Seahawks Seek Edge-Rusher Reinforcements as Free Agency Opens

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 offseason without adding an edge rusher in the draft, leaving a clear vacancy after the departure of Boye Mafe to the Cincinnati Bengals and the uncertain futures of Derick Hall, DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu. Analyst Bryan Walters identified three veteran options that fit head coach Mike Macdonald’s former Ravens scheme: former Seahawk Jadeveon Clowney, former Ravens Kyle Van Noy, and eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller, who declined a Seahawks offer.

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Last season’s pass-rush core comprised Mafe, Hall, Lawrence and Nwosu. Mafe’s free-agency move to Cincinnati removed the youngest member of the group. Hall is entering the final year of his rookie deal, Lawrence will be 34 at the start of the 2026 season and has hinted at retirement, and Nwosu, now 30, has battled injuries throughout his career. The quartet’s collective production helped Seattle reach the Super Bowl, but the roster now faces an aging, injury-prone front line.

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• Jadeveon Clowney (33) – 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss in 13 games with Dallas (2025); 80.6 PFF pass-rush grade; 9.5 sacks in 2022 with Baltimore.

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• Kyle Van Noy (35) – 0 sacks, 4 tackles for loss in 15 games with Baltimore (2025); career highs of 12.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2024.

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• Von Miller (37) – 9.0 sacks, 6 tackles for loss in 17 games with Washington (2025); played every snap, but turned down Seattle’s contract offer.

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• Seahawks’ departing edge – Mafe (age 27) left for Cincinnati; Hall (age 24) on rookie contract; Lawrence (age 34) considering retirement; Nwosu (age 30) injury-limited.

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Seattle’s front office publicly confirmed that the 2026 draft did not address the edge-rusher position, emphasizing a focus on other needs. Team communications noted that free-agency negotiations remain ongoing and that any acquisition will prioritize familiarity with Macdonald’s system. The organization also acknowledged Von Miller’s decision to decline a contract, leaving the veteran slot open.

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Critics point out that all three targeted veterans are past their statistical peaks and carry recent injury histories. Van Noy’s 2025 production dropped to zero sacks, while Clowney’s last season was limited to 13 games. Miller’s decline of the offer raises questions about the Seahawks’ appeal to top-tier pass-rush talent. The combination of aging incumbents and uncertain free-agency interest amplifies the risk of a depleted pass rush entering 2026.

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• “Not that you need some fancy system as an edge rusher. You kind of know what you’re going to do. Rush the quarterback, come off the edge,” — Bryan Walters, Seahawks Radio Network analyst

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• “Both can still do it,” — Bryan Walters

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• “When you look at Clowney last year, 8 1/2 sacks with the Cowboys. I think that might be my number one, and then two would be Kyle Van Noy. But again, both played in Macdonald’s system. I think that’s the biggest thing. Get guys you’re familiar with, guys that you know, guys you can trust.” — Bryan Walters

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• “He had 9.0 sacks last year with Washington, he played all 17 games, showed he can do it, showed he can do it without being injured,” — Bryan Walters

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• “ Walters’ third option was eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller, who recently said he turned down a contract offer from the Seahawks last offseason.” — Bryan Walters

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Public sources do not disclose the exact contract terms or renewal intentions for Hall, Lawrence and Nwosu, leaving their 2026 status ambiguous. Additionally, while Walters lists three targets, the Seahawks have not confirmed any formal offers beyond the reported Miller decline, creating a gap between analyst speculation and official action.

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The free-agency window closes on March 10, after which Seattle must decide whether to sign one of the veteran edge rushers, pursue a lower-cost alternative, or rely on internal development. Early training-camp evaluations in July will reveal how the defensive line adapts if the roster remains unchanged, shaping the Seahawks’ pass-rush outlook for the 2026 season.

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