Seahawks Release (DE) Carlos Dunlap Which “Bears Watching” for Vikings Fans

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Mar 8, 2021

Defensive end, Carlos Dunlap, is reportedly on the verge of being released by the Seattle Seahawks. This “bears watching” for Minnesota Vikings fans, according to Ben Goessling (Star Tribune), who tweeted immediately after the Dunlap news was broken by Adam Schefter.

Dunlap played under Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati from 2010-2013 and earned Pro Bowl status in 2015 and 2016. At 31 years old, you’d hope he has plenty of juice left in his tank.

One of Mike Zimmer’s former pass rushers in Cincinnati; this bears watching for the Vikings. https://t.co/sjioSuqeKj
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) March 8, 2021

No money out there…?

Teams are working hard to get below the $180 million salary cap by the start of the league year on March 17. This won’t be the last big name to lose his job, leading up to that date. Dunlap, as Goessling points out, hits a little closer to home for those who follow the Minnesota Vikings.

Not only is there a Mike Zimmer connection, but Zimmer’s defense desperately needs a legitimate defensive end to (hopefully) pair opposite of Danielle Hunter. After being cut, could Dunlap drop the $10 million asking price he’s currently due for 2021, should Seattle roster him?

But even if Zimmer knocks down Spielman’s door at this news, the Vikings books are also sitting “in the red” right now. They still need to cut $5+ million to drop underneath that $180 million line. Still, you can’t count anything out, given the uncertainty of the upcoming offseason.

So much uncertainty means anything could happen

NFL agent, Blake Baratz, also tweeted about how different this offseason is going to be. This isn’t the time for players to demand their maximum value, as Baratz eludes to. He’s not the only agent speaking like this. Could we see some big names take a one-year pay cut, knowing the organizations are doing the same thing? It sure sounds like it.

The next 2 weeks in the @nfl are going to be like something we have never seen. Cap is down considerably, many good players going to be released, money will dry up quickly. There will be plenty of disappointment to go around. Not the time to price yourself out of situations
— Blake Baratz (@blakebaratz) March 8, 2021

Remember, the salary cap is expected to jump back up at least $20 million for the 2022 season. We’ve already seen contracts, in year’s past, that are easy on the cap early but hit hard in years two and three.

Whether it’s a one-year prove-it deal or an oddly structured multi-year contract with a nice signing bonus, Rob Brzezinski has plenty of tricks up his sleeves, I’m sure.

No matter what, shit is about to get real across the National Football League. As mentioned earlier, the Minnesota Vikings front office has plenty of its own decisions to make over the next week or two.

So, buckle up.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan