Getting a Handle on the Seahawks Wide Receiver Situation

With former No. 1 WR Darrell Jackson long gone, Deion Branch sidelined for a good portion of the season, and D.J. Hackett now in Carolina, what does the picture look like for the future of Seahawks receivers?


Bobby Engram: "The Savvy Veteran" | Age: 35.7

2007 Pro Football Prospectus: Has Bobby Engram lost the qualities that have made him such an effective receiver? The Seahawks don't think so. The longtime Football Outsiders favorite (we call him "The First Down Machine," and for good reason) missed nine games in 2006 due to Graves' disease (an autoimmune disorder that causes overactivity of the thyroid gland) and posted his worst numbers last year since joining the Seahawks in 2001. When Engram was healthy and back on the field, however, he was an asset -- 15 first downs in seven games was evidence of that -- and the team thought his continuity with Matt Hasselbeck justified a new two-year contract.

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: In May, the normally mild-mannered, unassuming Engram skipped Seahawks minicamp due to frustrations over his contract. Engram is due $1.7 million in 2008, roughly half of what fellow underperforming wide receivers Nate Burleson ($3.25 million) and Deion Branch ($4.2 million including roster bonus) will make this year, so you can see why he might be frustrated. Then again, Joey Galloway is scheduled to make $1.8 million this year and he's still pretty good, plus the Seahawks surely have learned from Shaun Alexander that you shouldn't pay for past performance. Engram may miss a chunk of training camp [didn't happen], but Hasselbeck has repeatedly said he can throw to him "with his eyes closed" so it shouldn't affect his numbers.

We used to call Engram "The First Down Machine" because of his ability to move the chains. He was targeted a team-high 34 times on third down last year, but his third-down DVOA (0.1%) wasn't up to his usual high standards. Luckily, he posted a 36.4% DVOA on 59 first down attempts. Maybe he's going from a third-down threat to a first-down threat late in his career. At age 53, he'll excel on second downs.

Analysis: He's coming off an age-34 career year, but as Hasselbeck's go-to guy, Engram likely has another year or two as an underappreciated dynasty league asset -- especially in PPR leagues. Assuming good health, another season of 80+ receptions and 1,000+ yards is a reasonable expectation. It would be tough to give up a talented player for him considering age, talent level, and the Seahawks looking to run more in '08; on the other hand, it's tough to deal him away if you need him as a reliable weekly starter. With Deion Branch scheduled to come back later in the year, use up Engram for the first half of the season, and then dump him on someone else for a talented younster.


Nate Burleson: "The Impending Career Year" | Age: 27.0

2007 Pro Football Prospectus: Seattle's "retribution" against the Vikings in the Steve Hutchinson poison-pill derby, Burleson struggled early last season with dropped passes. However, he became a real plus in the return game and one of the primary reasons that Seattle's special-teams DVOA jumped from 21st to seventh. He may get bumped up to the slot if Bobby Engram has further issues with Graves disease, but is probably most valuable as a return man and deep threat.

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: It's increasingly clear that Burleson will never repeat his 68-catch, 1006-yard, 35.3% DVOA performance from 2004. At the same time, he didn't fall off the cliff like Michael Clayton (the Tampa receiver, not George Clooney). Burleson played better as the year progressed (20 of his 50 receptions came in December), and his unbelievable catch in the third quarter of the Seahawks-Redskins playoff game literally saved Seattle's season, so perhaps the upward trend will continue in 2008. Hey, somebody has to catch passes in Seattle, right?

Analysis: With Branch sidelined, Burleson is locked in as the the starting split end. As such, he can very reasonably be expected to improve on last year's consistency and build on his strong finish. Burleson is the obvious red zone weapon for Hasselbeck, with double digit TDs a legit possibility. He's been one of my WR3 targest all off-season and stands to put up a career fantasy season in 2008.


Courtney Taylor: "The Future Flanker" | Age: 24.4

2007 Pro Football Prospectus: Taylor was an astute sixth-round pick for a team that traded Darrell Jackson and will lose Bobby Engram to age sooner than later. Taylor is quicker than he is fast, doesn't fear traffic, and is a good option on the underneath routes. That makes this Auburn product a great fit for Mike Holmgren's offense. Of his 54 catches in his senior season, 33 were for first downs, and 14 of those converted third downs. Plus, he was totally awesome in the Dandy Warhols.

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: Much like former Seahawks receiver D.J. Hackett, Taylor is tall, runs precise routes, and has good hands. Like Hackett, he seems to hurt himself whenever he steps onto the field. Taylor missed all of Seattle's May minicamps with an undefined injury and seems to be fading from the competition to be the Seahawks' third wide receiver this year.

Analysis: Taylor was actually leading the third-receiver battle until he came down with yet another injury -- this time a hamstring. When healthy, he is considered Engram's heir apparent at flanker or in the slot due to his precise route running, good hands, and penchant for moving the chains. The coaching staff has raved about Taylor all offseason, and his upside is as a high-target possession receiver. Bottom line: he must get on the field if he's going to get a real chance to win the No. 3 receiver job out of camp.


Ben Obomanu: "The Eye Ball Test" | Age: 24.8

2007 Pro Football Prospectus: The Seahawks are intrigued by Obomanu's potential, and he could end up on the active roster after spending his rookie season on the practice squad. At Auburn, Obomanu and fellow receiver Devin Aromashodu tied play-by-play guys into knots.

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: Is that horrific catch rate an abberation or a harbinger of bad things to come? According to our game charters, Obomanu had only two drops -- though that's two too many when you only catch 12 passes on the year -- and he seemed to struggle to get open when on the field. Don't be surprised if fellow Auburn alumnus Courtney Taylor eats into his already limited playing time.

Analysis: When Taylor and Payne hogged all of the offseason praise from the coaching staff, I was befuddled. Every time I saw Obomanu play, he jumped off the screen and passed the eyeball test. That may say more about the nature of televised football than it does about Obomanu's strengths and weaknesses. Coaches have gotten on him for poor route running, and that has likely led to the low catch percentage. He's more of a downfield playmaker type than Taylor, and he can use his body well when the ball is in the air -- even if he does look awkward at times. Obomanu is currently running as the No. 3 receiver in Seahawks camp, which is a problem because his skill set is ill-suited to a slot role. He's more of a mix and match situational receiver until he hammers out the kinks in his fundamentals. If he does become become more well-rounded, however, Obomanu has a higher ceiling than Taylor or Payne.


Logan Payne: "The Teacher's Pet" | Age: 24.7

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: He's yet to appear in a regular season game, but that may change this year for the undrafted second-year player out of Minnesota. GM Tim Ruskell loves him, and Payne spent a lot of time in the slot during May minicamp. As an aside, Payne played his prep football at Land o' Lakes High School in Florida -- their mascot is a Gator, not a squaw sitting in the lotus position.

Analysis: Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell has been effusive in his praise of Payne, and he appears to be a coaching staff favorite as well. Unlike Taylor and Obomanu, Payne isn't really being groomed for any one position and has spent time learning the slot, the flanker, and the split end roles. He doesn't have top end speed, but he's a disciplined route runner with good size. Payne, a white dude, seems destined for the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver role this season.


Jordan Kent: "The Freak Athlete" | Age: 24.1

2007 Pro Football Prospectus: It's hard to know what to make of Kent from a football perspective; he focused on basketball and track in high school and only played football in his junior and senior seasons. The Seahawks deemed him worthy of a sixth-round pick due to his ridiculous athleticism -- he's posted sub-4.4 40-yard times despite being 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. He's the third collegian to letter in three sports at the same time in the last 20 years, joining Adrian Awasom of North Texas and some guy names Deion Sanders from Florida State. All in all, an interesting developmental player.

2008 Pro Football Prospectus: According to Seahawks wide receivers coach Keith Gilbertson, the issue with Kent is "can he consistently catch?" Sort of an important skill for a wide receiver. Kent is in the mix for a third or fourth wideout role. The Seahawks are going to camp with a quarterback who cannot throw (Charlie Frye), so why not a receiver who cannot catch? Or a running back who can't ru . . . oh, well, Shaun Alexander's gone.

Analysis: Flying directly in the face of Pro Football Prospectus' analysis, Charlie Frye hooked up with Kent on an impressive 53-yard bomb during Saturday's scrimmage. His football skills are certainly underdeveloped, but that's balanced out by over-the-top athleticism and through-the-roof potential. Kent is much improved in football awareness from last season, but he still has a long way to go. He remains the most likely of the young Seattle receivers to land on the practice squad in 2008, but he's also the one most worth waiting on if you're swinging for the fences in hopes of mining a future difference-making gem.