12th Man Rising
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Seahawks receivers far from best group in the NFC West

By Lee Vowell

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammates defensive end Frank Clark #55 and quarterback Russell Wilson #3 after scoring a first quarter touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammates defensive end Frank Clark #55 and quarterback Russell Wilson #3 after scoring a first quarter touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Now that Doug Baldwin is no longer a member of the Seahawks, Seattle’s receiving corps is a bit thin. Where do they rank in the NFC West?

The NFC West has lots of good running backs. It seems every team in the Seahawks division has one or two guys who can run for over 1,000 yards. But overall the NFC West does not have a lot of good receivers. However, one team is far better than the other three when it comes to the quality at that position.

Seattle, of course, is not of the same quality at receiver that they were in 2018. Gone is Doug Baldwin. The veteran receiver failed a physical and was released. This was not a surprise as 12s knew Baldwin had had multiple surgeries this offseason and was questioning whether he should play in 2019 and beyond or not. With Baldwin gone, Seattle overall will have a young group of receivers with a lot of promise but only one proven threat, Tyler Lockett.

Where do the Seahawks’ receiving group rank in the NFC West? Here’s a guess.

Worst in the division – San Francisco 49ers

Top threats: Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis, Jordan Matthews

As full of talent as the 49ers backfield is, the team’s receivers are quite the opposite. Dante Pettis had a big game against the Seahawks last season but that was by far the highlight of his season. Goodwin’s catch rate over his career hovers a bit above 50 percent so that’s not good.

Third best of the division – Seattle Seahawks

Top threats: Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, Jaron Brown

I don’t want to put Seattle third in the division among receiving groups but losing Baldwin is massive. Russell Wilson trusted him when all hope seemed to be lost on a play and Wilson is a quarterback who needs to have absolute trust in his receivers. Seattle’s group is so young that it may take time to develop the trust with Wilson. Let’s hope it happens faster than expected.

Second best of the division – Arizona Cardinals

Top threats: Larry Fitzgerald and some other people

The only reason I have the Cardinals above the Seahawks is because of Fitzgerald. He has simply been too good for too long and done things even with bad quarterbacks to make a person think he will play into his 60s and still be good. Besides Fitzgerald, Arizona’s receivers are pedestrian.

Best of the NFC West – Los Angeles Rams

Top threats: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp

The Rams are so much better than every other receiving unit in the division that even their “third” option, Cooper Kupp, might be the leading receiver on any other NFC West team. Losing Kupp last season to injury may have cost the Rams the Super Bowl too. Kupp would have been a matchup problem for the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

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