Seattle Seahawks: 4 Players who have disappointed entering Week 8
By Samuel Teets
Nick Vannett
Vannett was a third round pick back in 2016. He had sufficient time to improve while Jimmy Graham and Luke Willson held the spotlight. 2018 was supposed to be the year he became a key contributor at the position. Instead he was outdone by rookie Will Dissly, until Dissly tore a patella and landed on injured reserve. To be fair, Vannett is a solid blocker, but right now the offense needs as many passing game weapons as possible.
At 6-6, 261 pounds Vannett has the prototypical body of a tight end but having the build doesn’t mean you’re a born pass catcher. The most receiving yards he has ever recorded in a single game is 43, a personal record that he set in Week 5 of this season.
Through his two prior NFL seasons and the five games he’s played during in 2018, the big Ohio State product has 27 receptions, 266 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. But those totals shouldn’t really come as a surprise. In four seasons in college, Vannett had 55 receptions, 585 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns.
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It’s clear he’s always been more of a blocker then a receiving threat. The Seahawks knew that when they drafted him. Even if the team didn’t expect Vannett to develop into the team’s next starting big pass catcher, it still hurts that he has not been able to fill the shoes of Graham or Willson in any way. The team needs more production at the tight end position, but Vannett hasn’t given it to them.