Randy Gregory’s free agent journey took an unexpected turn when he signed with the Buccaneers but did not report to the team.
This led to retirement rumors, and since then, the pass rusher has remained unattached after parting ways with Tampa Bay.
The Seahawks have now shown interest in Gregory, with ESPN’s Field Yates reporting that he met with Seattle’s leadership on Wednesday.
Gregory shares a connection with Seattle’s defensive coordinator, Aden Durde, who coached him as the Dallas Cowboys’ D-line coach in 2021.
That season marked a resurgence for the former second-round pick, who has dealt with substance abuse issues throughout his career.
Gregory’s success in Dallas paved the way for a move to Denver, though his contract with the Broncos in 2022 didn’t meet expectations.
The 49ers acquired him just before last year’s trade deadline but opted not to re-sign him.
This led to a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in April, but Gregory failed to attend the Buccaneers’ minicamp or training camp.
Head coach Todd Bowles noted in July that he hadn’t spoken with Gregory since the signing, and the Bucs moved on in mid-August.
Suspended four times under the NFL’s previous, stricter substance-abuse policy, Gregory made a return in 2020 and started 11 games for Dallas in 2021.
That year, the Nebraska alum recorded six sacks and a career-high 17 QB hits, even while missing five games due to injury.
He was close to re-signing with Dallas but backed out due to contract language, ultimately joining the Broncos on the same terms (five years, $69.5 million, with $28 million guaranteed).
However, his time in Denver proved underwhelming.
Early in head coach Sean Payton’s first season, the Broncos traded Gregory to the 49ers in a pick swap involving sixth- and seventh-rounders, with Denver covering most of Gregory’s 2024 base salary to make the deal happen.
Gregory ended last season with 3.5 sacks and 10 QB hits between his stints with Denver and San Francisco but didn’t log any sacks or QB hits in the 49ers’ three playoff games.
The 49ers restructured his Broncos-built contract, removing the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The Seahawks expressed interest in Gregory back in March, ahead of reports that he had filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the Broncos.
According to Gregory’s camp, the suit addresses restricted access to treatment for social anxiety and PTSD.
After the brief and unsuccessful stint with the Buccaneers, it seemed Gregory’s NFL career might be over.
However, Seattle is still open to exploring the potential of a player who has flashed talent in brief periods but has faced ongoing reliability issues.
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