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Brady HendersonESPN
SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks are releasing veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move frees up $ 14.1 million in much-needed cap space, but leaves the Seahawks without their most capable edge rusher and two-time Pro Bowl pick. The team is expected to try to re-sign Dunlap at a discount once it tests its market.
Dunlap, who turned 32 in February, would count $ 14.1 million against the captaincy in the last year of his contract, which had no remaining money. The levy included a $ 3 million bonus he would have earned if he had stayed in Seattle on March 21.
The roster bonus was added to Dunlap’s contract as part of a restructuring he agreed to facilitate his trade with the Cincinnati Bengals last October. Dunlap helped ignite the Seahawks ’staggering pass-rush by recording five bags and 15 QB hits in nine games, including playoff games. He missed one game with a foot injury he spent part of his time in Seattle. He had six tackles and defended four passes with the Seahawks.
OverTheCap.com and Roster Management System listed Seahawks with less than $ 8 million in salary cap before Dunlap’s release, one of the reasons the move was not a surprise.
Dunlap spent his first ten plus seasons with Cincinnati, which drafted him in the second round in 2010. His relationship with the team became strained as he became frustrated last season over his role in the defense, which led to his trade to Seattle in exchange for a BJ Finney, offensive lineout for the seventh round.
Dunlap openly buzzed about the Seahawks organization after his trade, saying he feels rejuvenated in his new environment.
“I would love to stay in Seattle as long as they get me,” he said after the Seahawks lost in the game map round. “It was very clear what I was going to do here and what my duration would be, so it’s a conversation now and I’m open and welcoming for it. You all know how grateful I am to be here. A lot of care. I think it’s an excellent organization for vets, although I feel young and fresh like a young player, I feel like I still have a lot of ball left and want to finish it off with an organization like this.
“My two goals are still a Super Bowl series and 100 bags, and I have not scored one of them. I have not won a playoff game yet. I think we have the pedigree here to do it next season , and I would love to be a part of it. ‘
Dunlap’s pockets of 87.5 in the regular season of his career are 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 at the time in Cincinnati.
The Seahawks scored just nine sacks in six games before trading for Dunlap, which coincided with the strong safety of Jamal Adams from a groin injury. Despite playing only eight games in the regular season, Dunlap was fourth in the team in bags behind Adams (9.5), Jarran Reed (6.5) and Benson Mayowa (six).
The defensive ends remaining under contract with Seattle are LJ Collier (three bags in 2020), Rasheem Green (two), Alton Robinson (four) and Darrell Taylor, a second-round pick selected last year who did not qualify as a rookie played did not have a leg injury from college.
Dunnlap joins Mayowa, Bruce Irvin, Damontre Moore and Jonathan Bullard as free agents. Branden Jackson is also a free agent, but he is not expected to play again due to a neck injury.