The Seahawks’ release of Carlos Dunlap, their best pass rusher, was not unexpected, but it also is probably not a good omen for the offseason.
It shows that the Seahawks did not value their most impactful defender from 2020, were not creative enough to keep him, are still not looking to the future and are likely to go the budget route in filling their few roster holes.
Continue reading Dunlap release not a surprise, also not a good sign
There is a lot of smoke swirling around Carlos Dunlap, with more and more insiders thinking the Seahawks will “fire” him due to his $14 million cap hit.
It wouldn’t be an advisable move, unless John Schneider had a sure plan to replace one ace pass rusher with another. The GM can’t stumble blindly along like he has the past two years, waiting until some disgruntled star becomes available in a cheap trade and adjusts his salary for Seattle. It’s not a sustainable strategy.
If the Hawks cut Dunlap, they MUST find another top pass rusher — BEFORE the season this time. It would become their No. 1 roster need — ahead of center, corner, running back or any other spot. And if Schneider let that position drift in the wind again, it would be just as detrimental to the defense as it was the last two years.
So, what can Schneider do if he cuts Dunlap?
Continue reading What if Schneider does cut Dunlap?One of the top things on our offseason to-do list for the Seahawks has been to extend Carlos Dunlap, who turned around their pass rush – and thus their defense — after his arrival in October.
A short extension for Dunlap would allow the Seahawks to greatly reduce his $14 million cap hit in 2021. However, some reporters who cover the team think Dunlap may be released, thereby freeing up the entire $14 million – and sending the Hawks on the hunt yet again for a top pass rusher.
Continue reading The Dunlap dilemmaBased on recent reports, the NFL salary cap is expected to be between $180 million and $185 million in 2021. The actual number is not expected to be set until just before the league year begins March 17, but the ceiling apparently will be at least $5 million more than the floor the NFL and NFLPA had set last year.
The Seahawks and the rest of the NFL would happily take an extra $5 million, if Tom Pelissero’s report is more accurate than Adam Schefter’s tweet. (Here’s an easy explanation of how the league arrives at the salary cap.)
Assuming the number is Schefter’s reported $180 million, the Seahawks still would need to create room just to tender Poona Ford (about $3.4 million on the second-round offer) and a few ERFAs, let alone sign needed starters at center, running back, linebacker and cornerback.
Continue reading Good news on the cap, but Hawks still have to make more room
The Seahawks’ defensive line soap opera, which had dragged on for a year and a half (from Frank Clark to Ziggy Ansah to Jadeveon Clowney), finally ended when Clowney signed with Tennessee the other day.
Short of another trade, the Seahawks are going with the pedestrian pass-rush crew they assembled without Clowney. And we move on with fingers crossed and eyes closed.
We can only hope there is not as much drama – or failure — around extensions for Seattle’s now star-studded secondary next offseason.
Continue reading D-line drama over, contract focus turns to star-stacked secondary
For some reason, some fans and analysts (and even fanalysts) are befuddled about the way the Seahawks have approached this offseason.
After Carlos Hyde was signed to a deal reportedly worth up to $4 million, the complaining really kicked in: Why have they squandered their cap space and not added any stars?
Seattle has spent $52 million on 14 veterans this offseason. None of them are standouts. None of them are the marquee pass rusher they really need. And none of them are signed for more than two years.
But, it’s no surprise. If you have watched the Seahawks for the past five years, you know this is how John Schneider does business now. He is very conservative and gets aggressive (via trades) only out of desperation.
Continue reading Why is anyone surprised over Schneider’s conservative offseason?
The Seahawks have had a busy mid-May, and they’ve got a couple more things to do before training camp (hopefully) starts in July.
They left the draft needing a backup quarterback, a veteran running back, a run-stopping defensive tackle and — more than any of those — a top pass rusher.
In the past week or so — around Quinton Dunbar’s drama, Russell Wilson trade rumors and chatter about troubled receivers — they have brought back QB Geno Smith and added RB Carlos Hyde. That leaves the defensive line as the last area they need to address, unless Dunbar suddenly becomes unavailable due to incarceration or suspension.
Continue reading After a busy stretch, time for a roster Q&A
While it certainly may seem like Jadeveon Clowney and the Seahawks are not destined to get back together, they both have left the door cracked open for a reunion.
In an interview with FOX26 Houston, Clowney said, “I loved Seattle when I was there this past year. … I hope we can work something out.”
But make no mistake: Clowney is patiently waiting for a better offer and Seattle seems unlikely to pay what he wants.
Continue reading If no better offers, Clowney still open to Seattle return
The closer it gets to draft time, the closer it gets to decision time for the Seahawks about which established pass rusher they are going to add.
We already said the team needs to move on from Jadeveon Clowney if he is seeking just a one-year deal at this point, but now it seems he might be intent on waiting until the COVID-19 shutdown is lifted so he can undergo physicals in the hope of getting what he wants (at least $20 million a year).
If that is the case, it’s definitely time to move on; Seattle has to have a pass rusher before the draft begins April 23.
Continue reading Hawks must add their pass rusher by draft day
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 