Seahawks Sign Dante Fowler to Bolster Pass Rush

Seahawks signing Dante Fowler as first major outside free agent add this offseason: How he'll help pass rush

Fowler is reportedly inking a one-year deal with the reigning champions

By Zachary Pereles

May 5, 2026 at 11:51 am ET • 2 min read

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The reigning Super Bowl-champion Seahawks have made their first significant dip into the outside free agent pool this offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with Dante Fowler , per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero .

Fowler, who will turn 32 a month before the season begins, had three sacks for the Cowboys last season while playing on just under one-third of Dallas' defensive snaps. One year earlier with the Commanders , he had one of the most productive years of his career, notching 10.5 sacks. He has 58.5 career sacks across 10 NFL seasons, spent with the Jaguars , Rams , Falcons , Cowboys (two stints) and Commanders.

The Seahawks have had a quiet offseason since their Super Bowl LX triumph over the Patriots . They brought back wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed on a three-year, $51 million deal and cornerback Josh Jobe on a three year, $24 million deal but had not brought in any outside free agents on deals worth more than $2 million until Fowler on Tuesday.

Seattle also lost Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III ( Chiefs ), EDGE Boye Mafe ( Bengals ), safety Coby Bryant ( Bears ) and cornerback Tariq Woolen ( Eagles ), all key contributors from their title squad, in free agency.

Seattle still has significant cap space -- roughly $32 million before the Fowler deal, per Over The Cap -- but are also seventh in active cap spending. With massive extensions to Jaxon Smith-Njigba ( already signed ) and Devon Witherspoon (almost certainly on the way) kicking in soon, the Seahawks have taken a measured approach when it comes to committing significant financial capital multiple years into the future.

How Dante Fowler fits into the Seahawks' plans

Seattle overwhelmed opponents not just with top-end defensive front talent, but with depth in that area, too. Ten different players registered at least 70 pass-rush snaps, led by defensive line stalwarts Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II . On the outside, Demarcus Lawrence , Uchenna Nwosu ,  Derick Hall  and Mafe could all wreak havoc.

With Mafe gone, the Seahawks had an open spot to fill out pass-rush rotation, and Fowler is, for now, the likely answer. He only had three sacks last year, but his 13% pressure rate wasn't half bad -- above average among the defensive ends/outside linebackers who had at least 200 pass rush snaps last year, and actually just above Mafe's rate. Plus, Fowler had a 14.1% pressure rate in 2024 and a 19.3% pressure rate in 2023. Given Mike Macdonald's talent designing and calling defensive plays and the immense talent around him, Fowler should fit in as yet another productive depth pass rusher.

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_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/seahawks-signing-dante-fowler-free-agent/)._