Tag: Dre’Mont Jones

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on defense in Week 15

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks did not play a good-quality defensive game in Sunday’s primetime 30-13 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Matt LaFleur’s offense encountered little resistance en route to scoring 30 points and posting nearly 400 total yards of offense. Nonetheless, these three Seahawks were their highest-graded players on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Boye Mafe | 80.0

Boye Mafe did not make the graphic because he didn’t play the minimum required 25 snaps, but it feels silly to discredit 22 snaps. That’s a decent workload, and Mafe maximized those opportunities, earning a stellar overall grade of 80.0. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher tied for the team-lead in QB pressures with three.

Dre’Mont Jones | 79.4

Dre’Mont Jones has steadily improved his form as the season’s progressed forward and that remained the case on Sunday Night Football. The veteran pass rusher recorded three stops and was effective both as a run stopper and pass rusher. Jones has been an impactful defender for Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

Leonard Williams | 69.3

Leonard Williams was a bit quieter than usual given his insane run of form, but he still accumulated a defensive-line-high five tackles. Williams pressured Packers quarterback Jordan Love twice. He also posted a defense-high five stops, matching what off-ball linebacker Ernest Jones IV achieved in this game.

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Is this Uchenna Nwosu’s last chance to stick with Seahawks?

Is this Uchenna Nwosu’s last chance to stick with Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks activated EDGE Uchenna Nwosu off IR on Thursday. Nwosu will play against the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Week 14 NFC West showdown. This upcoming stint may represent his last opportunity to prove he should stick with the Seahawks for the foreseeable future.

It’s been a difficult period for Nwosu since recording a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2022. The former USC standout missed more than half of the 2023 campaign due to a pectoral injury suffered in Week 7. The 2024 season has welcomed more challenges.

Nwosu suffered an MCL sprain in the preseason finale that kept him sidelined for Seattle’s opening four regular-season contests. The Seahawks never placed him on IR and he healed slightly slower than expected. Nwosu made his 2024 debut against the New York Giants in Week 5, but that only lasted 20 snaps. He exited with a thigh injury and was placed on IR. He’s been absent since.

Nwosu hasn’t been consistently healthy since 2022. Since then, the Seahawks have wisely invested premium resources into the EDGE position, signing Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year contract worth more than $51 million, and drafting Boye Mafe and Derick Hall with back-to-back second round picks in 2022 and 2023. All three of those rushers have produced in Nwosu’s absence.

Nwosu is technically signed through 2026, but he doesn’t possess any guaranteed money remaining on his contract moving forward. General manager John Schneider could release Nwosu from his deal in the offseason and save nearly $15 million versus the 2025 cap if he designates the transaction as a post-June move, according to OverTheCap. The dead-cap charge would be a manageable $6.5 million. If the Seahawks wanted the funds immediately, a pre-June move would penalize them $13 million in dead money while creating $8.4 million in immediate financial flexibility.

The Seahawks are currently scheduled to be $6 million over the 2025 cap. That qualifies as the third-worst cap situation of any team in the league heading into the offseason. It’s a minimal amount that Schneider should easily navigate, but it makes creating funds via releasing players a borderline necessity.

Hall and Mafe are long-term pieces on affordable rookie contracts. Jones is signed through just next season and is an alternative potential cap casualty, buy why would the Seahawks choose to release Jones over Nwosu when the former has been healthy and productive? If Nwosu wants to make this a difficult decision for Schneider, he needs to stay available and impactful down the stretch of the 2024 campaign.

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Seahawks’ pass-rushing metrics through Week 9

Seahawks’ pass-rushing metrics through Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks are tied for 15th in the NFL in sacks with 21 quarterback takedowns through nine contests heading into this weekend’s bye. Mike Macdonald’s defense has taken a by-committee approach to rushing the passer. Three Seahawks defenders have produced three-or-more sacks, with Derick Hall (5.0), Boye Mafe (4.0), and Dre’Mont Jones (3.0) sitting atop the team leaderboard.

Leonard Williams (2.5), Tyrel Dodson (2.0), and Jarran Reed (2.0) aren’t far off from joining that club. Williams actually leads the Seahawks in pressures with 28, and Mafe (27), Hall (26), Reed (26), and Jones (25) aren’t far behind, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s been a team-effort for Seattle’s front seven this season.

The advanced analytics are in-line with these tangible results. The Seahawks have posted a league-average 41% pass-block-win-rate (PBWR) so far this season, ranking 17th in the NFL through nine weeks, according to data provided by ESPN Stats & Info. Seattle has been effective at getting after opposing passers.

Williams has posted 15 pass-rushing-wins out of 100 reps, also per ESPN. Williams’ 15% PRWR ranks third-best (tied with Calais Campbell) among all qualifying defensive tackles, trailing just Zach Allen (21%) and Chris Jones (20%). There’s no denying his production this season.

Applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks hasn’t been Seattle’s issue this season. The 4-5 Seahawks are entering a Week 10 bye. When they return, a productive, all-hands-on-deck pass rushing unit will attempt to aid other areas of struggle.

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Seahawks DL Dre’Mont Jones clears air, blasts social media criticism

Seahawks DL Dre’Mont Jones clears air, blasts social media criticism

Seattle Seahawks veteran defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been playing better since enduring a slow start to his 2024 season. Head coach Mike Macdonald has been utilizing him as a more traditional edge rusher, and heā€™s starting to acclimate to that role. In two games against the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons in Weeks 6 and 7, Jones accumulated a combined 11 quarterback pressures. The former third-round pick recorded a sack in the blowout win over the Falcons.

Unfortunately, Jones (and the entire Seahawks team) couldn’t carry that momentum over to Sunday’s 31-10 Week 8 defeat to the Buffalo Bills. Jones did not record a single pressure on Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Seattle’s performance was lackluster against a true Super Bowl contender.

One Seahawks reporter took to social media to criticize Jones’ effort on a particular play. The rep shows Jones barely stringing together a pass-rushing move versus Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins. The effort appears sluggish and nonexistent.

Jones took to social media to clarify that he actually suffered a shoulder injury on the prior rep. Jones further adds that it’s been diagnosed as an AC sprain.

Jones’ status for the upcoming Week 9 divisional showdown versus the Los Angeles Rams remains unknown. Updates regarding his shoulder injury could arrive following Wednesday’s practice. Jones has recorded 17 tackles and three sacks this season.

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Seahawks are starting to properly utilize Dre’Mont Jones

Seahawks are starting to properly utilize Dre’Mont Jones

The Seattle Seahawks entered the season attempting to utilize veteran defender Dre’Mont Jones as more of an edge rusher. Traditionally more of an interior defender throughout his career, there have been clear-cut growing pains for Jones this season. He did not record his first sack of the 2024 campaign until Week 3.

Jones followed up that QB takedown with another in the Week 4 defeat to the Detroit Lions. Jones had his third sack of the season in Sunday’s blowout victory over the Atlanta Falcons. In Jones’ first two games, Pro Football Focus credited him with recording four measly pressures. Over the previous two contests, the former Ohio State Buckeye accumulated 13 pressures.

Jones had five pressures against the Falcons. He had a season-high six pressures against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. Head coach Mike Macdonald recently discussed Jones’ incremental gains.

The likes of Mafe, Hall, Leonard Williams have been incredibly productive for the Seahawks this season. Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is coming on strong after returning from a hamstring injury. If Jones gets going, Seattle’s defensive line will elevate to elite territory.

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Seahawks are paying Dre’Mont Jones too much for limited production

Seahawks are paying Dre’Mont Jones too much for limited production

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider believed he was getting an impactful difference-maker when he signed defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $51.5 million contract last offseason. Jones was fresh off a career-best season with the Denver Broncos, in which he recorded 6.5 sacks. Fast forward roughly a year and a half into his tenure with the Seahawks, and it hasn’t been good enough.

Jones appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the Seahawks last season. The former Ohio State standout had a minimal impact, totaling 4.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus assigned Jones a middling overall defensive grade of 61.7.

Mike Macdonald’s appointment as head coach offered hope that Jones would elevate his game to another level. Through six contests, including three consecutive defeats, he’s been borderline invisible at times. Jones has accumulated two sacks, 11 pressures, and three quarterback hits. He was credited with two tackles in Thursday’s disappointing loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Macdonald and the defensive coaching staff have moved Jones around the defensive line in an attempt to fully unlock his potential. When playing inside, Jones appears undersized. When playing the edge, he lacks the athleticism of a typical edge-rushing outside linebacker.

Jones earns $17.1 million per season, according to Over The Cap. He’s currently the 16th-highest paid interior defensive lineman in the league, but he ranked significantly higher than that when he signed his contract, as several defensive tackles have since surpassed him. Jones’ earning capacity places him alongside defenders like Vita Vea ($17.7 million APY) and Grady Jarrett ($16.5 million APY, who are having much larger impacts for their respective defenses.

Schneider may have whiffed on committing big-time dollars to Jones. The Seahawks could release him next offseason in a transaction that would clear $14 million in financial flexibility, but they’d inherit $11.5 million in dead money. Seattle will continue coaching Jones up.

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3 ex-Broncos draft picks now play for the Seahawks

Three former Broncos — DE Dre’Mont Jones, TE Noah Fant and CB Faion Hicks — now play for the Seahawks, Denver’s Week 1 opponent.

When the Denver Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, they will recognize three familiar faces.

Seattle has two ex-Denver players on its active roster — tight end Noah Fant on offense and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones on defense.

The Seahawks acquired Fant from the Broncos as part of the Russell Wilson trade in 2022. The two other players Denver sent to Seattle — quarterback Drew Lock and defensive lineman Shelby Harris — now play for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

Jones signed with the Seahawks in 2023 after his rookie contract with the Broncos expired. He totaled 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks last fall. Fant has hauled in 82 receptions for 900 yards and four touchdowns over the last two seasons.

A third ex-Denver player, cornerback Faion Hicks, is on Seattle’s practice squad. A former Broncos seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Hicks joined the Seahawks’ practice squad after roster cuts last month.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on select CBS networks.

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5 Seahawks missing second joint practice with Titans

5 Seahawks missing second joint practice with Titans

The Seattle Seahawks are on the practice field in Nashville on Thursday morning for their second and final joint practice with the Tennessee Titans. The competitive session is a useful dress rehearsal for Saturday’s preseason game versus the Titans, which will feature fewer starting-caliber players given the physicality of joint practices. Both teams find these shared practice sessions to be more practical for preparation purposes than exhibition games are.

Unfortunately, a handful of keynote Seahawks talents aren’t practicing versus the Titans on Thursday. Some of the absentees feature players who exited Wednesday’s practice, and others are injured players who didn’t feature in either practice. The following five Seahawks aren’t practicing on Thursday.

Jerome Baker & Jon Rhattigan, LB

The Seahawks are without off-ball linebackers Jerome Baker and Jon Rhattigan for a second straight practice. Baker is still being sidelined by a hamstring issue that has afforded rookie defender Tyrice Knight more reps with the first-team defense. The Seahawks were so light at the position heading to Nashville that they re-added undrafted linebacker Easton Gibbs to the 90-man roster after waiving him earlier this summer.

Zach Charbonnet, RB

Zach Charbonnet is missing his second consecutive practice, which means he won’t be afforded an opportunity to practice against the Titans at all. Kenneth Walker III continues to be the workhorse back, and George Holani and Kenny McIntosh are continuing their RB3 position battle. Charbonnet is missing crucial reps here.

Dre’Mont Jones, DE

Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones recently returned to practice after missing approximately two weeks with a hamstring injury. The veteran lineman exited Wednesday’s practice after feeling a flare-up. Head coach Mike Macdonald indicated it wasn’t a serious setback, but the Seahawks are wisely being cautious with their $51 million pass rusher. Jones is not practicing on Thursday.

Noah Fant, TE

Starting tight end Noah Fant did not finish Wednesday’s practice. Head coach Mike Macdonald declined opportunities to specify why he exited practice early. Macdonald and his staff must be playing things safe because Fant isn’t present for Thursday’s session with the Titans. Pharaoh Brown and Brady Russell should see increased reps in his absence.

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Seahawks Top 10 salary cap hits

Seahawks Top 10 salary cap hits

The Seattle Seahawks are not totally in a pickle when it comes to finances, but they are getting close. Recently, I wrote about how the Seahawks were listed as a top landing spot for Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon should New England decide to move on from their pass rush specialist. However, I mentioned the move would be unlikely due to Seattle’s salary cap constraints.

Taking a closer look at the Seahawks situation, they do not have a ton of wiggle room when it comes to spending. Right now, they have only $8,488,020 in cap space, per Over The Cap.Ā At the moment the only teams with less cap space than Seattle are the Broncos, Jets, Panthers, Ravens and Falcons.

How is the used up cap space being distributed for the Seahawks? Currently, here are the Top 10 players taking up most of the cap for Seattle.

Geno Smith taking up the most makes sense. He is the quarterback, and while $26 million is nothing to scoff at, by NFL standards is quite a bargain when it comes to starters. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, even with his recent new contract, still make sense given how vital they are to this offense.

Where things start to get a little sticky is when it comes to Dre’Mont Jones. Jones, entering into year two of his three-year, $51.5 million dollar contract, is making a healthy chunk of change. Unfortunately, his play on the field last season did not really justify such a lofty investment. Hopefully, head coach Mike Macdonald is able to fully utilize Jones in the way we all hoped he would become.

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Mike Macdonald has serious plans for DT Dre’Mont Jones

Mike Macdonald has serious plans for DT Dre’Mont Jones

Last season, the Seattle Seahawks broke from their norm and made a splash into free agency. They signed former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones to a lucrative three-year, $51 million contract. With that kind of cash, the expectations were certainly high for Jones to make an impact.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks did not get much of a return on investment. At least, not in year one. Jones was not terrible, but he was hardly the difference maker you’d expect from a defensive lineman with a contract such as his. Jones only had 4.5 sacks and 26 solo tackles.

Still, there is plenty of hope for Jones to turn it around in 2024. Head coach Mike Macdonald is reportedly planning to use Jones in a much more versatile way than he did last year, per Brady Henderson of ESPN. According to Henderson, Macdonald’s new scheme in Seattle won’t be a “copy-and-paste version of the scheme he coordinated in Baltimore over the last two seasons” but rather an amalgamation of several concepts.

Assistant general manager Nolan Teasley, quoted in the article linked, spoke to this desire to move players and pieces around the defense, specifically highlighting Jones.

“I know a player that we’re really excited about, that they’re excited about moving around is Dre’Mont Jones because of his ability off the edge,” Teasley said, “his ability to rush anywhere from the three-technique to the six, maybe even out to the nine.”

It is no secret Seattle’s defense has been attrocious the last few seasons. What has made the struggles far more frustrating has been the fact this defense is not bereft of talent. They may not have as many difference making playmakers like San Francisco, but the cupboard has hardly been bare. This leads me to the belief the issues were more rooted in coaching and scheming players to be in the right fit.

Hopefully, Macdonald will be able to sort these issues out, and be able to truly utlize the potential of players like Dre’Mont Jones.

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