After parting ways with one former Broncos defensive tackle in Shelby Harris, it looks like Seattle will be replacing him with another former Broncos defensive tackle in Dre’Mont Jones, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The two parties have reportedly agreed on a three-year, $51.53M deal to bring the standout pass rushing lineman to the Seahawks, according to NFL Network’s James Palmer.
A 2019 third-round pick out of Ohio State, Jones didn’t take long to live up to his draft stock. In a middling rookie season that saw him occasionally rotate in, Jones still amassed 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hits.
Over the next three years, Jones would earn more playing time and do much more with it. In 28 starts since 2020, Jones has tallied 18.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, and 32 quarterback hits, averaging about the same number of each statistic every season.
Jones isn’t perfect. He specializes as one of the top pass rushing interior defensive lineman in the NFL but can struggle in run defense. He’s also had issues with injuries over the years, failing to appear in every game of any NFL season he’s played in.
Regardless, Seattle will be adding a whole new dynamic to a defense that heavily depended on two linebackers (Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor, each with 9.5 sacks in 2022) to pressure to the quarterback.
According to Rapoport, Jones is set to earn $23.5M in the first year of the deal and $35.02M over the first two years. The deal is a massive upgrade for the young lineman’s rookie contract. At only 26 years old, Jones will provide Seattle with a badly needed pass rusher on the interior.
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