Seahawks want to expand role for veteran defensive lineman

Seattle Seahawks DL Dre'Mont Jones

Dre’Mont Jones joined the Seahawks with considerable expectations last offseason and he served as a full-time starter during his debut campaign with the team. The veteran defensive lineman operated primarily on the interior to start the season before injuries in the pass-rush department led to him being used more along the edge.

Jones had a productive season in Seattle with career highs in tackles (49) and quarterback hits (12). With only 4.5 sacks – his lowest total since his rookie campaign – however, the former Bronco underwhelmed to a degree in terms of rushing the passer. The arrival of Mike Macdonald as head coach will see the Seahawks’ defensive front in general and Jones in particular used in a variety of ways in 2024.

The 27-year-old is joined by the likes of Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins as a veteran along the D-line. Williams fared well after arriving via trade and he re-signed in March before testing the open market. Seattle selected Byron Murphy in the first round of the draft, adding further to the team’s depth along the interior. That will leave Jones and Williams free to spend considerable time along the edge and allow Macdonald’s scheme (which generated considerable success during his DC stint in Baltimore) to maximize their versatility.

“I think his skillset lends to trying to play a little matchup ball with him or setting another guy up,” Macdonald said of Jones’ expanded role (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “He can do a lot of things. We’ve talked about it, but we’re really excited about Dre’Mont.”

The Seahawks have Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor and Derick Hall atop the depth chart for edge-rushers entering 2024. Nwosu’s health will be a key storyline for the team after his 2023 campaign was ended by a pectoral strain. Further missed time on his part or poor play by the team’s complementary options could see Jones used more on the edge than along the interior. In any case, the Ohio State product will be counted on to produce under Macdonald as the Seahawks attempt to make needed improvements in the front seven.

Jones has two years remaining on the $51M contract he signed last spring to head to the Emerald City. He will carry a cap hit of $10.77M this season thanks to a recent restructure, but that figure is set to spike to $25.65M the following year. With none of his 2025 salary guaranteed, how well he adapts to a hybrid role will be key in determining his Seahawks future.

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