Box checked: Why the Seahawks are signing veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr.

TL;DR

The Seattle Seahawks have signed veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million. Fowler, 31, previously played for the Dallas Cowboys and had a notable season with the Washington Commanders in 2024.

Key points

Seahawks signed Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract
Contract could be worth up to $5 million
Fowler had three sacks in 2025 with the Cowboys
In 2024, he recorded 10 1/2 sacks with the Commanders
Fowler was the third pick in the 2015 NFL draft

Mentioned in this story

Dante Fowler Jr.

Seattle SeahawksDallas CowboysWashington CommandersJacksonville Jaguars

That process their coach has been talking about to refill their roster continues for the Super Bowl champions.

The Seahawks have an agreement on a one-year contract with veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. Tom Pelissero of the league-owned NFL Network was the first to report the deal in a later stage of free agency Tuesday morning.

It could be worth up to $5 million, including performance-incentive bonuses, per Peliserro.

The 31-year-old edge rusher is coming off a 2025 in which he had three sacks in 17 games with the Dallas Cowboys. His second-best NFL season came the year before. In 2024, his age-30 season, Fowler had 10 1/2 sacks for Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders.

The third pick in the 2015 draft by Jacksonville out of Florida has also played the Rams and Falcons in his 10 NFL seasons.

Edge rusher was the one place Seattle had yet to address significantly from roster losses since the team won the Super Bowl in February. Boye Mafe left the Seahawks in March to sign a $20 million-per-year contract in free agency with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Seahawks sought a pass rusher in the draft a couple weeks ago. But none they coveted were available when they picked. None of their eight selections in the draft were edge rushers.

This story will be updated.