5 free agents that can help Seattle Seahawks rebuild for 2022
By Lee Vowell
Randy Gregory, edge rusher
Randy Gregory might have the same issue as Armstead as staying with his current team, the Dallas Cowboys, into the future. Dallas is paying fellow edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence $27 million (!) in 2022 and likely cannot afford Gregory. Also, like Armstead, Gregory has an injury history.
Gregory actually gets injured a bit but has missed a bunch of time due to failing drug tests and therefore being held accountable by the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He has been clean since 2019, though.
In 2021, Gregory has a 17.3 percent pressure rate, fifth-best in the league. He has 5 sacks in 7 games. His 12 quarterback hits this year would be 3 better than anyone on the current Seahawks roster. Though he is currently on Injured Reserve, he is expected to be activated for week 13.
Because of Gregory’s injury history and past failed drug test issues, he shouldn’t be as expensive as other edge rushers. He still might expect a number of somewhere around $12.5 million a season but 11 players currently make more than that so it wouldn’t be an overpay.
Gregory could replace Carlos Dunlap who hasn’t done much of anything this season. Dunlap’s most memorable moment was throwing a shoe in week 11 and being flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Gregory is also just 29 years old and should have several good years left.