Two things right up front. New Orleans Saints’ Swiss army knife Taysom Hill is a rare athlete. And Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cody White is not Taysom Hill. But could he play a similar role in Klint Kubiak’s offense?
We speculated recently that the Hawks might be inclined to find a way to bring the multi-positional Hill to Seattle. He might be especially valuable in the red zone and short-yardage situations. Over the past five seasons, Hill has lined up at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end for the Saints and has averaged eight touchdowns and 34 first downs per year. He missed half of 2024 and has also missed time in several other seasons so his per-game average is even better.
Seattle could certainly use that kind of production, but players like Taysom Hill don’t come around every day. He is an elite athlete with size, speed, and agility which makes him a genuine weapon for a creative offensive mind. Sean Payton recognized that potential early on and began trying Hill at different positions as early as 2018 – his second year in the league.
Seattle Seahawks might already have a Taysom Hill-type player on the team
Cody White has kicked around the NFL for four years now and has never produced very much. He has made a couple of highlight-reel plays but has always been something of a tweener. If he could carry 20-25 extra pounds, he might be a very good tight end. If he could shave a tenth or two off his 40 times, he might be a downsized version of DK Metcalf. Neither of those things is going to happen, but there still may be a role for White in Kubiak’s offense.
White is a versatile athlete who can do a lot of things. He was a productive receiver at Michigan State who came out after his junior year. Every scout I know of thought that was a mistake. His combine scores were terrible. Everyone admired his attitude and the technical parts of his game like his route running, and at 6’3” and 217 pounds, he had ideal size. He simply did not have the raw speed or elusiveness to make it as an NFL wideout. He went undrafted and signed as a free agent with Kansas City.
White bounced around the league, signing with three other teams before his rookie year was over. He came to Seattle in the middle of the ’23 season and then was inked to a futures contract in January 2024. He failed to make the final 53-man roster out of training camp but was called up to the roster a couple of times in November.
Eventually, the Seahawks would release Laviska Shenault and keep White with the team. He was on the field for a handful of offensive and special teams snaps and caught two passes.
I know. It is not the most impressive of resumes.
But White brings some intriguing assets to an offense. That size is impressive. And though his speed and elusiveness have never been very good, he has tested better when it comes to explosiveness. Size and explosiveness can be more important in short-yardage situations than speed. His ability with contested catches can be very useful in the red zone.
But the intangibles may be the secret ingredient that could make Cody White a meaningful part of Klint Kubiak’s plans. Consider this quote from his high school coach Mike Zdebski. This came back in 2016 after White had stepped in for an injured quarterback and produced several big plays.
“He’s the best athlete in the state. He can play receiver, he can play slot, he can play quarterback. He punts. He can play corner, he can play safety. Find another kid in the state who can do that.” Zdebski referred to White as “Mr. Football.”
When pressed into service, White was a very good quarterback. He was also on the baseball, basketball, and track teams. Sure, that is true of plenty of good athletes in high school. Most never sniff the pros. Cody White has. He has stuck around for four years now, which is rare enough for a UDFA. His versatility is one reason. The physicality he brings is another.
The thing that separates visionary coaches from the rest is their ability to look at what a player can do, and not be dissuaded by what he cannot do. There are things Cody White will never be able to do. Then again, Taysom Hill was not Taysom Hill his first couple of seasons. It took an innovator like Sean Payton to see it and develop it.
Klint Kubiak witnessed that firsthand last year in New Orleans. He saw it in 2023 with Kyle Juszczyk in San Francisco. Cody White is not those players. But he could have an increased role in Seattle if Kubiak and his staff can find creative ways to employ his particular set of skills.