Seahawks sign 4-time Pro Bowl DE DeMarcus Lawrence

The Seattle Seahawks made their first splash on the defensive side of the ball in free agency Wednesday.

The Seahawks are signing defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, the four-time Pro Bowler’s agent David Canter announced on social media Wednesday afternoon.

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The deal is for three years and up to $42 million with $18 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. The deal carries a base salary of $32.49 million, according to The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.

The 32-year-old Lawrence played just four games with the Dallas Cowboys last season due to a Lisfranc (foot) injury. He totaled 14 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble in his limited action. Lawrence turns 33 next month.

The 2014 second-round pick’s injury-shortened campaign followed a standout 2023. He was the seventh-ranked edge rusher in Pro Football Focus grading that season, including No. 2 against the run. Lawrence had 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six passes defended, 4.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023.

The news comes after the Seahawks reportedly signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal earlier in the day. Seattle also agreed to deals with quarterback Sam Darnold and offensive lineman Josh Jones on Monday, according to reports.

Lawrence has spent his entire 11-year career in Dallas and is set to reunite with his former defensive line coach, Aden Durde, in Seattle. Durde, who took over as the Seahawks defensive coordinator last season, was the D-line coach in Dallas from 2021-23.

DEMARCUS LAWRENCE INCREDIBLE PICK-6! @TankLawrence

📺: #WASvsDAL on NBC
📱: https://t.co/RVn6kdfzlm pic.twitter.com/fOPgbcenng

— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2021

The Boise State product adds to the Seahawks’ group of edge rushers after Dre’Mont Jones was released by the team last week. He also brings a veteran presence to a unit that includes 2022 second-round pick Boye Mafe and 2023 second-rounder Derick Hall. Veteran Uchenna Nwosu, who played just six games in each of the past two seasons due to various injuries, also remains in the mix.

Mafe’s rookie deal expires after the 2025 season. Hall and Nwosu are both under contract through 2026.

Lawrence was a second team All-Pro in 2017 and made Pro Bowl appearances in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023. He had back-to-back seasons with double-digit sack totals in 2017 and 2018, including a career-best 14.5 in the former. Lawrence also finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2017.

In 141 games over 11 pro seasons, Lawrence has amassed 450 tackles, 97 tackles for loss, 61.5 sacks, 21 forced fumbles, two interceptions and two defensive TDs.

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