The Seahawks are meeting with free agent Geno Atkins (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Now fully cleared from rotator cuff surgery, the defensive tackle offers lots of upside for Seattle.
Atkins went through a successful workout, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweets, adding that the Seahawks are interested in adding him. The ball is now in Atkins’ court. It likely will come down to how low of a salary the 33-year-old interior D-lineman is willing to accept after the Bengals removed his four-year, $63.5MM extension from their payroll.
Atkins was limited to just eight games in total last year. But, even when he was healthy, the Bengals weren’t giving him a ton of playing time. His final tally: zero sacks and zero starts. It was a sharp drop from his pre-extension season in 2017, when he finished out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 ranked interior defender.
Before all of that, he was a perennial Pro Bowler with 75.5 career sacks. At this stage of the offseason, contenders like the Seahawks can probably add him on a low-cost one-year deal – perhaps with a couple million in incentives. The Seahawks would give Atkins a chance to reclaim his value, pursue a Super Bowl ring, and reunite with old pal Carlos Dunlap. Dunlap arrived via trade last season, notched five sacks, and re-upped on a two-year, $13.6MM deal.
If signed, Dunlap will join Kerry Hyder, Benson Mayowa, Al Woods, and Robert Nkemdiche in the Seahawks’ remodeled front seven.
Cincinnati did him dirty last year… but then again Bengals like to with a lot of there established veterans after a while.
They didn’t do him dirty , he’s old and his skills have declined tremendously. He was great for a while. He collected a game check for every game he was there … they did everything they were required to contractually…
Also… he’s not a defensive end. He’s a defensive tackle.
I don’t think the Bengals treat their veterans much different than other teams. From the management perspective the question is always “What have you done for us lately?”
Not to mention, Atkins was an aging player on an extremely young team. While the situation wasn’t handled particularly well by either side, it was the right move to part ways
JETS JETS JETS
Jets or Seahawks with an old friend. No east coast if I got a choice
He’s gonna have to accept WAY less than he’s prolly thinking…..guys like him fall off the map skill wise real fast.
Vikings should offer him veteran minimum. At 33 years old that’s all I’d offer him. But someone will toss $$$$ at him.