Head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider continued their makeover of the Seattle Seahawks’ roster on Tuesday, trading defensive end Darryl Tapp to Philadelphia a day after they signed the restricted free agent to a one-year tender.
The Seahawks received another defensive end in return, fifth-year pro Chris Clemons, along with a fourth-round draft pick. Tapp is expected to start at defensive end for Philadelphia opposite Pro Bowl defensive end Trent Cole.
The Seahawks added more depth on defense later Tuesday by agreeing to terms with veteran linebacker Matt McCoy. The six-year veteran, who has started just two games during the past four seasons, spent the past two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tapp, who initially was considered by Carroll to be one of the building blocks for Seattle’s revamped defense, said he was surprised by the trade.
“I’m kind of shocked,” Tapp said. “For me, everything that I’ve been hearing was that it was pretty safe to say I was going to be in Seattle, which is where I wanted to be. But things happen in this business, and I’m headed to Philadelphia, which is another great opportunity.
“I’m overjoyed to be going to a team of such high caliber of the Eagles. They’re always in there battling for the NFC East title and in the hunt for a Super Bowl. So it’s a great situation.”
Selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2006 draft, Tapp started 30 games and had 18 sacks, two interceptions and eight forced fumbles in four seasons. He started five games last season and finished with 21/2 sacks.
Clemons was used mostly as a pass-rush specialist in Philadelphia, totaling seven sacks in two seasons for the Eagles, including three last year.
The deal occurred just a day after Tapp signed his one-year, $1.759 million tender as a restricted free agent with Seattle. But it appears that Tapp was destined to be a sign-and-trade all along. And instead of Philadelphia giving up a second-round pick to sign Tapp to an offer sheet, the Eagles parted with a fourth-rounder and Clemons, who is under contract for three more years and will make $1.2 million in 2010.
Tapp already has negotiated a contract extension with Philadelphia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Tapp trade follows Seattle releasing defensive captain Deon Grant on Monday. And restricted free agent offensive lineman Rob Sims reportedly could be headed elsewhere as well.
Tapp could have been seen as redundant in Seattle’s defense with the team likely moving Aaron Curry to the “elephant” position as a stand-up defensive end. Clemons becomes depth at that position, along with Nick Reed and free agent pick-up Ricky Foley.
The fourth-round pick the Seahawks received could be used as ammunition in future deals. The team still is pursuing two restricted free agents, wide receiver Brandon Marshall and quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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