Kerry Hyder

Seahawks Release Carlos Dunlap, Kerry Hyder

For the second straight offseason, the Seahawks released Carlos Dunlap. The team also cut fellow defensive lineman Kerry Hyder on Friday.

While the Seahawks reached a new agreement with Dunlap shortly after cutting him last year, it is unclear if the veteran defensive end remains in the team’s plans this time around. Hyder joined the Seahawks after spending the 2020 season with the 49ers. These two join Benson Mayowa as D-linemen moved off Seattle’s roster.

[RELATED: Seahawks To Sign DL Quinton Jefferson]

The Seahawks are releasing Dunlap with a post-June 1 designation, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets, softening the dead-money blow for 2022. The team cannot recoup the extra funds until that date but it defrays some of Dunlap’s dead-cap hit until 2023. Because of Dunlap’s post-June 1 designation, the Seahawks will save just more than $7MM by shedding these two contracts.

Dunlap, 33, led the Seahawks with 8.5 sacks last season. Coming over from the Bengals in a 2020 deadline deal, Dunlap helped a struggling Seahawks defense rebound in that season’s second half. The former Cincinnati Pro Bowl rusher notched five of his six 2020 sacks as a Seahawk, helping them to the playoffs. Dunlap is four sacks away from 100 for his career. His 2021 production makes it likely he will catch on for a 13th NFL season.

Formerly with the Lions, Hyder has made single-season stopovers in the NFC West. He did not fare as well in Seattle as he did in San Francisco, seeing his sack total drop from 8.5 as a 49er to 1.5 as a Seahawk. Hyder, 30, did play 15 games last season and is a seven-year veteran. He figures to bring rotational value, at least, to another team as a free agent.

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/25-12/26/21

We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Christmas and today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Steven Sims

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/20/21

A long list of players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. We listed the players who landed on the list today, as well as those who were activated off the list:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE John Franklin-Myers, DB Sharrod Neasman

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Seahawks To Sign DE Kerry Hyder

The Seahawks’ pass-rushing plans are coming into focus. Shortly after they agreed to re-sign Benson Mayowa, the Seahawks agreed to terms with defensive end Kerry Hyder.

Hyder will join the Seahawks on a three-year, $16.5MM contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding that the former Lions, Cowboys and 49ers D-end can make up to $17.5MM on this accord.

This deal marks a big pay bump for Hyder, who signed with the 49ers for one year and $1.5MM during the 2020 offseason. Despite the salary cap reduction, the 29-year-old pass rusher will cash in on a midlevel accord. Hyder is coming off an 8.5-sack season. He has two seasons of at least eight sacks, with the other coming back in 2016 with Detroit.

For a 49ers team that lost Nick Bosa and Dee Ford at the beginning of the season, the Hyder signing proved pivotal. The former UDFA led the team in sacks and recorded 18 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss. Hyder recorded just two sacks over the previous two seasons, however, and missed all of 2017.

This signing might impede Seattle from bringing back Carlos Dunlap, whom the team released earlier this month. However, it remains to be seen how Dunlap will fare on the market.

NFC Contract Details: Funchess, Blythe, Redskins, Cardinals

We’ve got a handful of contract details to pass along. We’ll start with the latest NFC notes, all via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter:

  • Devin Funchess, WR (Packers): One year, $2.5MM. Includes $3.75MM in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns incentives.
  • Austin Blythe, OL (Rams): One year. Worth $3.9MM, including $3.5MM guaranteed. $950K signing bonus, $2.95MM salary (of which $2.55MM is guaranteed).
  • Peyton Barber, RB (Redskins): Two year, $3MM. Includes $600K signing bonus. Salaries: $910K (2020), $1.14MM (2021). $150K per-game maximum roster bonus in 2020, $199K+ per-game maximum roster bonus in 2021.
  • Nate Orchard, LB (Redskins): Re-signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. Includes $137.5K signing bonus, $910K salary.
  • Seth Roberts, WR (Panthers): One year, $3.75MM. Includes $600K signing bonus, $3.1MM salary, $50K workout bonus.
  • Marcus Gilbert, OT (Cardinals): One year, $3.75MM. $1.05MM base salary (of which only $150K is guaranteed). Up to $2.7MM in playing time incentives.
  • Max Garcia, OL (Cardinals): Re-signed. One-year, $1.25MM deal, including $600K guaranteed. Up to $190K per-game maximum roster bonus, up to $1MM in playing time incentives.
  • Cameron Fleming, OL (Giants): Signed. One-year, $3.5MM deal (as opposed to previously-reported one-year, $4MM deal). Includes $2MM guaranteed. Up to $500K per-game roster bonus, up to $500K playing time incentives.
  • Kerry Hyder, DE (49ers): One year. $1.5MM, including $550K guaranteed. Up to $250K in per-game roster bonus.

49ers To Sign DE Kerry Hyder

The 49ers have reached a one-year deal with edge rusher Kerry Hyder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Hyder, 28, appeared in 16 games as a reserve for the Cowboys in 2019 after spending the previous three seasons with the Lions. Last year, Hyder played on 40% of Dallas’ defensive snaps, posting one sack and four quarterback hits.

Hyder’s best season came in 2016, when he managed a career-high eight sacks with Detroit. His defensive line coach that year was Kris Kocurek, who now holds the same role with the 49ers.

Nick Bosa and Dee Ford will start at defensive end for San Francisco, so Hyder will compete with Ronald Blair, Kentavius Street, and others for playing time on the edge.

Cowboys Sign Kerry Hyder

The Cowboys have been very busy visiting with free agents and lining up other visits today, but the club did make one transaction official. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Cowboys signed former Lions DL Kerry Hyder (Twitter link). It will be a one-year pact for Hyder, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).

Detroit opted to non-tender Hyder, a former UDFA, earlier this month. Now 27, Hyder missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn Achilles and only appeared in seven games last season. With just one sack last year and a limited sample of work, it’s not surprising the Lions didn’t want to give him the lowest tender.

On the other hand, he did post eight sacks in 2016, and as Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News tweets, Hyder is a good fit as a defense end in the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme. He could be a low-cost boon to a pass rush that needs some reinforcements.

Lions Won’t Tender DL Kerry Hyder

The Lions will not tender defensive lineman Kerry Hyder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hyder had eight sacks two years ago, but the Lions will allow him to explore the open market as an unrestricted free agent. 

Hyder, 27, missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn Achilles and only appeared in seven games last season. With just one sack last year and a limited sample of work, it’s not surprising the Lions didn’t want to give him the lowest tender, which would’ve paid him $2.025MM next season. The Texas Tech product was an undrafted free agent back in 2014, and it took him a while to find his footing in the league.

He initially signed with the Jets, but was cut after his first preseason and signed to the practice squad. He then latched on with the Lions the following year, and spent most of the 2015 season on their practice squad. He made the 53-man roster in 2016, and came out of nowhere to rack up eight sacks. But the Achilles injury derailed what looked to be a promising career, and he fell out of favor with new coach Matt Patricia.

He was inactive most of the year, and recorded his only sack in Week 17. Fortunately for him he’s still relatively young, and thanks to the potential he showed in 2016, he should be able to find a new home relatively soon. With the Lions also unlikely to retain Ezekiel Ansah, their defensive line will look a lot different next year.

North Rumors: Bengals, Lions, Packers

Some more clarity regarding Tyler Eifert‘s incentive-laden Bengals contract emerged. The tight end’s deal contains some interesting benchmarks for financial rewards, ones that would seemingly be within reach should Eifert stay healthy. The sixth-year tight end has $3MM in possible performance incentives included in his one-year agreement. Additionally, $62.5K will come Eifert’s way for every game he plays.

As for the performance thresholds, Eifert will collect $250K for catching 50 passes in 2018. The former first-round pick getting to 55 receptions would bring another $250K his way, with the 60- and 65-catch barriers representing $250K triggers as well. Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports these catch incentives max out at $1MM, adding the yardage bonuses do as well. The 500-yard mark represents the first $250K trigger, with the next $250K bonus benchmarks coming at 550, 600 and 650 yards, per Owczarski. As for touchdown receptions, Eifert snaring five would bring him $250K. Each additional touchdown would bring him $250K apiece as well, and this incentive category also maxes out at $1MM.

Eifert scored a tight ends-best 13 TDs in 2015 but only has five since. He only exceeded 500 yards once (in ’15, with 615 yards) and caught a career-high 52 passes that year. He didn’t come close to 50 catches in a season in any other year, so describing these as “likely to be earned” incentives is pushing it.

Here’s the latest from some North-division franchises, continuing with news from the Cincinnati offensive front:

  • Cedric Ogbuehi may be shuttled back to right tackle, a position at which he previously said he wasn’t comfortable. The former first-round pick will compete with both Cordy Glenn and Jake Fisher for the starting tackle jobs, per Marvin Lewis (via Owczarski), but the 16th-year coach said the team expects Glenn to start on the left side. Ogbuehi has started 25 games over the past two years but has dealt with injuries in both, and each season involved him being in a rotation rather than being a full-time player throughout each campaign. Owczarski notes it’s unlikely the Bengals pick up his fifth-year option, which is expected to be for nearly $10MM.
  • Speaking of northern line movement, the Lions plan to try Graham Glasgow at center instead of guard, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reportsWesley Johnson could be set for a backup job. Birkett writes free agent Kenny Wiggins and 2016 fifth-rounder Joe Dahl will compete for at the guard spot opposite T.J. Lang. Wiggins started 16 games for the Chargers at right guard last season. However, Glasgow — who rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 guard last season — may stay at guard if the Lions deem Johnson solid enough to start at center. Johnson is only making $880K this season, which would gibe with backup status.
  • Both Ziggy Ansah and wideout T.J. Jones underwent offseason surgeries, per Birkett, who describes Ansah’s as a “minor cleanup” on his knee. Jones had a shoulder operation. Birkett adds Kerry Hyder‘s return goal is training camp. The defensive lineman tore his Achilles’ tendon last season.
  • Ansah remains in Ghana for family reasons, but Justin Rogers of the Detroit News tweets the franchise-tagged defensive end has kept Matt Patricia and the organization in the loop and is expected to return to the team shortly. Birkett writes Ansah could sign his franchise tender as early as the spring rather than having this drag into July. The Lions are not expected to pursue a long-term extension with their top pass rusher at this point.
  • The Packers shook up their offensive coaching staff this offseason, and it sounds like their playbook will reflect that. While refusing to divulge specifics, Mike McCarthy said recently (via Pete Daugherty of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) the team will “go back to Page 1” of the playbook. Joe Philbin, Jim Hostler and Frank Cignetti are now key offensive assistants, so their input may well be reflected in these changes.

Lions Re-Sign DE Kerry Hyder

Kerry Hyder will be sticking around Detroit. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the Lions have re-signed the defensive end. The 26-year-old was set to become an exclusive rights free agent. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that Hyder signed his ERFA tender, which is worth $630K.

Following a brief stint with the Jets, the 2014 undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech has spent the past three seasons with the Lions. The lineman had a breakout season in 2016, compiling 36 tackles and eight sacks in 16 games (two starts). Unfortunately, Hyder tore his Achilles during his team’s first 2017 preseason game, and he ultimately sat out for the entirety of this past campaign.

With Ezekiel Ansah and Anthony Zettel likely to start the season in Detroit, it’s unlikely that Hyder will automatically earn a starting gig. However, he figures to be the top reserve among a group that also includes Cornelius WashingtonJeremiah ValoagaAlex Barrett, and Christian Ringo (ERFA).