Seattle Seahawks: 3 Players out of place on current roster

The Seattle Seahawks have built up a playoff caliber team and continue to add new pieces. However, some veterans are now out of place on the team.

The Seattle Seahawks have brought in a lot of new players recently. The draft and free agency has done wonders for the team’s depth chart. Even though the Seahawks made the playoffs last season, we should see an even better iteration of the team this year.

Unfortunately, because of the additions and changes Seattle have made over the last two offseasons, a few players now stick out on the roster. There’s a chance these three veterans might not even make the final roster.

Even if they do, they’ll see less action than what they’re accustomed to as Seattle’s younger players take the lead.

Ed Dickson

Dickson is a good blocking tight end, but Seattle already has two of those in Nick Vannett and Will Dissly. While Dickson is just over a month away from turning 32, Vannett is only 26 and Dissly is a couple of weeks away from turning 23. Both of the younger tight ends are on their rookie contracts as well.

That means both of them are making less than $1 million per year while Dickson is making over $3 million per year on his current three-year, $10.7 million deal. He also carries the 10th largest cap hit on the team right now.

The larger deal is justifiable if Dickson is outproducing Vannett and Dissly, but he didn’t in 2018. Dickson started one of the 10 games he appeared in and recorded 12 receptions, 143 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Vannett was healthier and played in 15 games, making nine starts. He recorded 29 receptions, 269 receiving yards and three touchdowns during that time. That means Vannett posted more receptions and receiving yards per game than Dickson.

Dissly won the starting job as a rookie, but he only played in four games before landing on injured reserve. However, during those games, Dissly recorded eight receptions, 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns. That put him on pace for 32 receptions, 624 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. For reference, Dickson’s best season came way back in 2011 when he posted 54 receptions, 528 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He hasn’t posted a 500-yard season since.

The Seahawks have also used backup tackle George Fant as a blocking tight end in situations where Fant’s size gives the team an advantage. With Dickson not putting up receiving numbers and not offering a unique skill set to the team, he’s just an oversized contract on the roster. If there are concerns about Dissly’s health moving forward, then it makes sense to keep Dickson around. Otherwise, Seattle should focus on developing their young tight ends and bench Dickson.