Seahawks sign defensive ends Cassius Marsh, Nate Orchard

Seattle Seahawks v Arizona Cardinals

The Seahawks made a pair of additions through free agency to their defensive end depth on Thursday.

The team brought back 2014 fourth-round draft pick Cassius Marsh and signed former Cleveland Browns second-round pick Nate Orchard.

Marsh played three seasons for Seattle from 2014-16 as a rotational defensive end. After appearing in just five games as a rookie, Marsh became a trusted member of Seattle's special teams units and appeared in all 32 games over the next two seasons. Seattle traded Marsh to the New England Patriots in 2017 where he appeared in six games before being released. Marsh would sign with the San Francisco 49ers and spent the rest of the 2017 season and all of 2018 with the 49ers.

Marsh is coming off his most productive season in the NFL. He played in all 16 games last year for the 49ers and made three starts. He sets career-highs with 5.5 sacks and 38 tackles.

The 49ers had picked up Marsh's option for 2019, but released Marsh instead after acquiring Dee Ford in trade from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Orchard was a second-round pick of the Browns in 2015 out of the University of Utah. Orchard spent his first three seasons with the Browns before being released at the conclusion of training camp last season. He made brief stops with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs over the rest of the year, appearing in three games for the Bills and one for the Chiefs.

Orchard was among five free agents known to be visiting the Seahawks this week.

Orchard appeared in 15 games with 11 starts as a rookie for the Browns and had his most productive season. He had 36 tackles and three sacks in 2015 with an interception and forced fumble. He appeared in a total of 34 games for the Browns and missed most of his second season due to an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Orchard recorded 84 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks during his senior season at Utah, which earned him the Hendricks Award as the best college defensive end.

Because both Marsh and Orchard had been released by their previous teams, their signings do not count against the compensatory pick formula for the Seahawks.

Photo Credit: GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 03: Wide receiver J.J. Nelson #14 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by defensive end Cassius Marsh #91 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 36-6. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)


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