Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: WR Dee Eskridge - Less Pressure, Better Results?

Sidelined for nearly half of the schedule for the second time in as many NFL seasons, time may be running out for Dee Eskridge to fulfill his promise, but the Seattle Seahawks still have high hopes for him being a factor in a potent aerial attack.

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jul 1, 2023 10:32 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Dee Eskridge, Receiver

Height/Weight: 5-9, 190 pounds

2022 Stats: Seven receptions, 58 yards

One of the country's most explosive playmakers at Western Michigan, Eskridge averaged more than 20 yards per reception in each of his final three college seasons and emerged as a dynamic return specialist as a senior, helping him lead the nation with 213 all-purpose yards per game in 2020. After shining at the Senior Bowl against a loaded receiver group, the Seahawks selected him with the 56th pick in the second round, hoping to pair him with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to form one of the NFL's most dynamic wideout trios.

Unfortunately, injuries have prevented Eskridge from coming anywhere close to meeting lofty expectations as Seattle's highest pick from the 2021 draft, as he has missed seven regular season games each of the past two seasons due to a concussion and fractured hand. Even when healthy, despite his athletic gifts, he hasn't been able to establish much of a rhythm on offense or special teams, catching just 17 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in 20 games. Entering his third season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba coming to town as a first-round pick, the pressure is on to turn things around.

Best-Case Scenario: No longer facing near as much pressure with Smith-Njigba taking the torch as the new high pick in town, Eskridge avoids the injuries that derailed his first two seasons and along with establishing himself as a viable fourth receiver for Geno Smith, he wins the kick return competition and takes one back to the house during a resurgent third season.

Worst-Case Scenario: While healthy, Eskridge receives limited targets with Metcalf, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba ahead of him on the depth chart and Dareke Young and a host of undrafted receivers in the rearview mirror, and he finishes his third straight season with fewer than 15 receptions, casting questions about his future in Seattle.

What to Expect in 2023: By selecting Smith-Njigba with one of their two first-round picks, the Seahawks put Eskridge on further notice after two disappointing, injury-marred seasons, leading to speculation about his future with the franchise in 2023 and beyond. If he isn't able to right the ship and turn in a stellar preseason and training camp, the clock may be closing in on midnight for him to become the playmaking presence the organization believed he would be.

But though his production hasn't been good since coming into the league, Eskridge still has elite athletic traits and a unique skill set that differs from the team's top three wideouts, particularly with his ability to run jet sweeps and create after the catch on quick passes and screens. Staying healthy during the spring for the first time, he enjoyed a strong offseason program that caught the attention of coaches and teammates, which could be the shift in fortune he needs to finally jumpstart his career at a crossroads and emerge as a contributor on offense and special teams without as much pressure on his shoulders to perform.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles