The 4-5 Seattle Seahawks made a surprising move on Monday, as they cut starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson after nine games. An undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft, Dodson originally made his NFL debut following domestic abuse allegations stemming from his college days. He ultimately played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and earned a starting job in 2023, recording 74 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks in 17 games.
The Texas A&M product left Buffalo in free agency, signing a one-year, $4.26 million deal to start for the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran seemingly played well, recording 71 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, three quarterback hits, two sacks, and a 65.8 PFF grade, the 35th-best mark of 83 eligible players. Despite these indicators of strong play, Seattle decided the team is better off without him, but an organization like the Baltimore Ravens or Los Angeles Chargers could use a player like Dodson.
Ravens, Chargers Could Sign Tyrel Dodson After Unceremonious Cut
The Baltimore Ravens are 7-3 despite subpar play from their normally solid defense. After boasting the most talented depth chart in football last year, the team lost several key free agents and lacked the resources to properly replace all the departed talent. Through 10 weeks of action, the team currently ranks 27th in EPA/play allowed, which won’t be good enough for a deep playoff run. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are amazing, but Baltimore can’t bet on winning every game in a shootout.
With Patrick Queen gone, the Ravens have entrusted former third-round pick Trenton Simpson with starting opposite longtime star Roquan Smith. Simpson has made the most of his opportunity, but he has a clear weakness in his game. Both he and Smith are at their best in the trenches but struggle when asked to drop into coverage. Opposing offenses have exploited this weakness, especially since Baltimore’s secondary is not the strongest. Tyrel Dodson can hold his own against tight ends and running backs, and the recently cut linebacker could easily carve out a role as this team chases a Super Bowl title.
Jim Harbaugh’s Defense
The 6-3 Los Angeles Chargers are thriving under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. While quarterback Justin Herbert and second-round pick Ladd McConkey are powering the passing attack, Harbaugh has taken Brandon Staley’s atrocious defense and turned it into one of the league’s most dangerous units. While this team should make the playoffs, they could use more help at linebacker. This is one of the few weak spots on the defense, and signing Dodson could be the difference between a close win and a heartbreaking loss in January.
Harbaugh is an old-school coach who believes in the power of the run game, but he doesn’t have a traditional linebacker. Third-round pick Daiyan Henley can hold his own in the trenches, but his smaller build means he should spend more time in coverage. Denzel Perryman, meanwhile, is also better when playing away from the trenches. Tyrel Dodson isn’t a perfect run defender by any stretch of the imagination, but adding him into the mix should ease the burden on Henley and Perryman. With all three splitting work, Harbaugh should be able to get the best out of this ragtag group of linebackers.
Main Photo: Joe Nicholson – USA Today Sports
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