Seattle Seahawks: Dwight Freeney signing could pay dividends
The Seattle Seahawks defense now has one of the best pass-rushers in the history of the NFL as Dwight Freeney has been brought into the fold.
On Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks and veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney agreed to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Now with Freeney in the fold, the Seahawks continue to bolster an already strong defensive line.
Freeney has posted impressive numbers to this point in his career. With 122.5 sacks, 281 tackles and 56 forced fumbles over a span of 209 games, he has cemented himself as one of the most dominant pass rushers in league history. His vicious spin move, particularly earlier in his career was a hallmark of his, and would make quarterbacks cringe.
His best season came in 2004 when he recorded a league-high 16 sacks in 15 games, starting in 13 of them. In a 15-year career, he has recorded double-digit sacks in seven seasons. A seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro, he at the very least brings a wealth of experience to the defensive line.
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There is one big question in regards to this signing as I see it. How much does he have left in the tank?
He is 37 years old, which is old for any football player, let alone a defensive end with a high motor. With that in mind, he showed that he could still be serviceable. In 2016, in a limited role, he recorded three sacks and seven tackles in 15 games for the Atlanta Falcons, starting one of them.
Currently Michael Bennett holds down the starting left defensive end spot while Frank Clark is the starter at right defensive end per OurLads.com. Marcus Smith and Branden Jackson are penciled in at No. 2 on the depth chart at both positons respectively, so at least for now Freeney appears to be a depth piece.
In that sense, he is perfect for the Seahawks. If he can come off the bench in certain situations and give them a boost off the bench, that would be ideal for Seattle. Particularly in third down and goal line situations, where the defensive line needs to make a push, he could excel there. He still has enough speed and explosion to get through a line and disrupt a play.
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Overall, Freeney is a low-risk, high-reward signing on the part of the Seahawks. On a one-year deal, taking a flyer on him is a very smart move. This gives them depth and possibly more, depending on how he plays. That could be important come the playoff push.