The Seattle Seahawks have made a surprising move in the offseason, removing the restricted free agent tender from safety Ryan Neal. This move comes after Neal had been tendered a one-year contract by the team earlier in the offseason.
Neal, who was a restricted free agent, was tendered a one-year contract by the Seahawks earlier this offseason. The tender was worth $2.133 million and would have kept Neal under contract with the team for the 2021 season. However, the team has now removed the tender, making Neal an unrestricted free agent.
This move is somewhat surprising as Neal had been a key contributor for the Seahawks in 2020. He appeared in all 16 games for the team, starting in 11 of them. He finished the season with 57 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended.
It is unclear why the Seahawks decided to remove the tender from Neal. It could be that the team is looking to make room for other players or that they are not confident in Neal’s ability to contribute in 2021. Whatever the reason, it is clear that Neal will now have to look elsewhere for a new team.
This move could have an impact on the Seahawks’ defense in 2021. Neal was a key contributor in 2020 and his absence could leave a hole in the secondary. The team will now need to find a replacement for Neal if they want to maintain their defensive success from last season.
The Seahawks’ decision to remove the tender from Ryan Neal is certainly an unexpected one. It remains to be seen what impact this move will have on the team’s defense in 2021. However, it is clear that Neal will now have to look elsewhere for a new team.
