Seahawks rework contract for key defender

Nwosu signed a three-year, $45M extension in July 2023 that tied him to the Seahawks through 2026. He was set to earn a base salary of $14.48M in 2025 with a $6M injury guarantee that would have vested into a full guarantee earlier this month. The two sides agreed to push back that vesting date as they worked on a revised contract that would lower Nwosu’s $21.2M salary cap hit.

That new deal features a $6.99M pay cut with $6.98M in guaranteed money via a $4M signing bonus and a fully-guaranteed $2.98M base salary in 2025. Nwosu’s cap hits are now $11.8M in 2025 and $20M in 2026. Since none of his $11M 2026 salary is guaranteed, he will be a cap casualty candidate next offseason.

Originally a Chargers second-round pick in 2018, Nwosu played a rotational role on defense in his first three years before emerging as a starter in 2021. That earned him a two-year, $19M deal with the Seahawks in 2022 where he took over as a starting outside linebacker.

Nwosu impressed with 9.5 sacks in his debut season in Seattle, but injuries limited him to 12 games and 3.0 sacks in the last two years. Though the Seahawks have plenty of cap space, even after signing Sam Darnold, Nwosu’s cap hit was still too high given his lack of availability and production.

The revised contract allows him to stay in Seattle for the 2025 season as part of a four-man edge rotation. Derick Hall and Boye Mafe are returning after combining for 25 starts, while new signing DeMarcus Lawrence will likely eat into Nwosu’s snap share.