald rather have one of his Baltimore stars? Geno Stone had seven picks last season and could come over to help teach Seattle’s defensive backs how to play Macdonald’s style.

Even on a deal worth $14 million a year for Stone, the Hawks could save maybe $6 million in 2024 — $11 million saved on Diggs, $5 million cap hit for Stone.

Most fans are tired of overspending on safeties, but it would not be a big surprise if Schneider made this move to reunite Stone with Macdonald and help kickstart the defense.

Simple restructures

The Hawks could do simple conversions of salaries for Metcalf, Jones and/or Smith. Metcalf is due $13 million and could give the team close to $6 million in relief. Jones is due $11 million and could free up nearly $5 million. Smith is due $12.9 million and could create $5.8 million more in space.