A few weeks in the past, Area Gulls’ personal John P. Gilbert did his early 53-man Seattle Seahawks roster projection and included vast receiver Dee Eskridge and omitted Jake Bobo, citing partially Eskridge’s potential to contribute within the revamped kick return sport. Eskridge had the final 12 months of his rookie contract restructured.
I did an identical roster projection previous to the beginning of rookie minicamp, and I left Eskridge out and added, “I’m not fooled by one good kick return.”
The brand new kickoff guidelines, which ought to in idea discourage touchbacks and encourage extra returns, might genuinely be an attention-grabbing wrinkle in remaining roster cuts. I additionally really feel like we is perhaps overthinking this a bit.
Not like punts, which you wish to power as a lot as attainable, you don’t wish to power the opposite staff into kickoffs, in any other case you’ve allowed factors. Within the optimum world, the one kick return you’re fielding is the one to open the primary or second half, however we all know that’s not attainable on a weekly foundation.
Whereas it’s anticipated that there can be rejuvenated worth in return specialists, I’m unsure that in itself that can be sufficient to maintain Eskridge (or Tennessee UDFA Dee Williams) on the roster.
Utilizing the final three seasons value of knowledge from Stathead, the common variety of non-onside kick kickoffs per sport is about 10. The Seahawks have confronted 262 common kickoffs (with 157 returns) over their final 51 video games, good for a mean of 5.14 per sport.
Is it actually value utilizing a roster spot on somebody as a result of they may have a giant kick return with considered one of their (on common) 5 makes an attempt?
Listed here are the highest 10 gamers in kick return makes an attempt since 2021, and their relative involvement of their respective groups’ offense or protection in that very same three-season span:
DeAndre Carter (WR)* – 74 catches for 873 yards and 6 touchdowns; 15 rushes for 92 yards
Braxton Berrios (WR)* – 91 catches for 814 yards and three touchdowns; 17 rushes for 142 yards and 4 touchdowns
Ray-Ray McCloud (WR)* – 65 catches for 665 yards and 1 landing; 9 rushes for 123 yards and 1 landing
Kene Nwangwu (RB) – 27 rushes for 88 yards; 6 catches for 30 yards
Keisean Nixon (CB)* – 103 tackles, 6 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 0.5 sacks, 17 video games began
DeeJay Dallas (RB)* – 78 rushes for 360 yards and a pair of touchdowns; 44 catches for 285 yards
Jamal Agnew (WR/CB)* – 61 catches for 641 yards and 5 touchdowns; 23 rushes for 195 yards
Ameer Abdullah (RB) – 70 rushes for 275 yards; 82 catches for 631 yards and a pair of touchdowns
Devin Duvernay (WR)* – 74 catches for 697 yards and 5 touchdowns; 23 rushes for 149 yards and 1 landing
Godwin Igwebuike (RB) – 21 rushes for 122 yards and 1 landing; 8 catches for 63 yards
* – Participant doubled as a main punt returner
Solely Nwangwu, Abdullah, and Igwebuike didn’t double up as punt returners. Nwangwu and Igwebuike have been the one scarce contributors on offense, and that’s in all probability why Igwebuike isn’t on an NFL roster proper now. In Nwangwu’s case, he was second-team All-Professional was a kick returner in 2022. Each different offensive participant right here will be fairly labeled as a receiving again or a 3rd/fourth possibility vast receiver.
Eskridge didn’t return punts in faculty, hasn’t returned punts within the NFL, and isn’t anticipated to have these duties this 12 months. Which means his sport is proscribed completely to kickoffs and no matter he can do as a large receiver, which has been little or no. As a reminder, the historical past of receivers drafted as early as Eskridge having even reasonably profitable careers with such scant productiveness via three seasons is remarkable. Many of the different gamers in Dee’s neighborhood weren’t on an NFL roster of their fourth season.
If we assume that DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the highest three receivers, then Eskridge is combating to be WR4. He’s already been outproduced by Jake Bobo. He may be challenged by Laviska Shenault Jr, who could also be thought-about a draft bust, however he’s been way more productive than Eskridge on worse groups. Whereas Shenault is a current convert to returning kicks within the NFL, he’s additionally had 58- and 63-catch seasons beneath his belt.
It’s been theorized that new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb might be able to get the most effective out of him in the best way Shane Waldron couldn’t. I’m not so simply persuaded by the speculation that teaching was the issue. What concerning the teaching was so tough for Eskridge that he was immediately outperformed by undrafted free agent Jake Bobo? Or that he misplaced out on snaps to age 32 Marquise Goodwin? The numerous accidents (together with a severe concussion) have absolutely had an affect on Eskridge’s improvement (or lack thereof), however it will possibly’t be the unique motive.
Eskridge’s route tree has not been expansive in restricted taking part in time in Seattle. We’ve seen him near the road of scrimmage and sometimes get a jet sweep handoff. The restricted route tree was described as a weak spot in a number of pre-draft scouting stories, and the subsequent contested catch he makes can be his first.
If Eskridge goes to be rostered, it’s as a result of he lastly made tangible strides in camp as a large receiver, not as a result of he would possibly get to do extra kick returns (which aren’t in itself a assure he’ll be constantly profitable). He’ll have to indicate one thing to justify touches on offense when there are at the very least seven extra deserving gamers who will get these alternatives.
I’ve my doubts that drastic change is coming for somebody getting into his age 27 season and ninth 12 months mixed between faculty and the professionals.
