A Look at the Draft – WR/TE

The Seahawks could use talent upgrades at receiver and tight end. The offense simply did not have enough big play capability. However, the team’s needs are greater in several other areas. So much so, in fact, that I doubt the team will select a pass catcher before the sixth round. If the team adds players at these positions, it will probably be through free agency once a new CBA is agreed upon.

The Seahawks have used fairly high draft picks on wide receivers in each of the last two drafts, and they have very little to show for it. Deon Butler was a third round pick in 2009, and Golden Tate was taken in the second round last year. Butler’s availability is in question after suffering a broken leg last season. Tate fell out of favor with the coaching staff early in his rookie year, and he struggled to find playing time. I will discuss the future of both players in an upcoming post.

Ben Obomanu and Mike Williams will be the starting receivers, but reserves Brandon Stokley and Ruvell Martin are free agents and questionable to return. Both may re-sign, but the Seahawks will probably seek younger free agent receivers to become the backups. I cannot see a scenario where the team will use a pick on a receiver unless it’s in the very late rounds and someone has fallen, e.g., a receiver they’ve given a fourth round grade to is available in the sixth round or perhaps even the seventh.

John Carlson and Cameron Morrah return at tight end. Carlson is the starter for now, but Morrah seemed to emerge as a much more dynamic receiving threat at the end of last season. Both are fairly young, so it’s doubtful that the team will add another tight end in the draft.

If the team did not have urgent needs in so many other areas, a receiver or tight end might have been taken in the middle rounds of the draft. The Seahawks cannot use draft picks on players that will mainly round out the depth chart. They need players who can play early and often.