Seahawks reportedly make big addition to pass rush in DE Kerry Hyder Jr.
Mar 23, 2021, 4:16 PM | Updated: 6:15 pm
The Seahawks apparently put their focus on the pass rush Tuesday afternoon, and it notably didn’t involve Carlos Dunlap.
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Just minutes after reports that Seattle was bringing back veteran defensive end Benson Mayowa, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that the Seahawks will sign Kerry Hyder Jr. away from NFC West rival San Francisco.
Hyder will get a three-year, $16.5 million contract from Seattle, according to Schefter, with an upside of $17.5 million.
The report was acknowledged Monday evening by Hyder, who posted “#GoHawks” on his Twitter account.
#GoHawks https://t.co/AH9woH87dp
— Kerry Hyder Jr. (@KerryhyderJR) March 24, 2021
The 29-year-old Hyder would be joining his fifth team since joining the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2014. He spent his rookie season with the Jets but did not play in a game. He spent the next two years with Detroit, including a breakout 2016 season where he registered eight sacks despite starting just two of his 16 games, and played for Dallas in 2019.
Hyder went to the 49ers last year and flourished in his first opportunity as a full-time starter. He made 8.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, 49 combined tackles, 30 solo tackles, and recovered a fumble. He started 14 of his 16 games.
Nowhere to hide. @KerryhyderJR with his first sack for the #49ers 🙌
#AZvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/qyTzEhhsSJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 13, 2020
Though Hyder has had success in the NFL, he missed the entire 2017 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon and was slowed down in 2018, making one sack in seven games. He also was limited to just one sack with Dallas in 2019 even though he played all 16 games.
Hyder would be the second player from the 49ers signed out of free agency by the Seahawks this offseason, joining cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Hyder would join Mayowa as veteran DEs for Seattle, which also has younger players L.J. Collier, Rasheem Green, Alton Robinson and Darrell Taylor at the position.
Seattle acquired Dunlap in a trade with Cincinnati midway through the 2020 season to shore up its pass rush, and while he had a big impact, he was a salary cap casualty earlier this month. It was expected the Seahawks would try to re-sign him in free agency at a lower figure, but the reported addition of Hyder makes a reunion unlikely.
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