The Seattle Seahawks are bringing back defensive tackle Brandon Pili on a one-year, $2 million deal, according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. The move keeps another in-house free agent in Seattle and gives the Seahawks added continuity on the defensive interior as the roster keeps taking shape in free agency.
That matters right now because Seattle has already spent the opening stretch of free agency trying to keep core depth pieces while also absorbing notable departures. Bringing Pili back may not be the splashiest headline of the week, but it helps stabilize the defensive front after the Seahawks lost other contributors elsewhere in free agency.
Key Points
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Brandon Pili is back with Seattle on a one-year, $2 million contract.
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Pili is 26 years old and enters the 2026 season with three years of NFL experience.
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The Seahawks’ official free-agency tracker lists several retained players already, including Josh Jobe, Rashid Shaheed, Jake Bobo, A.J. Finley, Brady Russell, and Drake Thomas.
Deal negotiated by @davidcanter and @NessMugrabi of @aurasportsgroup
Seahawks News: Seattle Re-Signs Brandon Pili to a One-Year, $2 Million Deal, According to NFL Media
Pili’s new deal is straightforward: one year, $2 million, with Spotrac listing him as signed by Seattle on March 12, 2026. His listed agents are David Canter and Ness Mugrabi of Aura Sports Group, matching the report details.
For Seattle, the value here is less about headline juice and more about preserving depth and familiarity. Pili has bounced between active rosters and practice squads early in his NFL career, but he gives the Seahawks another big body inside at 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds.
That type of move becomes more important in March, when roster holes can multiply fast. Even a rotational defensive tackle can matter if Seattle wants to avoid entering the draft with too many urgent needs in the trenches.
Seahawks Free Agency: What Other Moves Matter Around Pili’s Deal
Seattle’s official free-agency tracker shows the club has focused heavily on retaining familiar names. Among the players already retained are Josh Jobe, Rashid Shaheed, Jake Bobo, A.J. Finley, Brady Russell, and linebacker Drake Thomas.
At the same time, the Seahawks have seen meaningful departures. The tracker lists Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, and Riq Woolen among the players who left in free agency.
That context is what makes the Pili move more relevant than it may look at first glance. Seattle is clearly trying to keep enough infrastructure in place while replacing bigger-name talent elsewhere. A low-cost, one-year defensive-line deal fits that approach.
Brandon Pili Stats, PFF, Age
Pili turns 27 on April 2 and is currently listed at age 26. He played for Seattle in 2025 and logged 150 defensive snaps, according to PFF. PFF credited him with a 41.5 overall grade, including a 56.4 pass-rush grade and a 37.6 run-defense grade.
Basic stat listings show Pili recorded 16 total tackles in his NFL career, while ESPN’s 2025 regular-season line shows one solo tackle and one forced fumble.
Those numbers do not scream breakout player, but Seattle does not need Pili to be a star for this deal to make sense. The real value is depth, camp competition, and rotational insurance on the interior. On a one-year commitment, this is the kind of move teams make when they know the middle of the defensive front can get thin in a hurry.
What happens next?
Seattle will keep building out the rest of its defensive front, and Pili’s deal likely will not be the last low-cost depth move the team makes before the draft. The bigger question is whether the Seahawks view the interior defensive line as settled enough to wait until later rounds, or whether another veteran addition is still coming.
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