Seattle Seahawks: Ezekiel Ansah signing solidifies pass rush

The Seattle Seahawks needed help along the defensive line after trading Frank Clark and Ezekiel Ansah is a smart one-year investment.

The Seattle Seahawks continue to go about the process of replacing Frank Clark. After drafting TCU defensive end L.J. Collier in the first round of the draft, the team has brought in a more experienced player to contribute as well. The Seahawks have signed former Pro Bowler and Detroit Lion, Ezekiel Ansah, to a one-year deal.

According to Brady Henderson of ESPN, the deal includes $5.5 million in guaranteed money and up to another eight million in incentives, making the deal worth around $13.5 million.

Ansah flew in and visited the Seahawks for an extended period of time last month, but the Seahawks waited to sign the defensive end to a deal because of the compensatory pick formula. By waiting to sign Ansah, the Seahawks saved 2020 compensatory picks, giving the team more assets moving forward. Seattle could receive as many as four compensatory picks next year and, after drafting 11 players this year, the team could be looking for another large haul.

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The Seahawks have brought in other pass rushers for visits, including Nick Perry, who left without a deal a few months ago. The team was also mentioned in conversations about Shane Ray in recent weeks, but it is unlikely the team will pursue another potentially costly veteran after adding Ansah.

Ansah was drafted fifth overall by the Lions back in 2013. The BYU product wasted no time making his presence felt. He recorded eight sacks as a rookie, 7.5 as a sophomore, and broke out in his third season, recording 14.5 sacks and making the Pro Bowl.

From there, the injuries began to take their toll. Despite playing in 13 games in 2016, Ansah recorded just two sacks. He bounced back in 2017, recording 12 sacks but he was placed on IR in December of last season after recording only four sacks in seven games.

Ansah’s career averages are very similar to Clark’s so far. Six years into his career, Ansah has 48 sacks and 110 quarterback hits. That’s an average of eight sacks and about 18 quarterback hits per season. Through four seasons, Clark averaged 8.75 sacks and 18 quarterback hits per season, putting his numbers almost in line with Ansah’s.

While Clark is in his prime and has not suffered the same injury-riddled years as Ansah and the former Lion is about to turn 30, Ansah comes at a far cheaper price than Clark and has actually been a better run defender than the former Seahawk. For a one-year deal, Ansah carries a lot of upside.

Now that Ansah is on board, it looks like Quinton Jefferson, who started alongside Clark as a defensive end last season, will be relegated to a backup role. I guess there is a chance that Collier doesn’t start right away and Jefferson holds his position, but the team brought in other defensive ends in free agency and has a ton of young players with potential that outshines Jefferson.

Right now, the Seahawks will probably start Ansah and Collier. That leaves Jefferson and free agent additions Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard in reserve roles. Seattle also has a handful of young edge rushers returning from last season, including Rasheem Green, Branden Jackson, and Jacob Martin.

Green was a third-round pick last year and Martin was a sixth. Marsh produced 5.5 sacks last season, a career high. Green only recorded one sack last year but Martin had three and possesses exciting upside. It wouldn’t be shocking if Jackson or Orchard didn’t make the final roster.

Even though Ansah has been a Pro Bowler in the past, his role in Seattle should be to support emerging star defensive tackle Jarran Reed. Reed broke out alongside Clark last year, recording 10.5 sacks. While Reed will also be a free agent after this coming season, he looks like the centerpiece Seattle is determined to build around. Now if only the team can sign him to a long-term deal and avoid another situation like the one that transpired with Clark.