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Seahawks Face Edge-Rusher Void; Van Noy, Clowney Top Options

4/28/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Seahawks Lose Edge

The Seattle Seahawks entered 2026 without an edge rusher after Boye Mafe signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and draft added none.
Derick Hall, DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu face uncertain futures—Hall in his final rookie year, Lawrence weighing retirement at 34, Nwosu battling injuries.
Analyst Bryan Walters named veteran Kyle Van Noy and Jadaveon Clowney, who posted 12 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season, as top free-agent options.

Summary

Seahawks Draft Neal

Seahawks selected cornerback Julian Neal in the third round, viewing his physical style as a natural replacement for former Pro Bowl corner Riq Woolen.
GM John Schneider deliberately omitted Neal from his second-round board, allowing the player to slip to the third round where Seattle secured him.
Seattle entered the draft with four selections, left with eight, kept Sam Darnold as starter and promoted Ty Okada after Coby Bryant’s departure.

Summary

Rams Acquire McDuffie

The Los Angeles Rams traded a first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie, making him the NFL’s highest-paid corner.
The Rams signed former Chiefs defensive back Jaylen Watson to a notable contract and confirmed quarterback Matthew Stafford will return in 2026.
Their free-agency spending on two starting cornerbacks signals an intent to overtake the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West.

History

Historical Context

Since the NFL introduced a hard salary cap in 1994—set at $34.6 million—teams began cutting veteran contracts to stay under the limit. The Seattle Seahawks trimmed payroll that first year and again in 2026 faced a void at edge rusher, while the Los Angeles Rams spent heavily on a free-agent corner, showing how cap pressures still shape NFC West rosters.

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Seahawks Lose Edge

The Seattle Seahawks entered 2026 without an edge rusher after Boye Mafe signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and draft added none.
Derick Hall, DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu face uncertain futures—Hall in his final rookie year, Lawrence weighing retirement at 34, Nwosu battling injuries.
Analyst Bryan Walters named veteran Kyle Van Noy and Jadaveon Clowney, who posted 12 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last season, as top free-agent options.

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