Seahawks Bust Prior Free Agency Trend, Fill Major Need With Dre'Mont Jones Signing
Since arriving in tandem as coach and general manager for the Seattle Seahawks back in 2010, Pete Carroll and John Schneider have often sat on the sidelines during the early stages of free agency, letting other teams out-bid one another for premium veterans before going bargain shopping.
With the start of a new league year approaching on March 15, the Seahawks looked poised to play by the same book when the legal tampering period opened on Monday. As most other teams spent, little activity involving the organization transpired, as they reportedly cut ties with veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris and free agent linebacker Cody Barton agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Commanders. Schneider and Carroll might as well have been sipping back on cocktails at the VMAC.
But then, in a stunning reversal of past trends for the franchise, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported Seattle had struck terms with free agent defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones on a three-year deal. Details on the contract quickly trickled in from various sources, including a maximum value of $51.53 million, the type of cash Schneider has rarely dropped on an outside free agent in March.
What led to the Seahawks deciding to open up the checkbook for Jones? While fans and media alike were shocked by the signing considering prior history, reading through the tea leaves, maybe they shouldn't have been.
After Seattle signed Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith to a three-year contract last week, coach Pete Carroll made interesting comments on an interview with Seattle Sports 710, saying that wrapping up that deal before free agency sent a strong statement to those around the league about where the franchise is headed.
"We got it done in a timely fashion. We're ahead of free agency, which we needed to do and everybody's thrilled about it," Carroll remarked. "It’s a good deal for the club, a really good message to everybody on the outside that this is a good place and things are going in the right direction and we’re fired up about it."
Schneider echoed Carroll's sentiments, expressing gratitude to Smith and his agent Chafie Fields for hashing out a deal that afforded the Seahawks some leeway to improve the team around the quarterback in free agency. In particular, there was wiggle room to attack a defense that struggled most of last season, especially in the trenches.
Though Carroll acknowledged Seattle didn't have a "ton of flexibility" to work with, his excitement heading into the start of the new league year was palpable, suggesting the team would be more aggressive if the right opportunity presented itself. Coming off a surprise playoff berth, with a chance to add a premium talent at a major position of need, they were able to successfully sell Jones on playing in the Pacific Northwest.
Per reporter Josina Anderson, Jones indicated the Seahawks confidence in him and the team's upward trajectory played a major role in his decision to accept their offer over other suitors, saying, "I feel like they have the biggest belief in me. They have a really promising team, and I am looking forward to transitioning to that city.”
As far as on-field fit, it's easy to see why Seattle was enamored by the versatile 281-pound Jones. The former Ohio State star has been a disruptive interior pass rusher for most of his NFL career, surpassing 5.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in each of the past three seasons for Denver. Per Pro Football Focus, he amassed at least 30 quarterback pressures in each of those seasons, including finishing tied for 11th among defensive tackles with 45 pressures in 2022.
Digging deeper into the numbers, according to ESPN tracking, Jones ranked eighth among interior defenders in Pass Rush Win Rate over the past two seasons, including finishing sixth last season. Among those ahead of him, star defensive tackles Chris Jones, Javon Hargrave, and Dexter Lawrence stand out as three of the best in the league right now, putting him in elite company.
Much of Jones' success came in coach Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme, the same defense Seahawks coordinator Clint Hurtt implemented last year after replacing Ken Norton Jr. Capable of lining up in various alignments along the defensive line, including playing 3-tech defensive tackle and 5-tech "big" end in even front base packages, Jones should be able to seamlessly transition into the system given that wealth of experience playing under Fangio.
Of course, Jones doesn't come to Seattle without areas needing improvement. Since breaking into the league, he has never been viewed as a stout run defender, receiving a 50.9 or lower grade from PFF in three of his four seasons. A bit light for a 3-tech against the run, he has been susceptible to being washed off the line by stronger, more powerful blockers and will need to continue improving his technique to succeed consistently as an undersized defender inside.
Durability has also been a minor concern for Jones, who missed the last four games of the 2022 season on injured reserve with a hip injury. He also missed three games on injured reserve with a knee issue during the 2020 season.
But by making an uncharacteristic all-in move to spend big on Jones, the Seahawks made a clear statement about their expectations for both the player and the franchise. After being happy to simply make the playoffs a year ago, they're ready to win now and view him as an ascending talent who they can rebuild the front seven of their defense around as they pursue championships moving forward.
Believing his best football has yet to be played and with a chance to continue retooling their defensive line around him in coming weeks, Seattle rolled the dice with a lucrative investment and will be banking on Jones' presence in the middle to factor into substantial improvements on that side of the ball, helping push the team to new heights in 2023 and beyond.
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