The Seattle Seahawks currently have one of the best receiving groups in the NFL, if not the best. On a team that was expected to regress and struggle last year, the group produced two 1,000-yard receivers and a quarterback who threw for the most single-season yards in franchise history (4282). Not bad when you consider the team had just parted with Russell Wilson.
According to pretty much every sports writer and football "expert", the Hawks were supposed to be pretty bad. In a division with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the star-studded 49ers, and what was supposed to be an electric Arizona Cardinals offense, the Seahawks should have been a rebuilding franchise predicted to finish last in the NFC West.
Pete Carroll "ain't got no time for that" - a rebuild. Dude has been around for what seems like forever (OK, 2010) and is closer to the end of his (Seattle) coaching career than he is the beginning. Dude wants to win another Super Bowl, it is going to happen. Let's go, Pete!
Seahawks likely have best receiving unit in franchise history
At 30, Tyler Lockett shows zero signs of slowing down. A receiver who was originally drafted to be a gadget player (think Percy Harvin), has become one of the top receivers in Seahawks history. A model of consistency who always seems to get open, Lockett has 4 straight 1,000 yards seasons. Makes you forget about his predecessor Doug Baldwin.
DK Metcalf has dominated the NFL since joining the league in 2019. Never failing to reach 900 yards or 6 touchdowns, the only reason his numbers aren't more impressive is that he shared targets with Lockett in a run-heavy system. Oh, and one could speculate that Wilson's declining play and control over the team had a role in this as well. Metcalf's success shouldn't come as a surprise, though his being drafted last in the second round in 2019 does considering his size, speed, and ability. How were so many teams so wrong?
Newcomer Jaxon Smith-Njigba or JSN, enters the picture as the best receiver in the draft. A player who reminds me of Minnesota's Justin Jefferson, will most likely slide into the slot this season and terrorize the middle of the field. He has already impressed in camp with his route-running abilities, speed, and catching radius. JSN will steal targets away from Lockett and Metcalf, this is not a bad thing. JSN will make the inevitable transition away from Lockett in the upcoming season/s much easier.
DK Metcalf on #Seahawks rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba:
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) June 8, 2023
“He’s come in and treated it like he’s a vet already. He knows how to run routes. He knows his body, he knows how to catch. So, it’s really just teaching him the playbook.” https://t.co/71WHTh1UlQ pic.twitter.com/bRE2FkMtWT
Behind this trio the Seahawks roster Dee Eskridge, Cade Johnson, Dareke Young, and Cody Thompson (who I think is the best out of this group). A formidable group of receivers who will battle it out for depth roles and roster spots. Do not be surprised if one or more of these guys are roster casualties.
I have not even factored in the three-headed monster at tight end, Noah Fant, Will Dissly, and Colby Parkinson who collectively were an elite tight end with 109 catches, 1,157 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns. The problem is going to be how can Geno Smith feed all of these players. This is a good problem to have.
Instead of worrying how the #Seahawks passing pie will be divided between DK, Lockett, and JSN, it’s likely the addition of a WR like JSN will make for a bigger pie. pic.twitter.com/vYfyW13Tmk
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) June 10, 2023
Looking back through franchise history, where does this group rank all-time? I had to dig deep through the history of the Seahawks to find the best statistical receiving seasons in team history to compare the current receiving room against. Not to be confused with individual receiving talent (which this group's guys still would all rank number 1) let's take a look at the next best wide receiver rooms in team history. For the record, I am excluding tight ends from this list.
Seahawks 1984 group - Steve Largent and Daryl Turner
You can not make a list of the greatest Seattle Seahawk wide receiver rooms and not include NFL Hall of Famer Steve Largent. With good reason too. Obviously, Largent goes down as one of the best players in franchise history; the dude dominated in the 80s with subpar quarterbacks.
In 1984 Largent paired with Daryl Turner to form one of the best receiver tandems in Seahawks' history. Largent recorded 74 catches, 1,164 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. Turner impressed with 35 catches, 715 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. These numbers would be considered impressive in the NFL today as the game has changed to become a more pass-oriented game.
The double-digit touchdowns by each would probably make them both Pro Bowl players in the game today. The team finished the season 12-4 and beat the (then) Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round. The 3,423 passing yards and 32 touchdowns by quarterback Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg were huge numbers back in the 1980s (consider the fact the Hall of Fame Broncos quarterback John Elway only had one 4,000-yard season, albeit in a league that was a lot less pass-happy as it is now).
Seahawks 1995 group - Joey Galloway and Brian Blades
My personal favorites. Speedy Joey Galloway and consistent Brian Blades are the only other pair of receivers in Seahawks history to record 1,000 receiving yards each in the same season. The pair accomplished this feat in 1995. Galloway turned in 67 catches, 1039 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. Blades had 77 catches, 1001 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns.
Their numbers were even more impressive considering Rick Mirer was their quarterback. No slam on Mirer (like most Seahawks' fans I wanted him to be great), but he is considered by many to be an NFL bust. To put their receiving numbers into perspective, Rick Mirer threw for 2,564 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Pretty much all of his passes and passing yards went to these two.
The 1995 Seahawks finished the season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Despite having two 1,000 yard receivers, one of running back Chris Warren's finest rushing seasons (1,346 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, 35 receptions, 247 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown), and the greatest defensive lineman to ever play in Seattle (Cortez Kennedy), they still were only a .500 team. Imagine what this team could have done with competent play at quarterback. The next time you see a fan rocking their number 3 Mirer jersey at a game, be sure to remind them of what I just shared with you.
These guys were not only my favorite players to watch as a kid, they were also my favorite video game players. I grew up beating my buddies with these units on Tecmo Super Bowl III: Final Edition. If you remember Galloway's name was not featured, he was WR 84 SEAHAWKS. Super fun game to play, in spite of having Rick Mirer as quarterback.
Seahawks 2002 group - Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson
A tale of two careers, Darrell Jackson exceeded career expectations while Koren Robinson underachieved. Jackson, a third round pick out of Florida, had three 1,000 yard receiving seasons with Seattle. Robinson, the 9th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State, had just one 1,000+ receiving yard season, in 2002.
This tandem is mentioned in this list because of their 2002 season. Robinson balled out and had a career season. He finished 2002 with 78 receptions, 1,240 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. Jackson had what would be considered a down season for him, with 62 receptions, 877 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a mediocre season with 3,075 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
The 2002 Seahawks finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs. 2002 was a wasted year for elite Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, who ran for 1,175 yards and 16 touchdowns. Another example of poor play from quarterbacks leading to a disappointing season.
Robinson and Jackson will still go down as one of the best receiving groups in Seahawks history, despite of the team's win/loss record.