Seahawks decline to exercise Bruce Irvin's option

Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin will become an unrestricted free agent in 2016 after the team decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for the 2016 season, reports the Seattle Times.

The Seahawks would've owed Irvin $7.8 million had they picked up the option. Despite not picking up the option, coach Pete Carroll had previously said Irvin is in the team's long-term plans.

"If we pick up Bruce's option it's a great thing, if we don't pick up Bruce's option it only means we aren't picking it up... We want him to be here for a long time," Carroll said.