Seahawks Sign Mario Edwards Jr., Add 'Big Factor' to Defense
After opening up salary cap space by restructuring receiver Tyler Lockett's contract last week, the Seattle Seahawks wasted little time using that flexibility to add much-needed veteran help for their defensive line.
As originally reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Seattle officially signed former Florida State standout Mario Edwards on Monday morning, bolstering its defensive line in the process. Terms of the contract have yet to be disclosed.
"I'm really pumped about this because I thought I saw something in Mario a couple months ago when we started free agency, where he could help us," coach Pete Carroll told reporters during Seattle's rookie minicamp on Friday. "He's got versatility, he's played end. He stood up. He's had his hand on the ground. He's been inside as a 3-technique. He's played everywhere along the line that I really like. He's really quick and he plays really hard. He's got a real good attitude about him. He fit in a lot of ways."
Formerly a second round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Raiders, Edwards has bounced around playing for five different teams in eight seasons. Last season, he played in 13 games for the Titans in 2022, starting seven games while producing 17 tackles, a trio of sacks, and 11 quarterback hits. He visited with the Seahawks in March, but did not sign a contract at the time.
After starting 24 games in his first three seasons in Oakland, Edwards settled into a reserve role during brief stints with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears. Since entering the league, he has never eclipsed four sacks in a single season and according to Pro Football Focus, he has only surpassed 30 quarterback pressures twice, including a career-best 34 in Tennessee last season.
While Edwards has never lived up to his draft billing as a pass rusher with a mere 19.5 career sacks and 46 quarterback hits in 99 career games, the versatile 280-pound defender's stout run defense has traveled with him everywhere he has played. Despite playing only 112 snaps as a run defender in 2022, PFF handed him a stellar 72.0 grade, which ranked 20th out of 82 qualified edge defenders. He also ranked eighth in run stop percentage (9.6 percent).
In eight NFL seasons, Edwards has earned at least a 65.0 run defense grade six times. Given Seattle's major issues stopping opposing running backs a year ago with a dreadful 31st overall ranking, he would be a welcome addition in the trenches with the flexibility to line up as a 3-tech defensive tackle, a 5-tech defensive end in even fronts, or even a nose in pass rushing situations.
Creating more intrigue, Edwards pass rushing capabilities may be more than meets the eye with raw sack numbers. For the Bears in 2020, he posted a respectable 11.5 percent pressure rate on the way to a career-high in sacks. Nearly as effective with the Titans last season, he posted a 10 percent pressure rate while setting new personal bests in pressures and quarterback hits, proving himself more disruptive invading the pocket than earlier in his career.
Currently, the Seahawks have seven defensive tackles on their 90-man roster after releasing Al Woods, Shelby Harris, and Quinton Jefferson in cost-cutting moves and losing Poona Ford in free agency. Away from free agent signings Dre'Mont Jones and Jarran Reed as well as incoming rookies Cameron Young and Mike Morris, nose tackle Bryan Mone could miss significant time recovering from an ACL tear and Myles Adams stands out as the only other healthy player with regular season game experience at the position.
Seeking capable veterans who fit their hybrid 3-4 scheme at an affordable price point, Edwards provides invaluable experience and his consistent performance as a stout run defender in the trenches will be welcomed in the Pacific Northwest. According to Carroll, the versatile defender will have a chance to compete for a starting job with his new team, which would make him a tremendous bargain as a mid-May signing.
"He'll be competing to be in that first group, the first four guys out there. I've seen him play enough. He can play football. He'll be a big factor for us.”
In an additional roster move, the Seahawks also signed free agent nose tackle Forrest Merrill. The former Western Kentucky standout spent the past two seasons with the Chargers, appearing in four games as a rookie in 2021 and missing last season in injured reserve.
To make room for Edwards and Merrill, Seattle waived undrafted rookie linebacker Michael Ayers and defensive end Jacob Sykes, who both signed with the team prior to rookie minicamp last week. Once they clear waivers, they will be free to sign with any team.
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