DANNY AND GALLANT

Bumpus: Adding Hyder makes Seahawks’ pass rush better than in 2020, even with loss of Reed

Apr 10, 2021, 1:49 PM

Seahawks DE Kerry Hyder...

New Seahawks DE Kerry Hyder Jr. had 8.5 sacks for the 49ers in 2020. (Getty)

(Getty)

The Seahawks had one of the worst pass rushes in the entire NFL in 2019. Through seven games in 2020, that was also the case.

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But after a trade deadline move to acquire defensive end Carlos Dunlap, Seattle’s pass rush flourished and the Seahawks ended the season with 46 sacks, which was seventh in the league.

Now, Dunlap is back on a two-year deal, as is defensive end Benson Mayowa, who had six sacks last year. Additionally, the Seahawks’ leading sacker from 2020, safety Jamal Adams, will also be back in 2021. He had 9.5 sacks in 12 games.

Other pass rushers returning are defensive ends Alton Robinson, L.J. Collier and Rasheem Green, as well as defensive tackle Poona Ford. 2020 second-round defensive end Darrell Taylor also figures to have a role after missing his entire rookie season with a leg injury.

Seattle also added San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. in free agency. Hyder had 8.5 sacks last season.

But, the Seahawks had to part ways with standout defensive tackle Jarran Reed in order to make salary cap room to re-sign Dunlap. Reed is now with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was second on the Seahawks with 6.5 sacks in 2020 and he had 10.5 sacks back in 2018.

So with most of Seattle’s pass rush back in the fold for 2021 and with the swapping, essentially, of Reed and Hyder, is the Seahawks’ pass rush better than it was in 2020? Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus shared his thoughts on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant on Friday.

“I would say they’re better,” he said. “If we’re looking at numbers, they’re better. Jarran Reed had 6.5 sacks. Kerry Hyder had 8.5 sacks.”

There is one thing to note with Hyder, though.

“The thing that kind of makes you pump your brakes a little bit is that Hyder is coming off a career year,” Bumpus said. “Can he do it again? I think he can.”

Hyder stands 6-foot-2 and weighs roughly 270 pounds. Because of his size and skillset, he’s drawn plenty of comparisons to former standout Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett. Bumpus said he sees “some Michael Bennett” in Hyder’s game.

But can Hyder have a Michael Bennett-like impact? Bumpus said a lot of that will fall on the coaching staff.

“Will they move him inside like Michael Bennett on passing downs? That’s my question,” he said. “Are they going to use him like Michael Bennett? Do the Seahawks see him as Michael Bennett?”

But as things currently stand, Bumpus thinks this pass rush is better “on paper” than it was in 2020.

“I think Poona is going to be better,” he said. “We still haven’t seen Darrell Taylor. Alton Robinson played good as a rookie. (Going from) 6.5 sacks to 8.5 sacks?  I’ll take the swap (of Reed for Hyder). This Seahawks’ defensive line is better (than in 2020).”

Listen to the full discussion at this link or in the player below.

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Bumpus: Adding Hyder makes Seahawks’ pass rush better than in 2020, even with loss of Reed