In a bid to enhance financial flexibility ahead of the upcoming free agency period, the Seattle Seahawks have announced the release of veteran nose tackle Bryan Mone.
The decision to part ways with Mone follows a series of moves aimed at freeing up cap space, including the recent releases of safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, as well as tight end Will Dissly. Given Mone’s recovery from a season-long absence due to a torn ACL in 2023 and his hefty cap hit exceeding $5 million, his departure was anticipated.
With Mone’s release, coupled with the trio of transactions from the previous day, the Seahawks have now amassed $41.61 million in available salary cap space, as per OverTheCap.com.
Before sustaining a knee injury during a Week 15 loss to the 49ers in the 2022 season, Mone had progressed from a practice squad member to a valuable contributor on the Seahawks’ defensive line. Following four appearances in his rookie year, the imposing 345-pound defender featured in 37 games between 2020 and 2022, with eight starts, accumulating 69 tackles, two sacks, two pass deflections, and three tackles for loss.
Recognizing his potential as a key figure in their defensive line rotation, general manager John Schneider extended Mone’s contract in June 2022, securing his services for an additional two years with a deal worth up to $12 million. However, despite the team’s confidence in him, Mone was unable to take the field for Seattle following the activation of his extension.
While there remains a possibility of Mone returning to the Seahawks on a more cost-effective contract if he makes a full recovery, the team has chosen to move forward with second-year defender Cameron Young as their primary nose tackle. Additionally, they bolstered their depth by re-signing Matthew Gotel, a former undrafted local player, to a future/reserve contract in January.
With Mike Macdonald assuming the role of head coach and introducing a new defensive scheme, the Seahawks are expected to pursue upgrades at the nose tackle position through free agency and/or the upcoming draft. Drawing from Macdonald’s experience as the defensive coordinator with the Ravens, where his unit benefited from a skilled space plugger like Michael Pierce anchoring the front line, Seattle aims to prioritize bolstering this key position. Additionally, the Ravens’ utilization of 338-pound reserve Travis Jones highlights the importance of depth and rotational options, further emphasizing the Seahawks’ commitment to fortifying the nose tackle position.
