Seahawks discussing multi-year extension with Carlos Dunlap

The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly had good progress discussing an extension with veteran edge rusher Carlos Dunlap to keep him with the team.

Could Carlos Dunlap stick around Seattle awhile longer? A new report suggests the Seahawks want to make it happen.

According to Corbin Smith of Seahawk Maven, the team is currently in talks with Dunlap for a multi-year extension.

Smith continued his reporting by saying Dunlap may still want to test free agency, “But progress in talks is a good sign the two sides could reach terms before start of league year.”

The Seahawks got a promising return from Carlos Dunlap in 2020

The 32-year-old defensive end joined Seattle halfway through the 2020 season by way of a trade from the Bengals. The Seahawks needed a pass-rushing presence, and Dunlap fit the role.

Dunlap delivered five sacks and six tackles for loss. He tied the squad lead with 14 quarterback hits, despite playing in eight games and starting six. His veteran presence made a visible difference for the defense.

Clearly, Seattle has a good reason to keep Dunlap around. However, coming to an agreement will be a challenge, especially if Dunlap does decide to see what awaits him in free agency.

J.J. Watt just signed a two-year $31 million deal with the Cardinals. Dunlap is a similar age and profile, with better recent numbers and a more favorable injury history. He could command more money on the market than the Seahawks are interested in paying him.

An extension would allow them to avoid a costly cap hit. If the two sides can’t agree on an extension, Seattle could be forced to cut Dunlap because of cap space. At that point, they could try to re-sign him, though the cost could be high.