Seahawks Pre-OTAs Roster Reset: Receivers
Though the 2023 season remains months away, the NFL never sleeps. And after landing a new 10-player draft class, the Seattle Seahawks have transitioned into phase two of their offseason program with OTAs and minicamps just around the corner.
Not resting on their laurels already possessing one of the best receiving tandems in the game in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks took advantage of Jaxon Smith-Njigba falling in the first round and snatched the talented Ohio State receiver with the 20th overall selection. The lightning quick slot wideout will be expected to jump right into the mix as another viable weapon for Geno Smith, while the organization remains high on Dareke Young and Dee Eskridge as well.
Transitioning from the frenzy of free agency and the draft to on-field offseason work, where do things stand for Seattle at receiver? Here's a look at projected starters, backups, a wild card to watch, and what could come next at the position:
Don't miss our roster resets for other positions:
- Safeties
Projected Starters: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Continuing to turn in one of the most under-the-radar Hall of Famer careers production-wise catching passes from Smith, Lockett joined Steve Largent as the second player in Seahawks history with four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. He also reeled in nine touchdowns, marking the fourth straight season he scored at least eight times through the air. While he will turn 31 years old in September, the former Kansas State standout has not shown any signs of slowing down to this point and his route running savvy coupled with his awareness avoiding big hits should help him stay at an elite level for at least a few more seasons.
While he posted career-lows in yards per reception and yards created after the catch while also dropping five passes, Metcalf enjoyed immense success in his first season with Smith. Along with surpassing 1,000 yards for the second time, he tied for sixth in the NFL with four touchdowns of 20 or more yards and recorded a career-high 90 catches, proving himself as a capable target in the short to intermediate passing game. Still only 25 years old, the former second-round pick out of Ole Miss has yet to reach his ceiling and could see an uptick in his numbers again in 2023, especially if coordinator Shane Waldron can find better ways to scheme up post-catch yardage on screens and quick patterns with him.
Entering the fray with plenty of hype after being selected in the first round out of Ohio State, Smith-Njigba joins the Seahawks in an ideal situation. He won't have to shoulder much of a burden with Metcalf and Lockett drawing attention from opposing defenses as vertical threats and his contrasting strengths as a dynamo slot receiver with soft hands and elite route running skills should make him an immediate favorite for Smith attacking the middle of the defense. Coming off a hamstring injury that limited him to three games last year, health will need to be monitored, but he will have a great chance to make an immediate impact for an already potent passing game.
Backups: Dareke Young, Dee Eskridge, Cade Johnson, Cody Thompson, Easop Winston, Matt Landers, C.J. Johnson, Tyjon Lindsey, Jake Bobo, John Hall
Though he only caught two passes as a rookie, Young impressed Seattle's coaching staff out of the gate in training camp, earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster due to his special teams excellence and standout blocking in the run game. The Seahawks gradually upped his snaps on offense as the year progressed and the seventh-round pick out of Lenoir Rhyne even moonlighted as a fullback for a handful of plays in the second half, showing off his versatility and athleticism at 224 pounds. Reps on offense will be hard to come by, but away from Metcalf, he's the next best size/speed option in the receiver room and could be poised for a big sophomore jump.
Once again plagued by injuries, Eskridge sat out seven games for the second straight year, ending the season on injured reserve with a broken hand. When on the field, he didn't contribute much either, catching only seven passes for 58 yards and no touchdowns, failing to match his numbers from an underwhelming rookie campaign. He flashed on a few kick returns before injuring his hand on special teams, but entering his third year, the clock is ticking for him to become a factor and so far, the second-round pick has been a disappointing bust.
Looking at the rest of Seattle's depth chart, Johnson came on strong late in his second season out of South Dakota State, including catching a pair of first downs in a playoff-clinching win over Los Angeles in the season finale. He will be duking it out with Thompson, who missed last season with an injury, and Landers, an uber-athletic undrafted wideout from Arkansas, for the sixth and final roster spot at the position. Winston could be a name to keep an eye on as well if he can push for playing time in the return game after being on the practice squad last season.
Wild Card: Eskridge
It might seem strange labeling a former second-round pick as a wild card, but Eskridge simply hasn't done much in two NFL seasons and the arrival of Smith-Njigba will make it far more difficult for him to see the field on offense. At the same time, he still has excellent athletic traits and a unique skill set as a gadget weapon who can run jet sweeps and create with the ball in his hands. Using a first-round pick on another receiver may be just what the doctor ordered to light a fire underneath him and if he can stay healthy - a big if - there may still be a role for him in Waldron's offense and on special teams.
What's Next?
Talent-wise, an argument can be made the Seahawks have the best receiving corps in the NFL with the addition of Smith-Njigba alongside Metcalf and Lockett, who have been one of the most productive duos in the league for the past four years. The two veterans should benefit nicely from a complementary weapon who can carve up defenses in the middle of the field and force defenses to account for him schematically. Smith-Njigba will still have to prove himself, but with those three players alone, Seattle should have one of best passing attacks in football and in the event Eskridge or Young takes a step forward, good luck to opposing defenses trying to neutralize them.
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