Uchenna Nwosu, Seahawks Agree to Revised Contract
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) looks to put pressure on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during a game between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA. The Seahawks won 19-9. Sean Brown/CSM/Alamy Live News
Following weeks of negotiations between the team and the player’s representatives, the Seattle Seahawks and veteran edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu have agreed to a revised contract that will nearly cut his salary cap hit for 2025 by 50 percent.
According to OverTheCap.com and as confirmed by a team source, Nwosu accepted a $6.99 million pay cut for the upcoming 2025 season. In exchange as part of the new agreement, he will receive $6.98 million in guarantees, including a $4 million signing bonus, allowing the player to receive substantial cash up front. Under terms of the redone contract, his cap hit will be lowered from $21 million to $11.8 million next season.
Signed as a free agent to a two-year deal after four seasons with the Chargers, Nwosu enjoyed a breakout season for the Seahawks in 2022, producing a career-high 9.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits while being named a Pro Bowl alternate. As a reward for his performance, the franchise handed him a three-year, $45 million contract extension in July 2023 as a foundational long-term piece for their defense.
Unfortunately, though Nwosu got off to a promising start to the 2023 season for an improved Seahawks defense, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle during a Week 7 win over the Cardinals, landing him on season-ending injured reserve. Undergoing surgery to repair the injury, he wrapped up an abbreviated six-game campaign with 16 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and six quarterback hits.
Cleared to return to practice for the start of OTAs last spring, Nwosu stayed healthy until the tail end of the preseason in August when Browns guard Wyatt Teller dished out an illegal cut block on him, striking him in the knee with his shoulder pad. With his leg getting hyperextended on the play, he suffered a sprained MCL that led to him missing the first four games of the 2024 season before being activated for Week 5 against the Giants.
Nwosu’s anticipated return didn’t last long, however. After playing just 20 snaps for Seattle in a loss to New York at Lumen Field, he exited with a torn quad that landed him back on the injured reserve list. He recovered from this latest injury in time to suit up for the final five games, slowly rounding back into form with a sack and five quarterback hits in December and January.
Though Nwosu entered the offseason healthy with positive momentum from a strong finish to the season, general manager John Schneider confirmed the Seahawks had been in discussions with the player’s agent about a restructured contract after pushing back his scheduled February 14 roster bonus date. Nothing had been agreed upon at the time of the start of free agency on March 12, but after trading quarterback Geno Smith and receiver DK Metcalf, there wasn’t an urgency to open up cap space.
By taking a pay cut in exchange for a larger guaranteed salary, the Seahawks will now have close to $10 million in addition cap space to work with leading up to next month’s NFL Draft. Since quarterback Sam Darnold, receiver Cooper Kupp, and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence have yet to have their cap hits for 2025 disclosed, it remains unclear how much space the team actually has after a week of free agency, but they now will have more flexibility to potentially sign a veteran guard following visits from free agents Teven Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and Dillon Radunz this week or add depth at other positions of need.
