Luke Willson joins list of players leaving Seahawks

Luke Willson has signed with the Detroit Lions. The Seattle Seahawks are starting to look very little like the playoff team of two seasons ago. Willson is one of many now-former Seahawks.

Luke Willson was never a great player. He was a serviceable tight end who wasn’t a great blocker. But he was good enough to be a decent second option at his position. Nick Vannett was the third option behind Willson and Jimmy Graham. Now it appears that Vannett will become the first option.

Willson signed with the Detroit Lions for one year and $2.5 million. Not a lot of money, but clearly more than Seattle wanted to spend. The Seahawks might be hoping they get 328 compensatory picks next year with all the players leaving through free agency.

Willson is the second Seahawk this offseason to sign with Detroit. DeShawn Shead also signed with Detroit in a one-year deal. Of course, Golden Tate is still with Lions after beginning his career with Seattle.

Willson did have career lows in receptions and receiving yards in 2017, so maybe Seattle did not think he was ready to step into the number one tight end role anyway.

From the Super Bowl-winning roster of 2013, just eight players are still with Seattle after Luke Willson’s departure. But chances are Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril will not be playing in Seattle in 2018 either. (Though Byron Maxwell could re-sign.)

Here’s who else is no longer with the Seahawks from the 2017 roster

Richard Sherman – signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers

Michael Bennett – traded to the Philadelphia Eagles

Paul Richardson – signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins

Sheldon Richardson – signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings

Graham – signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers

Matt Tobin – signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots

Related Story: Seahawks sign D.J. Fluker for offensive line help

Other free agents from the Seahawks’ 2017 roster include Blair Walsh, Luke Joeckel and Eddie Lacy. None of these players are expected to return to playing with the Seahawks.