One of the Seahawks’ top players from the their Super Bowl triumph is back. DE Chris Clemons, 34, recently released by Jacksonville, his team of the past two seasons, signed with Seattle Friday.
Clemons started from 2010-13, but was cut after the season to save about $8 million against the cap. He had 38 sacks as a Seahawks starter, but will likely be used as a backup on third-down passing situations, becoming part of the answer in filling in for departed DE Bruce Irvin, along with LB Mike Morgan and DE Cassius Marsh.
Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett return as Seattle’s stating defensive ends.
Because Jacksonville, coached by former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, cut Clemons, his signing won’t cost a compensatory draft pick in 2017.
Clemons came to Seattle in 2010 in a trade with Philadelphia, along with a fourth-round draft choice, for DE Darryl Tapp. Clemons had 11 sacks during his first season in Seattle, posted another 11 in 2011 and 11.5 in 2012 before finishing 2013 with 4.5, giving him 38 in his four seasons.
Clemons started all 16 games for the Jaguars in 2014, then eight last season.
SEAHAWKS FREE AGENT TRACKER
Unrestricted free agents retained
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9 | Ahtyba Rubin | DL | 2.6M | 3 years, $12M, $5.5M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | Jeremy Lane | CB | 660K | 4 years, $23M, $11M guaranteed |
| Mar 10 | Jermaine Kearse | WR | 2.3M | 3 years, $13.5M, $6.3M guaranteed |
| Mar 11 | Jon Ryan | P | 1.5M | 4 years, $10M (1M annual raise) |
| Mar 16 | Christine Michael | RB | 208K | 1 year, $725,000 (base $675,000) |
| Mar 19 | Mike Morgan | LB | 750K | Contract details not yet disclosed |
Unrestricted free agents lost
| Date | Player | Pos | New Team | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9 | Bruce Irvin | LB | Raiders | 5 years, $37M, $19M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | Brandon Mebane | DT | Chargers | 3 years, $13.5M, $5.5M guaranteed |
| Mar 9 | J.R. Sweezy | G | Bucs | 5 years, $32.5M |
| Mar 9 | Ricardo Lockette | WR | None | Seahawks declined to offer, now FA |
| Mar 16 | Russell Okung | LT | Broncos | 5 years, $53 million |
Remaining unrestricted free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | 2015 Season/Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| —– | Tarvaris Jackson | QB | 1.3M | 33 in April, mopped up in 4 games |
| —– | Will Tukuafu | FB | 745K | 14 games, 1 touchdown |
| —– | Demarcus Dobbs | DE | 745K | 11 games, no starts |
| —– | Fred Jackson | RB | 870K | 16 games, 2 rec. TDs |
Unrestricted free agents added
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Team | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | Bradley Sowell | OL | Cardinals | 1 year for $1.5M |
| Mar 14 | Sealver Siliga | DL | Patriots | 1 year for $1.4M |
| Mar 15 | J’Marcus Webb | OL | Raiders | 2 years, $6.25M, $2.5M guaranteed |
| Mar 24 | Drew Ferris | LS | No NFL | Details not yet available |
| April 1 | Chris Clemons | DE | Jax | Details not yet available |
Restricted free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | New Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7 | Patrick Lewis | C | 585K | Tendered $1.67M |
| Mar 7 | Cooper Helfet | TE | 510K | Tendered $600,000 |
| Mar 9 | Alvin Bailey | G | 585K | Received no offer; signed with CLE. |
| Mar 9 | Derrick Coleman | FB | 585K | Seahawks declined to offer, now FA |
| —– | Nick Moody | LB | 413K | 3 games, no starts |
Exclusive rights free agents
| Date | Player | Pos. | ’15 Salary | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 | Eric Pinkins | LB | 180K | Tendered; agreed March 15 |
| Mar 7 | DeShawn Shead | DB | 660K | Tendered $760,000 |
| Mar 8 | Marcus Burley | CB | 510K | Tendered $600,000 |
| Mar 8 | A.J. Francis | DT | 6.6K | Tendered $600,000, signed |
| Mar 8 | Jesse Williams | DT | 393K | Waived; never played |
| Mar 9 | Steven Terrell | CB | 600K | Tendered |
| Mar 9 | Moh. Seisay | CB | 333K | Tendered |
Additional transactions
March 15: Released long snapper Clint Gresham, who had been with the Seahawks since 2010. Gresham had signed a three-year, $2.7 million contract extension a year ago and his release will save $660,000 against the cap in 2016.
5 Comments
34 and didn’t do much this past season – wow, sounds like he may not last past camp.
Didn’t do much this past season? Sounds like a typical Jaguar’s season.
Was Michael Sinclair not available?