Seattle Seahawks Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Dunlap: Russell Wilson Assured He Will Stay With Seahawks

April 6th, 2021 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Russell Wilson‘s agent listed four teams that would be acceptable trade destinations, and the one of those franchises (the Bears) proceeded down that path. However, one of the Seahawks’ recent signings indicated the superstar quarterback plans to play next season in Seattle.

Despite being released earlier this offseason, Carlos Dunlap re-signed with the Seahawks on March 25. The veteran defensive end, a 2020 Seahawks trade acquisition, confirmed he asked Wilson if he would be back next season. Wilson assured Dunlap he would.

“I did ask him if, obviously, he was going to be with us. Because if I’m coming back, I’m coming back because I see him as my quarterback — and the rest of the team. I want to pick up where we left off,” Dunlap said, via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. “And he told me that he’s with us and that he’s here to stay.”

Wilson is one of the few NFLers who can control his own fate, being in possession of a no-trade clause. If the 32-year-old passer intends to return, the Seahawks will surely accept that and move forward with another Wilson-centric team. While the Wilson trade rumors may not stop because of this, there has been some movement since the rumblings started in February.

The nine-year Seattle starter went public about his issues with the team, pinpointing offensive line issues publicly. He also wanted a greater say in how the team proceeded with its offensive coordinator search. The Seahawks did bring in a notable outside O-lineman, in ex-Raider guard Gabe Jackson, and included Wilson in an OC search that ended with Shane Waldron. Following a report indicating Wilson and Pete Carroll butted heads last season, the quarterback and head coach have spoken periodically this offseason as well. And the Bears’ efforts to acquire Wilson proved ineffective.

Contract Details: Dunlap, Bills, Texans, Burns

April 4th, 2021 at 9:27pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Let’s catch up on some of the latest contract details from around the league:

Seahawks DE Carlos Dunlap: Two-years, $13.6MM. This had previously been reported as $16.6MM, but it turns out Seattle got Dunlap back for a few million cheaper than that, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. It’s actually a five-year pact with three years that automatically void for cap spreading purposes. As previously reported, it has $8.5MM in guaranteed money. Dunlap was set to have a $14.1MM cap charge for 2021 before the Seahawks cut him and then re-signed him to this less expensive deal.
Bills LB Tyler Matakevich: One-year extension. Buffalo gave their special teams ace a one-year extension through the 2022 season, which lowered his 2021 cap number to $2.95MM from $3.7MM, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic tweets. His base salary for 2021 is now fully guaranteed. He’ll count for $3.25MM against the 2022 cap, but there will only be $750K in dead money if he’s released.
Texans CB Tavierre Thomas: Two-years, $4MM. We now have details on this contract, as Thomas will be getting $2MM in guaranteed money, Wilson tweets. Not bad for a player who prior to 2020 was mostly a special teams guy. He ended up playing almost 20 percent of the defensive snaps for the Browns last year as they dealt with injuries in their secondary. He got a $1MM signing bonus, a $1MM guaranteed salary for 2021, and a non-guaranteed $1.5MM salary for 2022 with $250K in per game active roster bonuses for each season.
Bears CB Artie Burns: One-year, $990K. The financial terms on this one were previously not reported, and it turns out the former first-round pick only got the veteran’s minimum from Chicago, Wilson tweets. The 25th pick of the 2016 draft by the Steelers got over $1MM to sign with the Bears last offseason, but then tore his ACL in August before playing a down for the team.

Waldron Helped Get Everett To Seattle

April 4th, 2021 at 5:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Seahawks signed away tight end Gerald Everett from the Rams in free agency, and it turns out a prior poaching played a large role in that. Seattle hired former Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron to be their new OC after firing Brian Schottenheimer, and Waldron played a role in delivering Everett. “Shane is a mastermind,” Everett said, via John Boyle of the team’s official site. “He’s very creative, and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do in Seattle… When Shane went to Seattle, obviously the idea was there, it lingered in my head.” Everett was a second-round pick of Los Angeles in 2017, and although he never put up huge numbers in Rams offenses that had a lot of mouths to feed, he flashed a lot of potential. “Yes, he was a factor in my decision to come to Seattle,” Everett said of Waldron. The Seahawks gave him a one-year, $7MM deal in March.

Jarran Reed Refused Seahawks Restructure

April 2nd, 2021 at 7:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jarran Reed made a somewhat surprising relocation this offseason, leaving the Seahawks and joining the Chiefs. After he hit the market more than a week after free agency’s outset, the veteran defensive tackle will make less money in 2021.

The Seahawks wanted to keep Reed for the 2021 season, with Mike Garafolo reporting the team approached the D-tackle starter about a restructure (video link). While this was not a pay-cut request, Reed refused Seattle’s bid to restructure his contract — thus lowering his cap hit and adding void years to the deal — and made a push for an extension. But the Seahawks balked and released him, leading the five-year veteran to Kansas City.

Reed is set to make $5MM on his one-year Chiefs contract. Had he agreed to the Seahawks’ restructure offer, he was due to earn nearly $9MM next season. Reed’s agent recommended his client agree to the Seattle restructure, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports, but Garafolo adds that Reed knew he would end up making less with another team and declined to redo his Seahawks deal anyway.

When the Seahawks declined to extend Reed, the former second-round pick asked if they would commit to an extension down the road, per Henderson. The team did made no such pledge, which upset the four-year starter, according to 710 AM Seattle’s John Clayton. The Seahawks attempted to trade Reed but opted to release him soon after.

A Seahawks restructure would have reduced Reed’s base salary to $1MM, but he would have collected the rest of the money — from his 2020 deal (two years, $23MM) — via signing bonus, Henderson adds. Reed would still have been a free agent in 2022. His Chiefs pact also puts him on track to hit the market again next year.

The Seahawks spent late March reorganizing their defensive line. They re-signed Carlos Dunlap, Benson Mayowa and Poona Ford and added Kerry Hyder. After Reed’s exit, the Seahawks brought back Al Woods for a third stint. Reed will now team with Chris Jones and former teammate Frank Clark with the Chiefs. During Reed and Clark’s previous season together, 2018, Reed recorded a career-best 10.5 sacks. He registered 6.5 last season.

Seahawks To Extend Tyler Lockett

March 31st, 2021 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have locked up Tyler Lockett for the long haul. On Wednesday, the two sides agreed to a four-year, $69.2MM extension (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The deal includes $37MM in guaranteed cash and likely tamps down his scheduled $14.95MM cap hit for 2021.

Lockett, 28, came to Seattle as a third-round pick in 2015. Ever since, he’s greatly outperformed his draft position with solid work out of the slot. Across the last six years, he has 376 grabs, 4,892 yards, and 37 touchdowns to his credit. He’s also coming off of a career-best 100 receptions (for 1,054 yards and ten touchdowns), though his 10.5 yards per catch average left much to be desired. Before 2020, Lockett was averaging 13.9 ypc, bolstered by his near 17-yard average in 2018.

Despite questionable depth at wide receiver, the Seahawks abstained from this year’s best available options. This new deal underscores their confidence in Lockett — not just for this year, but for many seasons to follow. For now, the Seahawks are set to enter 2021 with Lockett and D.K. Metcalf leading the charge with support from Freddie Swain, Cody Thompson, John Ursua, Darvin Kidsy, Aaron Fuller, and Penny Hart.

In addition to Lockett, the Seahawks have also re-upped guard Gabe Jackson with a three-year, $22.58MM extension. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, they moved on from defensive tackle Jarran Reed. With the 28-year-old out of the picture, their DL group will feature Kerry Hyder, Benson Mayowa, Carlos Dunlap, Poona Ford, and old pal Al Woods.

Seahawks Extend G Gabe Jackson

March 30th, 2021 at 4:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks will make sure their recently acquired guard is locked up long-term. They agreed to a three-year extension with Gabe Jackson on Tuesday.

Jackson agreed to a three-year, $22.58MM extension with his new team, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Upon being traded, Jackson was still attached to the five-year, $56MM extension he signed with the Raiders in 2017. The veteran guard and the Seahawks have adjusted the terms of his deal.

Guaranteed money will come Jackson’s way. No guarantees remained on Jackson’s Raiders-constructed contract, but Rapoport adds that the seven-year starter will receive a $9MM signing bonus and just more than $7MM in additional guarantees. This move figures to reduce Jackson’s 2021 cap hit ($9.6MM), freeing up some cap room for his new team. Jackson will see $16MM over the next two years, per Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The veteran traded a higher average salary for guarantees.

Seattle acquired Jackson for a fifth-round pick, agreeing to send the Day 3 draft choice to Las Vegas for a player on the verge of being cut. Rather than vie with other prospective suitors on the free agent market, the Seahawks secured Jackson’s rights via the trade. The move came several weeks after Russell Wilson went public about his desire to see his team upgrade on the offensive line.

A 2014 third-round pick, Jackson has been a starter throughout his career. He helped the likes of Latavius Murray and Josh Jacobs to 1,000-yard rushing seasons and entered March as the Raiders’ longest-tenured O-lineman. While the 29-year-old blocker has not made a Pro Bowl in his career, he qualifies as a major O-line add for a team that authorized a host of lower-level deals last year.

The Seahawks now have Jackson and emerging guard Damien Lewis signed long-term. Questions remain at tackle, where starters Duane Brown and Brandon Shell are in contract years, but the Seahawks have added Jackson and re-signed starting center Ethan Pocic. It remains to be seen if these transactions moved the needle for Wilson, but the team is in better position up front than it was in 2020.

Seahawks QB Accused In Barfight

March 27th, 2021 at 3:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Had John Wolford made it through the Rams‘ wild-card win over the Seahawks healthy, Sean McVay was prepared to start him over Jared Goff against the Packers (assuming the Rams would have won in Round 1 with their backup), Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com notes. Wolford suffered a first-quarter neck injury that brought Goff back into action. McVay decided shortly after the Rams’ Week 17 game that Wolford would start over Goff in Seattle, despite not yet gauging Goff’s progress after thumb surgery. Considering the disparity between Goff and Wolford’s contracts and the nature of their arrivals — the former a No. 1 overall pick and the latter a UDFA who played in the Alliance of American Football — the gap between them narrowing to this degree is striking.

A man has accused Seahawks quarterback Alex McGough of punching him in the face on St. Patrick’s Day, TMZ reports. McGough, 25, allegedly punched Anthony Albino at a bar last week in a dispute related to McGough’s girlfriend. Albino intends to press charges, according to TMZ. The Seahawks drafted McGough in the 2018 seventh round, but he has bounced around the league. Seattle reacquired McGough in December of last year.

Seahawks To Bring Back DT Al Woods

March 26th, 2021 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Al Woods opted out of the 2020 season, and the Jaguars released him last week. But the veteran defensive tackle will land on his feet in a familiar place.

The Seahawks are signing Woods, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Despite missing last season and being a part-time starter in his previous Seattle stay, Woods agreed to a one-year, $3MM deal. The Seahawks will guarantee $750K to the veteran D-tackle, who turned 34 on Thursday. This marks a slight bump from the Jaguars contract Woods inked last year (one year, $2.75MM).

This will be a third Seattle stint for Woods, who has played for five teams and been affiliated with six. He was most recently with the Seahawks in 2019, when he worked as a starter in place of the suspended Jarran Reed. Woods returned to the bench after Reed’s ban ended, but Reed is no longer in the picture for the Seahawks. The team notified the five-year starter of his release.

Woods also spent the 2011 season in Seattle but played only two games. He then spent time with the Steelers, Titans (his longest NFL stay, at three years) and Colts before returning in 2019. Pro Football Focus has graded the 10-year veteran as a plus run defender in his 30s. The Seahawks already ranked fifth against the run last season.

This continues a busy week for the Seahawks’ defensive line. In addition to releasing Reed and reacquiring Woods, Seattle re-signed both Carlos Dunlap and Benson Mayowa and acquired veteran defensive end Kerry Hyder. They re-signed defensive tackle Poona Ford to a two-year deal last week.

Seahawks Release Jarran Reed

March 26th, 2021 at 3:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have released defensive tackle Jarran Reed. As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link) noted this afternoon, this was the expected move after the club was unable to find a suitable trade.

By cutting Reed, the Seahawks will gain $8.5MM in cap space with a $5MM dead cap hit. The Seahawks signed Kerry Hyder earlier this month and brought back Benson Mayowa along with defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Seattle also re-signed defensive tackle Poona Ford this month.

Ultimately, there wasn’t enough room for Reed, and the league’s other 31 teams recognized that. Although no one was willing to give up draft capital while taking on Reed’s old contract, plenty of clubs will be interested in adding him as a free agent.

This move comes just a year after the Seahawks retained Reed via two-year, $23MM extension. The former second-round pick broke out in 2018, registering 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, but saw a suspension derail his 2019 season. Reed missed the first six games of the ’19 campaign, which ended with him collecting just two sacks and eight QB hits. Last season, Reed bounced back with 6.5 sacks to help the Seahawks to their third straight playoff berth.

At 28, and having been a starter since his rookie season, Reed should generate interest on the market — even if no trade materialized. Given the juncture of his Seattle departure and the salary cap reduction, Reed may need to accept a one-year deal at a lower rate and aim for a subsequent extension with his new team or a 2022 free agency payday.

Seahawks Re-Sign Carlos Dunlap

March 25th, 2021 at 8:22pm CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks are putting the money they are about to save from Jarran Reed‘s imminent departure to good use. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was among those to report, Seattle is re-signing defensive end Carlos Dunlap to a two-year, $16.6MM contract with $8.5MM in guarantees (Twitter link).

Seattle acquired Dunlap in a trade deadline deal in October in an effort to boost its struggling pass rush. And Dunlap delivered, contributing five sacks and six tackles for loss in his eight games with the ‘Hawks. However, he was due to carry a $14.1 cap charge in 2021, and that was just too much for the team to stomach with the salary cap decreasing by about $16MM.

As such, the Seahawks released the longtime Bengal several weeks ago, but even before the release, we heard that Seattle could look to cut Dunlap and then re-sign him to a less expensive contract. And that’s exactly what happened.

The Dunlap re-up comes on the heels of Benson Mayowa‘s new one-year deal and Kerry Hyder‘s three-year accord. We heard earlier this evening that the club was set to trade or release Reed, and while Seattle certainly would have liked to retain its DT, Pete Carroll & Co. believe Dunlap is more valuable to the Seahawks at this point.

Dunlap, 32, has 87.5 career sacks to his credit, and he will have a good chance to hit the century mark with the Seahawks. There was no reported interest his services after he was released, but as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, he wanted to return to Seattle all along. So both sides are probably pretty happy this evening.

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