Seattle Seahawks re-sign Carlos Dunlap; Jarran Reed expected to be released or traded

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20:23 ET

  • Brady HendersonESPN

SEATTLE – In a major shake-up of their defensive line, the Seattle Seahawks bring Carlos Dunlap back and leave Jarran Reed.

A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he expects the team to sell or release Reed, which will save nearly $ 9 million against the salary cap. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter that Dunlap’s business 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 move that saved $ 14.1 million in cover space, but also left the Seahawks without one of the the strongest defensive linemen.

Dunlap helped stun the Seahawks pass when he reached an October deal in the Cincinnati Bengals, recording five sacks and 15 QB hits in nine games, including the playoffs. He missed a leg injury in which he played some of his time in Seattle. He had six tackles and four assists with the Seahawks.

To facilitate his trade with Seattle, Dunlap agreed to restructure his contract, understanding that the Seahawks would release him and let him test the agency for free if the two sides could not agree to an extension. This restructuring has increased its ceiling number for 2021 to $ 14.1 million.

The Seahawks thought when they launched Dunlap that they would have the chance to re-sign him in a more friendly agreement with the team, which they do. One of the reasons his return seemed a possibility was his love for the Seahawks. After the transaction took place, he opened up about the organization, saying that he feels rejuvenated in his new setting.

“I’d love to stay in Seattle as long as they have me,” he said after the Seahawks lost in the wild card round. “It was very clear what I was coming to do here and what my time frame would be, so now it’s a conversation and I’m open and welcoming for it. You guys already know how grateful I am to be here. I think it’s an excellent organization for veterinarians, although I feel young and fresh as a young player. I feel like I have a lot of ball left and I would like to finish it with an organization like this.

“My two goals are another Super Bowl and 100 sacks and I haven’t scored any of them. I haven’t won a game in the playoffs. I think we have pedigree here to do all this next season and I would do I like to I’m part of it. “

This love was again posted on Thursday night, when he sent his reaction to the business on Twitter – with teammate Russell Wilson later doing the same thing.

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

Seattle agreed to close two more steps earlier this week, bringing Benson Mayowa back and adding Kerry Hyder. Those two plus Dunlap, LJ Collier, Rasheem Green, Alton Robinson and Darrell Taylor give the Seahawks a deep group of top players.

But Reed’s expected departure will leave a gap inside their defensive line.

Reed, 28, has been a full-time starter since 2017, the year Seattle picked him in the second round in Alabama. He was first known as a first-team player in the first two seasons, but then broke out for 10.5 sacks in 2018. He started the 2019 season serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and ended year with two sacks. in 10 games.

The Seahawks awarded Reed a two-year, $ 23 million deal last March, betting he could regain his 2018 form. He had a 6.5-bag comeback season in 16 games. , but is set to count nearly $ 14 million against the ceiling. Reed’s move will leave $ 5 million in dead money, whether it’s trading or release. The Seahawks have just three picks in next month’s draft (in the second, fourth and seventh rounds), which gives them an extra incentive to find a trading partner for Reed.

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

Poona Ford, who started with Reed in the last two seasons, received a two-year contract from Seattle earlier this month as a restricted free agent. Bryan Mone was auctioned off as an exclusive rights agent. The other two real defensive approaches on the Seattle list are Cedrick Lattimore and Myles Adams, sophomores, with an NFL experience game between them.

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