The Seattle Seahawks have thrown defensive end Branden Jackson, according to a source.
Jackson spent the past three seasons with Seattle after starting his career in Oakland. He appeared in 39 games with four starts with the Seahawks. Last season, Jackson made three starts and had career highs in tackles (20) and sacks (2).
Seattle this offseason signed pass riders Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa to help replace Jadeveon Clowney, who remains a free agent. Seattle returns to defensive ends, Rasheem Green, who led the team with four sacks in 2019, and LJ Collier, the team’s first-round pick a year ago. Seattle also selected defensive end Darrell Taylor of Tennessee in the second round of this year’s draft, and Alton Robinson in the fifth round of Syracuse.
The NFL rosters will shrink a bit when entering training camp this year with roster limits set at a maximum of 80 players compared to the typical 90 in previous years.
The reduction is part of an effort to create more social distancing to decrease the chance of spreading the coronavirus. That reduction will force teams to make tough decisions even before training camps begin. Jackson could be considered a victim of the new rule.
Or, perhaps, Jackson’s release was done to free up cap space to pay for the newly acquired safety, Jamal Adams, whom the Seahawks acquired through the New York Jets trade on Saturday. Jackson was going to earn $ 2.1 million this season. He has zero-limit success, which means Seattle will save 100 percent of the $ 2.1 million he owed Jackson.
Another possibility is that the measure will free up additional cash to resign Clowney. Clowney’s return and the addition of Adams, along with All-Pro center linebacker Bobby Wagner, would make Seattle’s defense potentially caliber for the championship.
