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Brady HendersonESPN
SEATTLE – Seattle Seahawks release defensive veteran Carlos Dunlap, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The play clears $ 14.1 million at much-needed limits, but leaves the Seahawks without their most advanced runner and Pro Bowl double pick. The team is expected to try to re-sign Dunlap at a reduced price once it tests its market.
Dunlap, who turned 32 in February, was expected to account for $ 14.1 million against the limit in the final year of his contract, which had no guaranteed money. This limit charge included a $ 3 million bonus he would have earned if he had remained on the Seattle list on March 21st.
The bonus on the list was added to Dunlap’s contract as part of a restructuring it agreed to facilitate its trade last October from Cincinnati Bengals. Dunlap helped ignite the Seahawks ’amazing past 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.
OverTheCap.com and Roster Management System listed the Seahawks with a salary cap of less than $ 8 million before the launch of Dunlap, one of the reasons this move came as no surprise.
Dunlap spent his first ten seasons with Cincinnati, which incorporated him into the second round in 2010. His relationship with the team dwindled as he became frustrated with his role in defense last season, which led to his trade in Seattle in exchange for a seventh-round pick and safety offensive line player BJ Finney.
Dunlap was openly outspoken about the organization of Seahawks after his trade, saying 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 grateful I am to be here. I think it’s a great organization for to 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 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’d love to train them. part “.
The 87.5 sacks of Dunlap’s regular season in his career rank 12th among active players, according to Pro Football Reference. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and 16. The Bengals were 0-5 in the playoffs during their time in Cincinnati.
The Seahawks recorded just nine sacks in six games before switching to Dunlap, coinciding with Jamal Adams ’strong return from a groin injury. Despite playing only eight games in the regular season, Dunlap was fourth on the team in sacks behind Adams (9.5), defensive end Jarran Reed (6.5) and defensive end Benson Mayowa (sis).
Defenders still hired by Seattle are LJ Collier (three sacks in 2020), Rasheem Green (two), Alton Robinson (four) and Darrell Taylor, a second-round pick last year who didn’t play as a rookie due to of a college leg injury.
Dunnlap joins Mayowa, Bruce Irvin, Damontre Moore and Jonathan Bullard as free agents. Branden Jackson is also a free agent, but is not expected to play again due to a neck injury.