The Seattle Seahawks hosted veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler on a visit two weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft. The 31-year-old left the team without signing a contract, but he remains a potential target with the Seahawks still possessing a need along the edge.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Brady Henderson called Fowler the “top option” for the Seahawks to fill their hole at edge rusher.
“With the Seahawks still in need of edge help, Dante Fowler Jr. remains a top option,” wrote Henderson on X. “DC Aden Durde coached him in Atlanta and Dallas. He ranked 31st in pressure rate at age 31 last season.
“Seattle had him in for a free-agent visit pre-draft then did not take any edge players.”
The Seahawks entered the 2026 NFL Draft with only four selections. But through trades, general manager John Schneider doubled his draft capital. The team finished the class with eight draft picks.
Yet, the Seahawks still didn’t select an edge rusher.
Fowler visited Seattle on April 16. Last season, he had 15 combined tackles, including four tackles for loss with 10 quarterback hits in 17 games. He also had three sacks and three pass defenses.
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In his press conference after the draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider told reporters the team could still search for upgrades at edge rusher.
Of course, first reactions went to Seattle working a major trade for a potential target such as New York Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux. But as Henderson explained, Fowler makes the most logical sense.
Fowler is familiar with Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde from his stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. Dude coached the veteran edge rusher for three seasons combined with those two teams.
During those three seasons, Fowler had 16 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits and 13 sacks.
Fowler returned to the Cowboys last season where he started 11 games. In Seattle, he wouldn’t need to start, which would take pressure away from the veteran. But the Seahawks are trying to replace Boye Mafe, who left in 2026 NFL free agency.
In 2025, Mafe had four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and two sacks.
Fowler has posted two double-digit sack campaigns in his career. His most recent one came in 2024 when he hade 10.5 sacks with 14 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits with the Washington Commanders.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Fowler at No. 3 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.
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