Neither Uchenna Nwosu nor DeMarcus Lawrence were healthy for much of the 2024 season. Nwosu missed a sizable chunk of the 2023 campaign as well. But the Seahawks saw both their top edge rushers hold up last season, doing plenty to pave a path to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
Missing 22 games between the 2023 and ’24 seasons, Nwosu accepted a pay cut in 2025. The deal reduced Nwosu’s 2025 compensation by $6.99MM and dropped his ’25 cap number to $12.45MM. The shift to a two-year, $19.51MM deal, however, left a $20MM cap hit for 2026. Considering Nwosu’s past unavailability, the veteran edge defender’s contract loomed as one to monitor this offseason.
But John Schneider does not anticipate the Seahawks adjusting the deal, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. Nwosu returning to full strength after back-to-back six-game seasons made an impression for the Hawks, and Henderson notes Schneider appears comfortable with the player’s increased cap hit. This is the final year of Nwosu’s deal.
The Seahawks initially brought in Nwosu on a two-year, $19.1MM contract in 2022, bringing him over from the Chargers after a contract year spent as Joey Bosa‘s top sidekick. Nwosu impressed in his first Seattle season, posting career-high numbers in sacks (9.5) and QB hits (26). That led Seattle — in Pete Carroll‘s final offseason at the helm — to reward Nwosu with a three-year, $45MM extension. A pectoral strain ended Nwosu’s 2023 season midway through, and he missed time in 2024 because of knee and thigh trouble.
Last season, Nwosu played 16 regular-season games and tallied seven sacks. That tied for the team lead. Nwosu then scored a Super Bowl touchdown, returning a Drake Maye INT 45 yards for an easy TD. Nwosu, 29, did not record a sack in the playoffs. With Boye Mafe defecting to the Bengals — on a three-year, $60MM deal — amplifies Nwosu’s importance for 2026, though considering Lawrence has pondered retirement, it would not surprise to see the defending champions seek EDGE help early in the draft. Lawrence will turn 34 this year, and one season remains on Derick Hall‘s second-round rookie contract.
Interior rushers Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy tied Nwosu for the team lead with seven sacks. The Seahawks were not too active in adding talent in free agency. They lost several key players, however, with Kenneth Walker, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen departing. Nwosu no longer looks like a release candidate, as the Seahawks will hope their 2022 offseason addition can replicate his healthy 2025. Nwosu doing so would position him for a solid short- or medium-term contract — be it from Seattle or elsewhere — in 2027. For now, the Seahawks have $32.95MM in cap space — eighth-most in the league.