Darrell Taylor had the potential to be a standout player for the Seattle Seahawks, showing significant promise with his ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks and recording up to 9.5 sacks in 2022. However, his performance was highly inconsistent, and he struggled with other aspects of the game.
Taylor was notably ineffective against the run, either due to a reluctance or inability to establish a strong presence in run defense. Despite potentially gaining strength over the offseason, he remained unable to effectively counteract pulling offensive linemen. While edge rushers often gain recognition for their sack totals rather than their run-stopping abilities, Taylor’s sack production was sporadic at best.
Taylor’s limited skill set and lack of positional versatility rendered him a poor fit for head coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme. Additionally, the strong performances of Derick Hall during training camp and preseason games, as well as the impressive showing of undrafted free agent Nelson Ceaser, made Taylor increasingly expendable.
Seahawks trade Darrell Taylor to the Chicago Bears
On Friday, Seattle traded Taylor to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The fact that only a sixth-round pick was offered reflects how other teams perceived Taylor’s value, indicating that there was little willingness to invest heavily in acquiring him.
Seattle now holds seven picks in the 2025 draft, including two sixth-round selections but no fifth-round pick. The Seahawks have retained a pick in every other round.
By trading Taylor, Seattle will incur only $20,000 in dead cap. He was set to earn $3,116,000 following a tender from the Seahawks this offseason. With Seattle being tight against the cap, this trade provides some additional flexibility, leaving the team with nearly $11 million in cap space once the deal is finalized.
Taylor concludes his tenure with the Seahawks having recorded 21.5 sacks over three seasons, but these came in just 20 of the 49 games he played. His pressures were often inconsistent and he could not be relied upon on a weekly basis. Seattle is likely better off without Taylor, and giving more reps to Derick Hall will further demonstrate this.
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