It's been an offseason of purging big names in Seattle, where the Seahawks have said goodbye to longtime starters like Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner. On Friday, the team cut ties with another one, releasing defensive end Carlos Dunlap, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, one year after signing him to a $13 million extension and months after he led the 2021 Seahawks in sacks.
The former Pro Bowler was due $6.5 million in 2022, and Seattle will save close to $1 million with his release -- or as much as $5.1 million if he's designated a post-June 1 cut. His departure comes a day after the Seahawks announced the addition of former Chargers outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who reportedly signed a two-year, $19 million deal to serve as one of the team's top pass rushers. Seattle reportedly also reunited with former defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson on Friday.
Dunlap, 33, only joined Seattle in October 2020, when the Seahawks acquired him via trade with the Bengals. But in his short time in Seattle, the longtime pass rusher served as one of the club's top rotational defenders up front. He logged five sacks in six games for the team during his first year in town, then led the Seahawks with 8.5 sacks in 2021, also posting 14 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss despite starting just two games.
Before joining the Seahawks, Dunlap spent more than 10 seasons with the Bengals, totaling 82.5 sacks as one of Cincinnati's top defensive players.
