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Seattle Seahawks 2023 Wide Receiver Off-season Look-ahead

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2023 current contracts:

Player

Base Salary

Prorated Bonus

Guaranteed Salary

Cap
Number

Dead Money & Cap Savings

Cut (pre-June 1) Cut (post-June 1) Trade (pre-June 1) Trade (post-June 1) Restructure Extension

Tyler Lockett

$9,700,000

$7,050,000

$0

$16,750,000

$21,150,000

($4,400,000)

D.K. Metcalf

$2,220,000

$11,500,000

$0

$13,720,000

$34,500,000

($20,780,000)

D'Wayne Eskridge

$1,201,228

$422,457

$0

$1,623,685

$844,914

$778,771

Dareke Young

$870,000

$25,275

$0

$895,275

$75,825

$819,450

The wide receiver position is set at the top with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett providing pro bowl level play on the outside. Though below them there is little in experience or quality with D’Wayne Eskridge, an often-injured 2021 2nd round pick (56 overall), and Dareke Young, a 2022 7th round special teamer who has yet to record an offensive statistic. Significant additions are needed to ensure a quality and productive group. Seattle spent around $24M on their receivers in 2022, with their current 2023 contracts already at $33M it’s not likely they sign a big-name free agent without a trade. It is interesting to note that a post-June 1st move with Tyler Lockett would result in $11M cap savings. Something could possibly happen with Lockett but it seems unlikely with him being a team captain, Carroll favorite, and receiver that is difficult to replace for $11M. Draft picks and cheap free agents will fill out the roster for this position group.

Pro Bowl Free Agents: JuJu Smith-Schuster (’18). Other notables: Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard, Darius Slayton, DJ Chark, N’Keal Harry. Savvy Veterans: Nelson Agholor, Sterling Shepard, Randall Cobb, Marvin Jones, AJ Green, Jarvis Landry, Marquise Goodwin, Julio Jones.

This is a week class of free agent receivers considering the cost. The quality younger free agents such as Smith- Shuster, Meyers, Lazard, Slayton, and Chark will cost in the $8-$12M range. The quality vets like Shepard, Cobb, and Jones will cost in the $4-$7M range. Some low-cost veterans that can be brought in for competition are Marquise Goodwin, Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins, or TY Hilton.

The draft is filled with quality prospects across the board. Addison, Hyatt, Smith-Njigba, Boutte, Johnston, Rice, Downs, and Tillman all can start on day 1. Jordan Addison could be available in the mid-1st round; he is a freak athlete who would fit the slot role perfectly. Quentin Johnston or Cedric Tillman are DK Metcalf types that project late day 1 or early day 2 that would provide additional insurance on the outside. Day 2 and day 3 players are Trey Palmer, Jalin Hyatt, Zay Flowers, Dontayvion Wicks, Marvin Mims, Xavier Hutchinson, Parker Washington, and Andrei Iosivas. Hyatt or Washington for the slot and Rice or Isoivas for the outside are my current mid-round favorites.

Unless the Seahawks see a truly special player in this class it wouldn’t make sense to spend another high draft pick on a receiver, especially with roster holes all over the defense. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are the receivers of the future and they will give Eskridge one more year to hold down the slot and prove his draft position, so no reason to bring in elite competition. Re-sign Marquise Goodwin and another vet to compete for $1-$2M, use a mid-round draft pick on Parker Washington to compete with Eskridge, and a late round pick on Dontayvion Wicks for developmental depth.

2023 projected Training Camp contracts:

PLAYER

BASE SALARY

BONUS

GUARANTEED

CAP HIT

DEAD CAP

SAVINGS

Tyler Lockett

$9,700,000

$7,050,000

$0

$16,750,000

$21,150,000

($4,400,000)

D.K. Metcalf

$2,220,000

$11,500,000

$0

$13,720,000

$34,500,000

($20,780,000)

D'Wayne Eskridge

$1,201,228

$422,457

$0

$1,623,685

$844,914

$778,771

Dareke Young

$870,000

$25,275

$0

$895,275

$75,825

$819,450

FA Vet (Goodwin)

$1,000,000

$150,000

$0

$1,150,000

$150,000

$1,000,000

Day 2-3 Draft Pick

$650,000

$200,000

$700,000

$850,000

$850,000

($700,000)

FA Vet #2

$1,000,000

$150,000

$0

$1,150,000

$150,000

$1,000,000

Day 3 Draft Pick

$575,000

$100,000

$375,000

$700,000

$375,000

($375,000)

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