KJ a Raider

[Hawk Sista]

Happy for him; sad for me. Have a good year, Mr. Wright & THANK YOU for a stellar career as a Hawk.

[c_hawkbob]

This is very disappointing, I understand about caponomics and all but he was still playing at a pro bowl level last year with no discernable drop off to my eyes. It just feels like we didn't quite do right by KJ.

[NorthHawk]

We’re pretty thin at LB after Wags and Brooks. We have some Cap space, so it’s confusing why they didn’t
address it with KJ who’s shown to be an excellent LB in our system. He now plays for Gus Bradley who knows
what he can do.

[Aseahawkfan]

My buddy thinks KJ has lost his speed and ability to keep up with TEs and cover. And that he priced himself out of the market given his current physical capabilities. I figure this happens all the time when a player feels slighted by their old team and won't accept the market value offer from their old team and goes to play for a new team for the same or less money. Teams have seen something on film with KJ. There's a reason he wasn't in demand. This is on KJ, not Seattle. We likely made him a market value offer and he felt slightly and decided to go somewhere else. Seems to happen a lot with Seattle. I'm sure it would be rough on KJ playing for some low number while Bobby is getting paid 18 million a year. That can't be fun even if you're friends.

[RiverDog]

I, too, am surprised that we didn't bring KJ back, especially after we lost BKK for the season. Last year was one of KJ's best seasons, leading me to believe that he had at least one or two more years worth of tread on the tires.

[jshawaii22]

Always remember it takes *two* to tango. No one knows at this point that it wasn't so much the $$$, but maybe KJ wouldn't come back as a backup and/or the team decided to get last years #1 and #2 on the field together this year.

[Agent 86]

My buddy thinks KJ has lost his speed and ability to keep up with TEs and cover. And that he priced himself out of the market given his current physical capabilities. I figure this happens all the time when a player feels slighted by their old team and won't accept the market value offer from their old team and goes to play for a new team for the same or less money. Teams have seen something on film with KJ. There's a reason he wasn't in demand. This is on KJ, not Seattle. We likely made him a market value offer and he felt slightly and decided to go somewhere else. Seems to happen a lot with Seattle. I'm sure it would be rough on KJ playing for some low number while Bobby is getting paid 18 million a year. That can't be fun even if you're friends.

I think this nails it IMO for what happened.

[Oly]

Sad to lose him, but I think it was the right choice. LB as a position group isn't where you want most of your money in the modern NFL, and I think Brooks will be serviceable with Adams providing extra enforcement. I was hoping they'd use the money on improving CBs and/or the trenches, which needs an infusion of talent (with the exception of DE). But just because they didn't land a player there doesn't change my assessment that you just can't have KJ and Wagz taking up that much of a team's cap space.

[TriCitySam]

The Hawks, it seems, always try to treat their folks fair. Schneider has been pretty savy on his assessment of $ vs. value. I liked KJ a lot, but if they think it was a pass, then so be it - and there wasn't anybody till now that was rushing to get him signed. It'll be interesting to see his level of play with the Raiders.

[Vegaseahawk]

Going to miss KJ, but I'm still not going to go to Raider games unless Seattle is in town.

[TriCitySam]

I see the Hawks are working out a couple of LB's....interesting timing, maybe they were waiting to see if they could get KJ down to their price.

[NorthHawk]

I see the Hawks are working out a couple of LB's....interesting timing, maybe they were waiting to see if they could get KJ down to their price.

I was thinking the same thing. Suddenly they wake up and realize that they are thin at that spot.
I’d like to know what KJ signed for in Vegas. From what little i’ve read, they offered him the veteran minimum
which I think is about $1.2m but a cap hit of less than $1m, so if Vegas offered more, it makes sense on his part
to take the extra $$.

[Hawktawk]

Truly a great hawk, highly underrated by all except his peers who voted him #67 of the top 100’this year . He might have had his best year as a hawk with his instincts and intelligence bridging the gap as his skills erode . Still he had a couple of injury plagued years . Seattle might be once bitten twice shy about signing aging vets after what happened to pretty much the entire LOB when they got paid the second time . Good Luck KJ

[TriCitySam]

I hear it’s a $4mm deal.....not much

[jshawaii22]

https://overthecap.com/player/k-j-wright/1552/

Over the cap has him at just under 5m including all roster bonuses if he's active all year. Seems about right and if we only offered the vet minimum, i can understand KJ's reluctance to resign with us.

[NorthHawk]

https://overthecap.com/player/k-j-wright/1552/

Over the cap has him at just under 5m including all roster bonuses if he's active all year. Seems about right and if we only offered the vet minimum, i can understand KJ's reluctance to resign with us.

I don't blame him for going after an extra $4M. That chance probably won't happen for him again, but I am dismayed that we didn't offer more as KJ had a great season last year for us and there isn't much
reason to believe he couldn't do it again.

[Oly]

Sad to lose him, but I think it was the right choice. LB as a position group isn't where you want most of your money in the modern NFL, and I think Brooks will be serviceable with Adams providing extra enforcement. I was hoping they'd use the money on improving CBs and/or the trenches, which needs an infusion of talent (with the exception of DE). But just because they didn't land a player there doesn't change my assessment that you just can't have KJ and Wagz taking up that much of a team's cap space.

I'm sure I'm breaking some unwritten internet law by quoting myself, but after today's game against the Colts, I am absolutely convinced that JS saw Brooks and Adams and realized that the the drop-off from KJ wasn't big enough to justify another contract. Much love to KJ, but I think Brooks will be damn good.