Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has had his share of ups and downs during his nearly two decades in charge of the team. However, for the most part, he hasn’t taken many swings for the fences.
He did so last offseason, though. Rolling the dice on Sam Darnold was a promising but risky move, and signing an aging Cooper Kupp was met with skepticism. Fast forward to today, and it’s clear that both moves were right.
That’s why some, now that Tyreek Hill is officially a free agent, some fans speculated that the reigning Super Bowl champions could look to add even more firepower to their offense. That doesn’t sound likely, and for very good reasons.
The Seattle Seahawks should steer clear of Tyreek Hill
Not so long ago, Hill was one of the deadliest playmakers in the game. He nearly eclipsed the 2,000-receiving-yard mark, and his ability to leave bodies in the dust with his acceleration and craftiness was second to none.
A lot has transpired since. The Seahawks already made a move at a former Triple Crown winner whose prime was behind him, but Kupp had local ties and a reputation for being a team-first kind of guy. That’s not the case with Hill.
He comes with plenty of baggage, not only for all the stuff of the field but because of his often incendiary quotes and the attention he draws at times. The Seahawks are trying to build a sustainable project and a long-lasting contender, and adding those types of characters to the mix doesn’t always help with that.
The Seahawks might need a speedy playmaker and a big-play specialist if Rashid Shaheed follows Klint Kubiak again to the Las Vegas Raiders. That said, there’s no guarantee that Hill will return to his former level after suffering a season-ending injury at this point in his career.
Hill is 31 years old and has seemingly lost a step. He didn’t always have the most reliable hands, and once you take his otherworldly speed out of the equation, he’s not the biggest or strongest pass catcher out there, either.
The former Kansas City Chiefs star will probably look to sign with a contender after four years in South Beach. Given his pedigree and résumé, someone’s likely to fall for the trap and give him a short-term, prove-it type of deal. That team just shouldn’t be the reigning Super Bowl champions.