The Seahawks need a consistently productive third option at receiver. Could Jordy Nelson be the answer?
The Seahawks are hosting free agent Jordy Nelson on Tuesday. Nelson was one of the best receivers in the NFL for several seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The last two seasons, though, Nelson hasn’t been the same player. But that could be a good thing for Seattle.
Nelson will be 34 years old during the 2019 season. He no longer has the same explosiveness that he once did. Nelson once could use his size and speed to push defenders and then outrun them. He wouldn’t do this in Seattle, but the Seahawks don’t really need him to.
Seattle already has quick receivers with Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin. What they need is a bigger receiver who can pick up first downs. Nelson is still talented enough and smart enough to know how to get open. He would basically take some tight end catches away as he would be used as the same type of possession receiver as Ed Dickson and company.
Of course, Seattle has made mistakes gambling on bigger receivers the last couple of years. In 2018, Brandon Marshall and Jaron Brown didn’t really work out. Nelson, however, is a smarter receiver than those two. Plus, after spending the last two seasons catching passes from Derek Carr and Brett Hundley, Nelson would get an upgrade in Russell Wilson.
Nelson to the Seahawks could be a win-win. Seattle would get a third receiving option at wideout. Nelson would be catching passes from an elite quarterback again. Seattle shouldn’t let Nelson leave Seattle without a contract on Tuesday.