‘I’d love to end my career in Seattle,’ says former Seahawks DE Michael Bennett

Bring the band back together?

We have discussed the potential for the Seattle Seahawks to sign Bruce Irvin and Paul Richardson during free agency, but what about Michael Bennett?

On the Talkin’ Seahawks podcast, the veteran defensive end was asked if he’d be interested in returning to Seattle, and should he continue his career into the 2020 season, he’s up for it.

“I think it could be good,” Bennett said (quotes via NBC Sports Northwest). “It’s always good to have a good veteran defender that can help young guys. A lot of guys have skill in the NFL, but a lot of them don’t know how to study tape. Having a guy who knows how to study and could bring in some veteran leadership to go along with some great young talent, I would always think that’s a good idea.”

“I would love to end my career in Seattle,” he said. “It’s not up to you, though. It’s up to the team.”

Bennett has hopped around from team to team since 2018. He spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles (after the Seahawks traded him there), started 2019 as a New England Patriot before ending last year as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Bennett has still been quite productive, generating 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Even when he isn’t getting sacks, he was able to generate plenty of pressures despite his fewest defensive snaps played since at least 2012.

During his five seasons with the Seahawks, Bennett recorded 39 sacks and was a menace both as a pass-rusher and run-stuffer. His effectiveness on the defensive line largely made his umpteen annual neutral zone infraction and offsides penalties forgivable.

Now with all of that said about Bennett’s value to the Seahawks’ glory years... I think we’re well aware of how untidy his end of tenure with Seattle ended up being. I’m not going to link all those Sports Illustrated stories about the locker room dramas that unfolded because frankly it was tiresome to even read about when they first came out.

The 34-year-old Bennett has objectively shown himself to still be a viable starting defensive end and it would not be a bank-breaker to sign him. Whether the Seahawks would be interested in re-signing him is a different story. Maybe if Pete Carroll promises some new stories...