Seattle Seahawks re-sign Carlos Dunlap; Jarran Reed was waiting to be released or changed

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20:23 ET

  • Brady HendersonESPN

SEATTLE: In a major upheaval on their defensive line, the Seattle Seahawks retrieve Carlos Dunlap and leave Jarran Reed.

A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the team is expected to market or release Reed, which will save nearly $ 9 million against the salary cap. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter that the Dunlap deal is two years and $ 16.6 million with $ 8.5 million guaranteed.

Dunlap, 32, became a free agent when Seattle released him earlier this month in a play that saved $ 14.1 million in boundary space but left the Seahawks without one of their most impactful defensive liners. .

Dunlap had helped ignite the Seahawks ’stunning lead when he reached an October trade from the Cincinnati Bengals by recording five sacks and 15 QB hits in nine games, including the playoffs. He missed a game with a foot injury he played for part of his time in Seattle. He had six tackles and four assists defended with the Seahawks.

To facilitate his trade in Seattle, Dunlap agreed to restructure his contract on the understanding that the Seahawks would release him and allow him to try out the free agency if both parties could not agree on an extension. This restructuring raised its 2021 limit to a prohibitive $ 14.1 million.

The Seahawks thought when they released Dunlap that they would have a chance to re-sign him for a friendlier deal from the team, which they are doing. One of the reasons his return seemed a possibility was his fondness for the Seahawks. After the negotiation, he had openly posted about the organization and said he felt rejuvenated in his new environment.

“I’d love to stay in Seattle while they had me,” he said after the Seahawks lost in the wildcard round. “It was very clear what I was coming to do here and what my time period would be, so now it’s a conversation and I’m open and welcoming to you. You already know how nice I am to be here. I was very careful. I think it’s a great organization for veterinarians, although I also feel young and fresh as a young player.I feel like I have a lot of ball left and I would like to end up with an organization like this.

“My two goals are still a Super Bowl and 100 sacks, and I haven’t scored any. I haven’t won any playoff games. I think we have the pedigree here to do all this next season, and I would love to. be part of it “.

That fan showed up again Thursday night when he tweeted about his reaction to the deal, with which teammate Russell Wilson did the same.

The 87.5 sacks of Dunlap’s regular season in his career rank him 12th among active players, according to Pro Football Reference. He won the Pro Bowl in 2015 and 2016. The Bengals were 0-5 in the playoffs during their time in Cincinnati.

Seattle agreed business with two other pass-rushers earlier this week, reclaiming Benson Mayowa and adding Kerry Hyder. These two plus Dunlap, LJ Collier, Rasheem Green, Alton Robinson and Darrell Taylor give the Seahawks a deep group of top players.

But Reed’s long-awaited exit will leave a gap inside his defensive line.

Reed, 28, has been a full-time starter since 2017, the year Seattle selected him in the second round of Alabama. He was known primarily as a runner for his first two seasons, but exploded by 10.5 sacks in 2018. He began the 2019 season serving a six-game suspension for violating NFL personal conduct policy and ended the season. ‘year with two sacks. in 10 games.

The Seahawks gave Reed a two-year, $ 23 million contract last March, betting he could regain his 2018 form. He had a rebounding season with 6.5 sacks in 16 games, but is expected to count nearly $ 14 million against the limit. Reed’s move will leave behind $ 5 million in dead money, regardless of whether it’s transactions or releases. The Seahawks only have three picks in next month’s draft (in the second, fourth and seventh rounds), which gives them an added incentive to find a trading partner for Reed.

He said his apparent goodbye to the Seahawks on Thursday, writing on Twitter:

Poona Ford, who has started alongside Reed the past two seasons, reached a two-year deal from Seattle earlier this month as a restricted free agent. Bryan Mone was licensed as an agent free of exclusive rights. The other two real defensive tackles on the Seattle roster are Cedrick Lattimore and Myles Adams, sophomores with an NFL experience game between them.

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