With Seahawks training camp kicking off later this month, Seahawks.com is taking a look at 10 of the most intriguing storylines, position battles and players heading into the 2023 season. So far we've looked at special teams and tight end, and today, we take a look at an overhauled defensive line. Check back tomorrow when we focus on running back.
Defensive Line Key Additions: DE Dre'Mont Jones (free agent), DE Jarran Reed (free agent), DE Mike Morris (draft), DE Mario Edwards Jr. (free agent), NT Cameron Young (draft).
Defensive Line Key Departures: NT Al Woods (signed with Jets), DE Shelby Harris (unsigned free agent), DE/NT Poona Ford (signed with Bills), DE Quinton Jefferson (signed with Jets).
When the new league year began in March, the Seahawks, who usually aren't aggressive in the opening days of free agency, made a Day 1 splash by signing defensive end Dre'Mont Jones away from Denver. In Jones, the Seahawks are hoping to add the type of game-wrecking interior lineman that can be one of the most difficult players to find in football.
"We've been searching for that big, long 3-technique, a guy that can be an inside pass rusher with length," general manager John Schneider said at the NFL Annual Meeting. "We were playing against Calais Campbell in Arizona for so long, we were like, 'That body type, that physicality, we need that.'"
The addition of Jones was just one of the many moves the Seahawks made this offseason in overhauling their defensive line. Shelby Harris and Al Woods were released in salary cap-related moves, while Poona Ford ended up signing in Buffalo, meaning all three starters in last year's 3-4 front are no longer with the team heading into 2023. The Seahawks also released Quinton Jefferson, a significant contributor in the defensive line rotation.
In addition to Jones, the Seahawks signed Jarran Reed, who spent his first five seasons in Seattle before stops in Kansas City and Green Bay, as well as veteran defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. In the draft, the Seahawks added nose tackle Cameron Young and defensive end Mike Morris, a versatile player who rushed off the edge at Michigan, but after bulking up after the draft, is expected to be more of an interior player/big defensive end in Seattle's defense.
Despite being a rookie, Young will have a real chance to start following the departure of Woods, and with Bryan Mone recovering from an ACL injury, though the Seahawks have other options there, including veteran Myles Adams, undrafted rookie Jonah Tavai, and former Seattle Sea Dragons standout Austin Faolui.
That level of turnover at one position group may not be the norm in the NFL, but it's not? entirely surprising given that the Seahawks transitioned from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 last year, and as Schneider noted this offseason, it can take some time to get things sorted out from a personnel standpoint when making that switch.
"I went through this with Dom Capers and Coach (Mike) McCarthy (in Green Bay), like two or three years before I came to Seattle," Schneider said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "It took us two good years to be able to say, 'OK, here are your four edge rushers. Here are your seven defensive linemen. And then how do you help your special teams?' It's definitely a balance, especially when you know, you've been an even-front team."
Schneider expanded on that a bit more at the NFL Annual Meeting later in the spring.
"You're transitioning from having—we had three nose tackles on our team last year—so when you sign a three-technique or an inside pass rusher, that guy's got to be able to play the run too and hunker down. And you can get off kilter too if you have three nose tackles out there, but in an odd front, you only have so many numbers active each week.
"So It takes a while. I was talking about, when we hired Dom Capers in Green Bay, you're transitioning from an even front to an odd front, and you're trying to find outside linebackers who can be pass-rushers and can play on (special) teams and stuff like that."
The hope is that with the changes the Seahawks made, and well as any still to come—Schneider has a good history of finding value in veteran lineman additions, so additions could still happen—the Seahawks' personnel will better fit the scheme this year, and in turn help a defense that dealt with some inconsistent play, particularly on run defense, take a step forward in 2023.
Take a look at photos of defensive tackle Jarran Reed from his seven-year career in the NFL, including his first five in Seattle. Jones signed with the Seahawks as a free agent on March 16, 2023. Read more.
Seattle's defense kept up the pressure in the second half with Jarran Reed chasing Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers out of the pocket.
Jarran Reed and Brenden Jackson celebrate after forcing the Giants to punt.
Seattle's Nazair Jones and Jarran Reed combine to sack Washington's Kirk Cousins.
Seattle's run defense was solid once again with Garrison Smith, Jarran Reed and K.J. Wright making a stop.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed sports a robe befitting his first class seat for the victorious flight back to Seattle.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed gets fired up before kickoff.
Seahawks defensive linemen Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed talk on the sideline while waiting for the opening coin toss. The game marked Reed's return after a six game suspension.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed reacts after a third down stop in the first quarter.
Jarran Reed focuses during pregame warmups.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed strips the ball away from 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as Seattle's Poona Ford closes in.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins into an incomplete pass.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed pressures Kirk Cousins into throwing incomplete pass that was originally ruled a fumble in the third quarter.
Seahawks Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed sack Eagles quarterback Josh McCown on fourth down with two minutes left in the game to stop a Philadelphia scoring threat.
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed brings down Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) rushes the quarterback while being blocked by Los Angeles Chargers offensive guard Matt Feiler (71) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) gets set on defense during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates a fourth down stop during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday Dec. 16, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 34-28. (John McGillen via AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed, right, recovers a fumble as Pittsburgh Steelers center Kendrick Green (53) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed picks up a Pittsburgh Steelers fumble during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) is joined by teammates defensive end Frank Clark (55) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) as time runs out in their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates a sack of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates after a sack during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is chased by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo.. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jarran Reed urges the crowd to get loud during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo.. (AP Photos/Reed Hoffmann)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) reacts to a stop against the New England Patriots during an NFL game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) outruns Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) on a scramble during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) watches against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is unable to throw a pass for a completion after being sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) during overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) plays defense during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Jarran Reed (90) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
