Seattle Seahawks News & Rumors

Seahawks To Part Ways With DT Jarran Reed

The Seahawks are expected to part ways with defensive tackle Jarran Reed, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). It appears that Reed himself broke the news in a since-deleted tweet.

Per Schefter, Seattle is looking for a trade partner but will release the 28-year-old if it cannot swing a deal. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is hearing the same thing, and RapSheet adds that Reed was seeking a long-term deal, while the Seahawks were hoping he would convert some of his 2020 salary into a signing bonus in order to reduce his $13.5MM cap number (Twitter link). Although those types of restructures are common and generally not difficult to execute, since they guarantee the player previously un-guaranteed money, Rapoport says the situation went to a “bad spot” when Seattle wouldn’t agree to an extension.

Moving on from Reed will create $8.5MM of cap space, though it will saddle the club with a $5MM dead cap hit. Clearly, however, Seattle values the cap savings more than their 2016 second-rounder at this point.

Reed had a breakout campaign in 2018, piling up 50 tackles and 10.5 sacks. But he was suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and he managed just 2.5 sacks that year. His sack total increased to 6.5 last season, and he played a full 16-game slate, but Pro Football Focus was not high on his work. PFF graded him as the 89th-best interior defender out of 125 qualifiers, and he did not receive high marks for either his run defense or his pass rushing abilities.

The Seahawks signed Kerry Hyder several days ago and brought back Benson Mayowa, but Reed’s departure will still leave a pass rushing void (despite his low PFF score). 2020 trade acquisition Carlos Dunlap is still on the market after being released by Seattle several weeks ago, so perhaps the ‘Hawks will circle back to him. They could also ask 2019 first-rounder L.J. Collier to handle more snaps at DT with Reed out of the picture.

Seahawks To Re-Sign OL Cedric Ogbuehi

Cedric Ogbuehi is heading back to Seattle. The offensive tackle is re-signing with the Seahawks, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter).

When Ogbuehi joined the Seahawks last offseason, he was expected to play a backup role for the team. However, an injury to Brandon Shell led to Ogbuehi garnering his first starts since 2017. The 28-year-old ended up seeing time in eight games (four starts) for Seattle, appearing in 26-percent of his team’s offensive snaps.

The 2015 first-round pick out of Texas A&M spent his first four seasons with the Bengals, starting 25 of his 35 games. After having his fifth-year option declined, Ogbuehi only got into two games with Cincy in 2018, and he ended up moving on to the Jaguars for the 2019 campaign.

Quarterback Russell Wilson has been clamoring for reinforcement along the offensive line, and the Seahawks have somewhat been obliging. Bob Condotta of the The Seattle Times reports (via Twitter) that Ogbuehi is now the 12th offensive lineman under contract for next season.

Richard Sherman Open To Seahawks Return

Richard Sherman stands as one of the best free agents available, and the All-Pro cornerback is taking his time in his second stay on the market. Sherman is not expected to return to the 49ers, but another reunion should not be considered off the table.

The 10-year veteran corner is open to rejoining the Seahawks, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link). Sherman’s initial Seahawks tenure ended after he suffered an Achilles tear during the 2017 season. That preceded an offseason release. But the Seahawks have a need at the position presently.

The Seahawks lost Shaquill Griffin, their longest-tenured corner post-Sherman, to the Jaguars last week. Quinton Dunbar is also unsigned. While Seattle added Sherman San Francisco teammate Ahkello Witherspoon and still rosters Tre Flowers and D.J. Reed, the team still figures to add help at corner.

Although the Seahawks cut Sherman in 2018, Pelissero adds they are likely open to re-signing him as well. This breakup differed from the bridge-burning Earl Thomas divorce, and Sherman may have a path back to Seattle. Of course, this will all depend on how Sherman’s market shapes up.

Teams have expressed interest in Sherman, including the Saints. The Raiders may also have interest. Patrick Peterson signed a one-year, $10MM pact with the Vikings last week. A fellow 2011 draftee who has delivered All-Pro-caliber work more recently than Peterson, Sherman may be targeting this kind of money. Fellow All-Pro 2011 classmate Chris Harris signed a two-year, $17.5MM deal last year, further setting some potential price parameters for Sherman.

A three-time first-team All-Pro with the Seahawks, with whom he played seven seasons, Sherman earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in his second 49ers campaign. However, a calf injury limited the veteran defender to five games last season. Sherman, who will turn 33 next week, said he wants to play two more seasons.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/24/21

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks To Sign DE Kerry Hyder

The Seahawks’ pass-rushing plans are coming into focus. Shortly after they agreed to re-sign Benson Mayowa, the Seahawks agreed to terms with defensive end Kerry Hyder.

Hyder will join the Seahawks on a three-year, $16.5MM contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding that the former Lions, Cowboys and 49ers D-end can make up to $17.5MM on this accord.

This deal marks a big pay bump for Hyder, who signed with the 49ers for one year and $1.5MM during the 2020 offseason. Despite the salary cap reduction, the 29-year-old pass rusher will cash in on a midlevel accord. Hyder is coming off an 8.5-sack season. He has two seasons of at least eight sacks, with the other coming back in 2016 with Detroit.

For a 49ers team that lost Nick Bosa and Dee Ford at the beginning of the season, the Hyder signing proved pivotal. The former UDFA led the team in sacks and recorded 18 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss. Hyder recorded just two sacks over the previous two seasons, however, and missed all of 2017.

This signing might impede Seattle from bringing back Carlos Dunlap, whom the team released earlier this month. However, it remains to be seen how Dunlap will fare on the market.

Seahawks To Re-Sign DE Benson Mayowa

Needing some help on the edge, the Seahawks will bring back Benson Mayowa. The veteran pass rusher agreed to re-sign with the team Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Mayowa signed with the Seahawks last year — for one year and $3.1MM — and started nine games. Mayowa contributed six sacks and now has 13 over his past two seasons. This stands to mark the first time Mayowa will have played with the same team in consecutive seasons since he was with the Cowboys from 2016-17.

The 29-year-old defender began his career with the Seahawks, playing a backup role on their 2013 Super Bowl-winning squad, and played two stints with the Raiders. Mayowa was also with the Cardinals in 2018. He will rejoin a Seahawks pass rush that houses 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier, Jarran Reed and the recently re-signed Poona Ford. Both Carlos Dunlap and Bruce Irvin, fellow Seattle 2020 acquisitions, are in free agency.

Twenty-four of Mayowa’s 26 career sacks have come over the past five seasons. He has three six-plus-sack slates in that span. The Seahawks released Dunlap, in a cost-cutting move, earlier this month. The sides could well agree to a reunion at a reduced rate, but for now, Mayowa represents a key addition for the team.

Contract Details: Trubisky, Andrews, Carson, Jones, Reiff, Joyner

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

  • QB Mitchell TrubiskyBills: One-year, $2MM base salary with $1.5MM guaranteed, $500K signing bonus, and $2MM available in incentives. Via Field Yates of ESPN on Twitter.
  • C David Andrews, Patriots: Four-years, $19 MM, with $6.5MM fully guaranteed. More money available in play-time incentives. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Twitter.
  • RB Chris CarsonSeahawks: Two-years, $10.425MM, $4.5MM signing bonus and $1MM guaranteed salary for 2021. $4.5MM non-guaranteed 2022 salary and $450K in per-game roster bonuses in ‘22. Up to $1.4MM in incentives in both years. Via Dan Graziano of ESPN on Twitter.
  • RB Aaron JonesPackers: Four-years, $48MM. The $13MM signing bonus is the only fully guaranteed money in the contract. A $3.5MM roster bonus is due on the first day of next league year. For 2023, a $7MM roster bonus is due on the third day of the league year. You can read the full breakdown of each year of the contract via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
  • OL Riley ReiffBengals: One-year, $7.5MM. $5.5MM guaranteed. We hadn’t known the terms of this contract yet, and $7.5MM is a pretty decent price for the Bengals for a solid starting tackle. Via Yates on Twitter.
  • S Lamarcus JoynerJets: One-year, up to $4.5MM. $2.5MM is guaranteed, with a $1MM signing bonus and $1.5MM base salary. Up to $500K in per game active roster bonuses and $1.5MM in playing time and interception incentives. Via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter.

Seahawks To Re-Sign RB Chris Carson

Chris Carson will stay in Seattle. The former seventh-round pick who beat the odds to become a long-term Seahawks starter agreed to terms on a second contract with the team Friday night.

The four-year veteran running back will sign a two-year deal worth $14.63MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Carson has worked as Seattle’s top running back for the past three seasons, and he will be expected to reprise that role in 2021. The Seahawks will use the increasingly popular void-year method to help with their cap, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, noting one void year will be added to the deal. The Seahawks entered Friday up against the cap.

Carson is believed to have received interest from the Dolphins, and the Seahawks extended an offer to Leonard Fournette. Nevertheless, the status quo in Seattle’s backfield will remain. The Seahawks lost Carlos Hyde to the Jaguars but still have Rashaad Penny attached to his rookie contract. This Carson development could point Fournette back to the Buccaneers, though it remains to be seen if there are any other known suitors for the former top-five pick.

Although the Seahawks’ initial investment in Carson doubled as a final-round flier, Carson will cash in after an injury-marred season. Prior to being limited in 2020, however, Carson eclipsed 1,100 yards in each of the previous two seasons. He totaled 16 rushing TDs from 2018-19, helping the Seahawks back to the playoffs and resurrect a ground game that had dipped in quality in between the Marshawn Lynch and Carson years.

Carson, Phillip Lindsay, Marlon Mack and Kenyan Drake are now off the market, with Aaron Jones — the top UFA running back coming into the week — choosing to avoid free agency and re-sign with the Packers. Of this group, Jones is the only player to have signed for more than two seasons or to have cleared $8MM per year. Carson, however, will receive a considerable raise from his rookie contract. Russell Wilson also endorsed the move (Twitter link).

Seahawks To Re-Sign OL Ethan Pocic

The Seahawks reached an agreement to retain their starting center. Ethan Pocic will stay in Seattle on a one-year deal worth $3MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

A former second-round pick, Pocic has seen action at both guard and center as a pro. He opened the 2019 season as a Seattle starter but saw a back injury derail his season. The veteran blocker bounced back in 2020 and now has a deal to return in 2021.

Pocic started 14 games at center for the Seahawks last season. This re-signing is bringing Seattle’s 2021 O-line picture into focus. They have acquired experienced guard Gabe Jackson via trade from the Raiders and now have Pocic back. Tackles Duane Brown and Brandon Shell are under contract for 2021, and Jackson guard mate Damien Lewis is entrenched as a starter after a solid rookie season.

Pocic’s return, after a season in which Pro Football Focus graded him 26th overall among centers, may not move the needle for Russell Wilson. But it remains to be seen if the quarterback, who let it be known he wanted the Seahawks to do better to bolster their O-line, will be satisfied with Jackson being added to the mix.

Seahawks To Re-Sign Nick Bellore

Nick Bellore has agreed to a brand new deal with the Seahawks, as Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus tweets. The signing has also been confirmed by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 

Bellore, 32 in May, has spent the last two seasons in Seattle. Even as teams around the league have de-prioritized the position, Bellore’s blocking has been highly valued in the Seahawks offense. His return should go a long way towards appeasing Russell Wilson, who is reportedly dissatisfied with the team’s efforts to protect him in the pocket.

Bellore spent much of his career at linebacker and saw significant playing time for the 49ers in 2016. That year, he made ten starts in their 3-4 scheme and registered 83 stops and one sack in total. Then, in Detroit, he went to the other side of the ball, where he had a knack for clearing lanes. Seattle used a fullback on just 8% of its plays in 2018. That changed in 2019 when Pete Carroll signed Bellore to a two-year, $2.23MM deal.