Seahawks cut loose FS Tedric Thompson, TE Ed Dickson

The Seahawks have cleared some extra room under the salary cap, potentially signaling that something big could be on the horizon.

Do Seahawks need to give Clowney a firm deadline to re-sign?

Reports surfaced late Tuesday morning that both safety Tedric Thompson and tight end Ed Dickson are being cut loose, which would free up a considerable amount of money for Seattle.

Thompson, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL, was waived, while Dickson was released. Players with less than four years of NFL service time are subjected to the waiver process.

The big story of the Seahawks’ offseason has been whether or not they will be able to re-sign star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who has entered free agency after spending the 2019 season with Seattle. The reported releases of Thompson and Dickson only add fuel to that fire.

Thompson, 25, was a fourth-round selection (111th overall) of Seattle in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Colorado. He has played 29 games for the Seahawks over the last three years, starting 16, including all six games he played last season.

A torn labrum that required surgery landed Thompson on the injured reserve in late October 2019, ending his season.

For his career, Thompson has three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, five passes defensed and 80 combined tackles.

Thompson struggled at times last season, but he also made two big interceptions in back-to-back weeks in 2019, including one that helped Seattle beat the Rams in a Thursday night game.

How did Tedric Thompson pick this?!

Candidate for interception of the year! 😱 #Seahawks @nuevexted

📺: #LARvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/pfuFFe7HxS
Learn how to watch: https://t.co/I6INVckndX pic.twitter.com/NsC2pDMRYM

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2019

At the time of Thompson’s placement on IR, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll shared his thoughts on the free safety.

“He’s been really toughing it out for a good while,” Carroll said of Thompson’s injury. “We’re going to miss him. He’s been an integral part of our stuff. A really good teammate. We love the guy and we hate that he’s not going to get to play, but we’ve got to fix him up.”

Per Spotrac, Thompson was due a base salary of $2.133 million in 2020.

The Seahawks had success using veterans Quandre Diggs and Bradley McDougald late last season as the starting strong and free safeties, respectively. They also have strong safety Lano Hill and free safeties Marquise Blair and Ugo Amadi on the roster.

The release of Dickson, 32, comes as much less of a surprise. Signed as a free agent by Seattle prior to the 2018 season, he played 10 games (one start) that year and missed the entire 2019 season with a lingering knee injury.

Dickson was under contract for a $3 million salary in 2020, according to Spotrac.

The Seahawks added veteran tight end Greg Olsen and re-signed Luke Willson earlier this offseason, and will get starter Will Dissly back from injury at the position for 2020. They could also have Jacob Hollister, a restricted free agent, back in the mix.

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More Seahawks offseason coverage

• Huard has ‘a little apprehension’ about Hawks signing Dorsett
• Bumpus: The longer Clowney is unsigned, the better it is for Hawks
• What will the Seahawks’ 2020 offensive line look like?
• What stood out about new Hawks WR Dorsett in 3 years with Pats?
• 2020 offseason tracker: Signings, departures and more

Follow @BrentStecker