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With the #3 wide receiver spot very much up for grabs, the Seattle Seahawks signed former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett to a one-year deal. Dorsett was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts and was later traded to the New England Patriots, where he won a Super Bowl just two seasons ago.
With New England letting an overwhelming majority of its free agents walk, the Seahawks were able to benefit by not only getting Dorsett, but signing him on what is a very cheap deal (per ESPN’s Brady Henderson).
Phillip Dorsett's one-year deal with the Seahawks is worth $1,047,500 with $137,500 guaranteed, according to ESPN's Roster Management System. His base salary is $910,000 and he got a $137,500 signing bonus. He'll count $887,500 against the cap with the minimum-salary benefit.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) April 2, 2020
It doesn’t get much more team-friendly than that.
The only guaranteed money is the signing bonus and his cap hit is identical to Chance Warmack and lower than long snapper Tyler Ott. If it doesn’t work out in training camp/preseason then Dorsett will just get released. It’s a low-risk, high-reward signing on a player who is theoretically entering the prime of his career and playing with a quarterback who is coming off an outstanding season.
As you might expect, Dorsett cites Russell Wilson as a major reason why he went with the Seahawks.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I decided to come,” Dorsett said to 710 ESPN Seattle. “Obviously, with NFL League Pass, I’ve taken advantage of watching some of the games from last year and I could see Russell dropping dimes. Just the off-schedule timing of it. He can extend plays, and that gives us a chance to make a move and get downfield. I’m excited and I can’t wait to get into it.”
Dorsett’s downfield speed is his best asset, so I’m sure the Seahawks know what they have in mind for him should he make the 53-man roster.