The Seattle Seahawks added a body to their defense at the expense of another. According to a report by Curtis Crabtree of the Associated Press, the Seahawks have signed veteran linebacker Erik Walden last Friday while also ending their partnership with defensive end Marcus Smith.

Smith’s release from the Seahawks could be related to his recent absences from Seattle’s practices. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that the former first-round pick was having personal issues prior to being cut.

“Really, there were some personal reasons that came into it,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “He has been a great kid in the program and all, and all things considered, that’s as far as I’m going with it. It was the right thing to do, and he understood and he agreed with it.”

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GM John Schneider in the middle, Kris Jenkins, Cooper Beebe, Cedric Gray around him, and Seattle Seahawks wallpaper in the background

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A blank silhouette/outline of a person with the logo for the Seattle Seahawks in the middle. On either side of the silhouette/outline are University of Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and University of Georgia tackle Amarius Mims.

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Former Mike Macdonald and Geno Smith mentor Pete Carroll with John Schneider

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Smith was selected 26th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he spent his first three seasons in the NFL. After getting waived by the Eagles last year, Smith inked a one-year deal worth $990,000 with the Seahawks. He signed another one-year contract worth $1.4 million with the same team last March, which is also why Smith’s release from Seattle came across as a surprise move.

As for Erik Walden, he replaces Smith on the Seahawks’ depth chart. He was signed to a one-year deal worth only the minimum of $1.015 million. He has 35.0 sacks in 145 total games thus far in his NFL career. Last season, he had 4.0 sacks in 16 games for the Tennessee Titans.