Several veteran players on the Seattle Seahawks are at risk of being released in the coming weeks as the team works to get under the salary cap for the 2025 NFL season. While star receiver Tyler Lockett has been frequently mentioned as a possible cap casualty, another high-priced veteran is also facing an uncertain future.
According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, linebacker Dre’Mont Jones is the Seahawks’ most likely cut candidate, surpassing Lockett. Dugar described Jones’ three-year, $51 million contract as “untenable.”
“Jones signed a three-year, $51 million deal in March 2023, the richest external free-agent signing under John Schneider in terms of average annual salary,” Dugar wrote in a February 17, 2025, article titled Potential NFL Salary-Cap Cuts for All 32 Teams: From Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams and More. “His contract was restructured last season, raising his 2025 cap hit to $25.6 million.”
Seattle would save $11.5 million by releasing or trading Jones, who, when healthy, may only be the team’s fifth-best pass rusher. Although Jones, 28, remains a solid player, his cap hit makes him a likely cut candidate. Meanwhile, moving on from Lockett, who turns 33 in September, would free up $17 million in cap space.
Seahawks Cut Candidate Dre’Mont Jones Is Slated to Have a $25.6 Million Cap Hit in 2025
As things stand, Dre’Mont Jones is set to enter the final year of his three-year, $51 million contract, carrying a hefty $25.6 million cap hit in 2025. Seattle already restructured his deal in 2024 to ease the financial burden, but his future with the team remains uncertain.
Jones was a full-time starter in 2023, starting 16 games for the Seahawks. However, in 2024, he started only seven games, spending most of his 17 appearances in a reserve role. Now positioned behind Boye Mafe on the depth chart, Jones remains effective at pressuring the quarterback, but his production has not justified his contract.
Since signing his lucrative deal in 2023, Jones has yet to surpass five sacks in a season. In 2024, he recorded 28 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble—solid numbers but not enough to warrant his current price tag.
The Seahawks Are Expected to Have Clarity on Potential Cuts After the NFL Combine
There is a possibility that the Seahawks could convince Dre’Mont Jones to agree to a contract restructure again. Jones likely understands that if he is released, he won’t find another $51 million deal with a new team. However, these situations often lead to a clean break between both parties.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider suggested that the team would gain more clarity about potential cuts after the NFL Combine.
“We usually find that out at the combine,” Schneider said during a February 20 episode of The John Schneider Show on Seattle Sports. “We’ll find out exactly what other teams are looking at. For example, if a player wants to make $8 million, we might find out by the weekend that they’ll only get $4 million.”
Schneider explained that agents could return with adjusted expectations, which might open the door for further salary cap flexibility. “Honestly, every million dollars is huge for the salary cap,” he added.
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