Twelve Seahawks approaching career defining seasons in 2021
By Andy Excell
Four offensive Seahawks
Gerald Everett
Having been allowed to leave at the end of his rookie contract by the Rams, Everett has been handed a one year deal by the Seahawks in which he will earn in one year what he earned in all his rookie contract years combined.
Everett showed promise whilst with he Rams but needs to establish himself as a top 20 starting TE in the NFL in 2021 in order to justify the contract he is on. If he does, he can expect to be retained by the Seahawks on a longer-term basis.
If he fails to improve on his four seasons as a Ram he is likely to be seen as a career back up and be paid as such.
Chris Carson
Carson, like Everett, completed his rookie contract last season. The Seahawks rightly rewarded him for his valuable production in those four seasons with a two year deal that takes him until the end of the 2022 season.
However, Carson’s production dipped slightly in 2021 and in order to represent the long term answer as the lead back for the Seahawks, he needs to return to the 1,300 plus scrimmage yards plus sphere he has previously been in.
In the modern NFL, an RB’s performance levels tend to drop off from their sixth season onwards. Therefore for Carson to earn another contract similar to the one he is on now, Carson will need to show that his levels do not drop off in 2021 and then again in 2022.
A poor 2021 could well see the Seahawks look to free agency and the draft for a better long term solution.
Rashaad Penny
The Seahawks have not picked up the fifth-year option on Penny’s rookie deal.
Having appeared in only 27 games in the first three years of his career in which he is yet to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards in his career, Penny must show both production and durability in the 2021 season to have any prospect of getting a good deal from the Seahawks or any other NFL team for 2022 and beyond.
Along with Carson, Penny must show the Seahawks have a quality ground game in order to dissuade the franchise fro seeking alternative prospects to fulfil the need.
Freddie Swain
This may seem harsh, but Swain needs a big second season in order to retain hope of keeping his place on the Seahawks depth chart. When David Moore was allowed to leave as a free agent, Swain will have been seen as the clear leader to be the Seahawks WR3 in 2021.
The ‘Hawks drafted D’Wayne Eskridge who will battle Swain for the WR3 spot and as a 2nd round draft pick must be seen as the favourite to win it.
Then they added UDFAs Tamorrion Terry, Connor Wedington and Cade Johnson who all have the potential to push Swain further down the depth chart if he fails to improve on his fairly good rookie season.
With D.K.Metcalf and Tyler Lockett secure as the starting WRs, Swain will need to make the most of the opportunities he gets in 2021 in order to have a chance of being a significant offensive weapon for the Seahawks.