Carroll said the deal happened “in really rapid fashion” and noted that, like always, general manager John Schneider was looking into every possible option to improve the team ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
“John’s in on everything that he could possibly know about, and when there was an opportunity there he jumped on it to see if we could work something out,” Carroll said. “We’re always looking, and there’s other guys that were out there that we’ve been looking at as well, in all spots, that are available—the names start to pop up here at this time of year. So this was one that fit exactly what we needed, and we’re really pleased to get it done. Glad to bring a guy of Carlos’ stature and background to this club. And I’m happy for him to come here, this is a great place to play, he’s going to be excited about all of this.”
The Seahawks are off to a 5-1 start, but have had their struggles on defense, allowing the most yards and passing yards in the league, and one of the issues has been a pass rush that has produced only nine sacks through six games. In last week’s loss to Arizona, the Seahawks did not record a sack or quarterback hit on Kyler Murray, who attempted 48 passes. The Seahawks will bring in Dunlap hoping he, along with the return from injury of players like Jamal Adams and Rasheem Green, can help improve that pass rush.
Dunlap will play the LEO defensive end spot in Seattle’s defense and is, as Carroll put it, “classically what you’re looking for in an edge rusher.”
Carroll pointed out that adding Dunlap should also help Benson Mayowa, who has been starting at the LEO spot, be more effective because the veteran end will be fresher not having to play as many snaps.
“It’ll really help Benson a lot, and Alton Robinson too,” Carroll said. “Those guys will all continue to rotate, and it will help us a lot to be able to keep us fresh. We know if we can keep Benson fresh without too many reps, he really can be effective for us. Hopefully that will happen from this point forward.”
Dunlap will not be able to play this week due to the league’s COVID-19 testing protocols, but should be able to practice next week and make his Seahawks debut when they play at Buffalo on Nov. 8.
Finney, a fifth-year veteran who signed with the Seahawks as a free-agent this offseason, came into camp as a candidate for the starting center job, but Ethan Pocic won that competition instead, and Finney has not played an offensive snap in six games this season.
The Seahawks already had limited draft capital in 2021 having sent their first and third-round picks to the New York Jets in exchange for Jamal Adams, but they did have an extra seventh-rounder, having acquired one, along with Quandre Diggs, for a fifth-round pick in a trade with Detroit last season.
