Seahawks Sign TE Pharaoh Brown to One-Year Contract

Fortifying depth at tight end after losing Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks added former Oregon standout Pharaoh Brown to the mix as their first new signing of the offseason.
Seahawks Sign TE Pharaoh Brown to One-Year Contract
Seahawks Sign TE Pharaoh Brown to One-Year Contract /
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Finally getting on the board with their first signing of an outside free agent this offseason, the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Seattle will sign Brown to a one-year deal with a $3.2 million base value to help offset the recent departures of Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly, who signed multi-year deals with the Rams and Chargers respectively. Under terms of the contract, he could earn up to $3.9 million total in 2024 with incentives.

Previously playing college ball at Oregon, Pharaoh Brown has bounced around with five NFL teams and will now take his versatile game back to the Pacific Northwest with the Seahawks.
Previously playing college ball at Oregon, Pharaoh Brown has bounced around with five NFL teams and will now take his versatile game back to the Pacific Northwest with the Seahawks

Going undrafted out of Oregon in 2017, Brown initially began his NFL career with the Raiders, appearing in two games as a rookie while spending most of the season on the practice squad. Due to a shoulder injury suffered during the 2018 season, he didn't appear in another regular season game 2019 with the Browns, catching two passes for 27 yards in nine games.

Brown had his breakout party of sorts in 2020 with the Texans, setting then-career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He posted even better numbers for Houston in 2021, snagging 23 receptions for 174 yards to earn himself a new contract for the upcoming season.

However, Brown only played in three games for the Texans in 2022 before being waived, landing back with the Browns for the remainder of the season. After spending training camp with the Colts last August, he was released during final roster cuts and quickly latched on with the Patriots, catching 13 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown while suiting up for all 17 games.

Though Brown only has 64 receptions in his six-year NFL career, he has been productive when granted opportunities to contribute in the passing game, posting a respectable 72 percent catch rate with only two career drops while averaging north of 10 yards per reception. He also has been a rock solid blocker, including finishing with the ninth-best overall blocking grade out of 37 qualified tight ends last season according to Pro Football Focus.

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Set to turn 30 years old in May, Brown should provide the Seahawks with a quality veteran who offers the versatility to line up either as an inline tight end or out wide in the slot. Pairing with Noah Fant, who re-signed on a two-year contract on Monday, his signing will give the organization flexibility to draft a tight end in April and not have to rush that player into the lineup on offense.

With Brown's arrival set to become official on Wednesday, Seattle now has four tight ends under contract on the 90-man roster. Aside from Fant, the team also will bring back veteran Tyler Mabry and second-year special teams ace Brady Russell to compete for roster spots this summer.


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Corbin K. Smith
CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.