Two years ago, the Seattle Seahawks made a big splash in free agency by signing edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $51.3 million deal. It was the largest contract the Seahawks had ever given an outside free agent under longtime general manager John Schneider.

After two underwhelming seasons, Jones’ tenure in Seattle is over.

Seahawks cut 4 to get under salary cap, including Jones

The Seahawks released the 28-year-old Jones on Tuesday as one of four salary-cap saving moves. According to OverTheCap, Jones was set to carry a roughly $25.6 million cap hit in 2025, which would have been the fourth-highest on the team. Seattle saved roughly $11.6 million in cap space by releasing Jones, while taking on the remaining $14.1 million as a dead cap hit.

Over his two seasons with the Seahawks, Jones totaled just 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 34 games.

“It just felt like you could probably get more for less at that position,” former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus said on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy shortly after the news broke.

Jones, a 2019 third-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, had a productive first four seasons in the Mile High City. He produced 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2020, 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2021, and 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2022.

However, Jones wasn’t able to replicate those numbers in Seattle. He posted 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss with the Seahawks in 2023, followed by four sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2024.

“It wasn’t like you got nothing out of Dre Jones,” Bumpus said. “He still played a whole bunch of snaps … and produced 8.5 sacks in two years. I mean, it wasn’t a bad situation. You’re just looking at the cap hit and the number that he’s getting paid, and you expect him to be around 6.5 to seven sacks (per year) and be a guy that helped take this defense to the next level.

“And again, no knock to Dre Jones,” he added. “Sometimes it’s just not the right situation. I don’t know what his body was going through. … But when you just look at it from the surface, he just wasn’t putting enough out there for that number. Like, if you’re getting $17 million per year, we need about 6.5 to seven sacks and about 12 to 13 TFLs.”

What’s next?

Along with Jones, the Seahawks also released third safety Rayshawn Jenkins, reserve defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris and backup offensive tackle George Fant.

The four moves will save Seattle roughly $23.5 million in 2025 salary cap space, per OverTheCap. The Seahawks entered the day roughly $7.1 over the cap, which was the fifth-worst situation in the league. They now sit about $16.4 million under the cap, which is the 10th-worst situation.

The Seahawks are still widely expected to release veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett, which would clear another $13.9 million in cap space. Lockett’s age, diminishing production and massive $30.9 million cap hit for 2025 have made him an anticipated cap casualty. If Seattle does indeed part ways with the 32-year-old Lockett, the franchise would then sit $37.4 million under the cap.

In addition, the Seahawks could still get more cap relief by reaching contract extensions with veteran quarterback Geno Smith and star wide receiver DK Metcalf, which would likely bring down their 2025 cap numbers. They also could restructure contracts with players such as edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu and tight end Noah Fant.

The Seahawks need to be cap compliant by the start of the new league year on March 12. But they also need to have enough room for free agency, which also begins next week.

“Now you’re able to be creative and start moving pieces around,” Bumpus said. “This is what this does – it gives you financial flexibility. And if you’ve ever been in a position where you have financial flexibility, it’s a heck of a feeling.”

Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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