Player Page

Michael Bennett | Defensive Lineman

Team: Seattle Seahawks
Age / DOB:  (27) / 11/13/1985
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 274
College: Texas A&M
Contract: view contract details
Share: 

Latest News

Recent News

The Seahawks' official website confirms that Michael Bennett will fill Jason Jones' role from last season.
Jones posted three sacks in 12 games as an end in the base formation and a three-technique interior rusher in the nickel. Bennett is versatile enough to play the same role and has been far more productive recently. He had nine sacks while operating at both end and tackle for the Bucs last season. Apr 24 - 11:20 AM

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:

The Seahawks will use Michael Bennett as a three-technique interior pass rusher after he played left end in Tampa Bay.

With LE Red Bryant and RE Cliff Avril on the ends, the Seahawks will open with NT Brandon Mebane and DT Bennett as the interior linemen. Bennett has plenty of experience as an interior defender, having played three-technique tackle in Tampa Bay's nickel and dime packages. The Seahawks will also bring Bruce Irvin off the edge on pass-rush downs. Irvin had eight sacks as a rookie.
Mar 28 - 1:28 PM

Seahawks GM John Schneider insists he's not worried at all about DE Michael Bennett's torn rotator cuff.

"It's not a situation," Schneider said. "Our medical staff felt comfortable with it, especially on a one-year deal." Bennett played all 16 games with the injury last season, recording a career-high nine sacks and 41 tackles. He'll eventually need surgery, but the Seahawks don't expect it to be this season.
Source: ESPN.com
Mar 27 - 10:28 AM

GM John Schneider said DE Michael Bennett (shoulder) will not have surgery in the near future.

According to Schneider, Bennett played every game last season with a torn rotator cuff. He still posted nine sacks and 41 tackles. Schneider appears to be suggesting that the plan is for Bennett to do the same this season. Going under the knife would mean anywhere from 3-6 months of rehab.
Mar 26 - 12:41 PM

New Seahawks DE Michael Bennett has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the injury explains why Bennett had to settle for a one-year, $4.8 million deal in free agency. Bennett's status for training camp is unknown, but more details should be available shortly. A rotator cuff tear typically requires surgery. We suspect Bennett could still be ready for Week 1.
Mar 24 - 5:18 PM

Seahawks agreed to terms with DE Michael Bennett, formerly of the Buccaneers, on a one-year, $5 million contract.

All the defensive ends. The Seahawks came out of nowhere and scooped up another talented pass rusher on the cheap in Bennett, just as they did on Wednesday with Cliff Avril. The market for defensive ends is clearly way out of whack, and is much worse than expected. Seattle can now trot out Bennett, Avril, and Bruce Irvin without skipping a beat while Chris Clemons recovers from his torn ACL. Bennett started his career with the Seahawks in 2009 before being cut the same season. He had nine sacks with the Bucs last year, and Seattle could use him at defensive tackle just as it did with Jason Jones in 2012. Veteran free agents John Abraham, Dwight Freeney, and Osi Umenyiora are going to have to settle for well-below-market deals, in all likelihood.
Mar 14 - 7:34 PM

USA Today reports free agent DE Michael Bennett will visit the Lions if he leaves Miami without a deal.

Reporter Mike Garafolo's "hunch" is that Bennett won't escape South Beach without a contract. Bennett would be a surprising addition for a Lions team that let Cliff Avril go without much of a fight, but a dream replacement. The fact that the Lions — who are already stout up front and have little money to spend — are even in play for Bennett is indicative of how flat the market is.
Mar 14 - 2:49 PM

Free agent DE Michael Bennett is visiting the Dolphins on Thursday.

This will be the first visit for a player whose market has been surprisingly slow developing. As for the Dolphins, their team Twitter account's cryptic "more to come" Tuesday tweet apparently wasn't a stunt. Bennett would be a huge addition for a defensive line that's already one of the league's best, but would create a logjam. Jared Odrick would likely be the odd man out.
Mar 14 - 2:06 PM

Free agent Michael Bennett is giving himself only a "20 to 40 percent" chance of re-signing with the Buccaneers.

The Bucs made Bennett a contract offer he deemed unsatisfactory. "It wasn’t good obviously," Bennett said. "If it was good I would have took it and been a Buccaneer but so I’m just moving on and seeing what’s out there for me." The defensive end market has been surprisingly slow to develop. Bennett, Cliff Avril, Osi Umenyiora, John Abraham, and Dwight Freeney all remain unsigned.
Mar 12 - 11:02 PM

Updating a previous item, Profootballtalk.com reports that free agent DE Michael Bennett will not give the Bucs a chance to match any offer he gets.

Bennett told a Tampa radio station that he would bring anything back to the Bucs, but Mike Florio says Bennett misspoke. It won't matter anyway. The Bucs don't value him as highly, and according to the Tampa Bay Times, they are planning to start Da'Quan Bowers at left end and will search for a nickel rusher.
Mar 11 - 3:11 PM

The Tampa Bay Times reports free agent DE Michael Bennett is "not a priority" for the Bucs at the moment.

Bennett puts his chances of returning at 40-60. "I’m definitely still hoping everything works out with the Bucs," he said. "A lot can still happen once things get going." Bennett says he'll give the Bucs the opportunity to match any offer, but they're leery of overpaying a player who didn't come alive until a contract year.
Mar 11 - 11:49 AM

Free agent DE Michael Bennett says he'll give the Bucs a chance to match any offer.

"I love the Bucs and want to finish (my career) here," Bennett said in a radio interview. Bennett is expected to be a hot commodity on the open market, but the Bucs have as much money as anyone. With Tampa reportedly interested in Michael's brother Martellus, the Bennett brothers could be aiming to become the NFL's answer to the Uptons and Sedins.
Mar 11 - 10:50 AM

TitansInsider.com reports the Titans have "some interest" in free agent DE Michael Bennett.

Bennett has reportedly been contacted by "multiple teams," but Tennessee is the first club to be directly linked to the soon-to-be former Buc. The Titans still have Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley under contract, but they're in pursuit of additional end help. Bennett can stuff the run and rush the passer.
Mar 9 - 6:18 PM

"Multiple teams" have contacted free agent DE Michael Bennett since the negotiating period opened at midnight Saturday.

The Tampa Times reiterates that Bennett is "likely headed to another destination." Cliff Avril is the top pure edge rusher left on the market, but Bennett is the best all-around defensive end. He's going to cost a pretty penny.
Mar 9 - 12:58 PM

The Tampa Bay Times believes free agent DE Michael Bennett has "probably played his last game for the Bucs."

Per beat writer Rick Stroud, Bennett is "bound to have a higher maket value to other teams than he does to the Bucs," who apparently only view him as a nickel rusher. Bennett is expected to be a hot commodity in a market bereft of young pass rushers. Bennett notched nine sacks last season after registering just five in 27 games between 2010-11.
Mar 8 - 11:00 AM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Russell Wilson
2Brady Quinn
3Jerrod Johnson
RB1Marshawn Lynch
2Robert Turbin
3Christine Michael
4Derrick Coleman
5Dominique Whaley
GLB1Marshawn Lynch
2Robert Turbin
3RB1Marshawn Lynch
2Robert Turbin
FB1Michael Robinson
2Spencer Ware
WR11Percy Harvin
2Golden Tate
3Chris Harper
4Charly Martin
5Stephen Williams
WR21Sidney Rice
2Doug Baldwin
3Jermaine Kearse
4Brett Swain
5Bryan Walters
WR31Golden Tate
TE1Zach Miller
2Anthony McCoy
3Luke Willson
4Sean McGrath
5Cooper Helfet
K1Steven Hauschka
2Carson Wiggs