Seahawks Get Much-Needed Defensive Boost In Carlos Dunlap
Carlos Dunlap is not the same player he was earlier in his career. At 31 years old, the longtime Cincinnati Bengal is past the point of putting up 7-10 sacks for a defense. But he can still be an effective edge presence.
Seattle is struggling to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. With an average of only 1.5 sacks per game, the Seahawks currently rank No. 24 in that statistical category. That is not going to get it done for a team that is trying to make another Super Bowl push with an elite offense.
To remedy the issue, general manager John Schneider decided make a trade with the Bengals and secure the services of Dunlap. The compensation is not yet known, but it should be a mutually beneficial trade for both teams.
Adam Schefter was one of the first to report the news via Twitter:
During his first 10 seasons in the NFL, Dunlap racked up 472 tackles, 101 tackles for loss and 81.5 sacks. He also has a knack for forcing fumbles. He has 20 in his career.
The former second-round pick out of Florida has also been unhappy with the situation in Cincinnati. The team continues to struggle during a rebuilding process surrounding No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow. Dunlap has apparently been so disgruntled that the team told him to stay home while they looked for a trading partner.
Dunlap has now gotten his wish of playing for a contender on the West Coast and the Bengals have more draft compensation to continue their rebuild.
Dunlap will now team up with Benson Mayowa and L.J. Collier to try and generate consistent pressure from the edge. With teams trying to play catchup with Russell Wilson and the high-powered Seattle offense, the Seahawks must have a complementary defense that can put pressure on quarterbacks and get off the field quickly.
Update:We now know the compensation for Dunlap. The Bengals will receive offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a seventh-round pick, according to an updated tweet from Adam Schefter.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.