It turns out that veteran pass rusher Carlos Dunlap was so eager to leave Cincinnati Bengals that he took a big pay cut in order to make the trade to Seattle Seahawks happen.
Seahawks acquired Dunlap last month by sending 2021 seventh-rounder and center B.J. Finney to Cincinnati. But because of their tight salary cap and the 31-year-old player’s $7.8 million base salary, Seattle had to get his contract reworked.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Dunlap agreed to new terms that will see him earn around $2.6 million less than he was set to earn for the remainder of the season. The two-time Pro Bowler was originally owed $4.6 million for the rest of 2020 but will now receive only $2 million.
However, if Seattle keeps Dunlap for the next season, he’ll be set to receive a $3 million roster bonus in March.
“I wanted to go where I could contribute to winning,” Dunlap explained his decision via ESPN. “That way I could get the full experience and earn my keep. So I put my money where my mouth is.”
Carlos Dunlap is expected to aid Seahawks’ pass rush that struggled to get to the quarterback this season. He has 81.5 sacks, and 227 quarterback hits since entering the league in 2010.
