The Seahawks’ biggest downfall this season was absolutely their wide receiving corps. Their best wide receiver, Doug Baldwin, finished the season with only 825 yards on 66 receptions. On top of that, their two next best wide receivers are set to hit free agency (Ricardo Lockette set to be an exclusive rights free agent and Jermaine Kearse is restricted free agent) this offseason. It’s certainly going to be a deep draft class for wide receivers, but with so few wide receivers currently under contract for the 2015 season the Seahawks can’t fill that positional need with just the draft.
Even if Seattle decides to bring Lockette and Kearse back, they’ll still look to bring in another wide receiver via free agency. While the Seahawks have over $23 million in cap space right now, quarterback Russell Wilson will be getting an enormous contract most likely this offseason and running back Marshawn Lynch will also want more money. When those contracts are done, they probably won’t have the space for any of the big three wide receiver free agents; Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and Randall Cobb. So who does that leave for the Seahawks to go after in free agency?
One player Seattle might be able to get is Wes Welker. Welker has made it known he wants to play again in 2015 but with his recent injury problems he likely won’t get the kind of contract his talent usually warrants. The Seahawks would be able to get Welker for below market value and they desperately need a top level slot receiver. If he could stay healthy Welker would be a tremendous addition to this offense.
Another receiver the Seahawks might also target is Torrey Smith. They need a true number one wide receiver so Doug Baldwin doesn’t have to fill a role he isn’t suited for. Smith is that kind of wide receiver. Although Smith would be a great fit in Seattle and would prevent defenses from stacking the box on almost every play to stop Lynch, I don’t think the Seahawks are going to address their need for a number one wide receiver through free agency. Seattle is more likely to look for this in the draft and use free agency to fill ancillary roles. If they do go through free agency though, Smith is a top candidate and will likely come cheaper than Bryant, Thomas, or Cobb.
Someone that would greatly benefit the other receivers on Seattle’s roster would be Reggie Wayne. Of course he isn’t what he use to be but he’s still a wide receiver that needs to be accounted for by defenses. Not only that, but he would be able to teach the young receivers on this roster a lot about being a wide receiver in the NFL. He could fill a role similar to that of Anquan Boldin’s in San Francisco. Also, coming off the injury that Wayne sustained in 2014 coupled with his age, he might be able to be had for quite a discount.
You could argue the Seahawks lost to the New England Patriots in this past Super Bowl due to the lack of a legitimate number one wide receiver. It was a glaring weakness all season. The front office and coaching staff is too smart in Seattle to not address this need in the offseason. They’ll certainly draft a wide receiver or two but this receiving corps is so bad right now that they need to do more than that. That is why they’ll look to bring in a free agent or two at the receiver position. Seattle always looks at value when dealing with contracts but they’ll be looking at it even more so this offseason with Wilson’s monster deal imminent.