With the exit stage right of Doug Baldwin, a massive opportunity has opened up in the Seattle Seahawks’ passing game… but for who?
I’m still not convinced
Despite ranking #32 in pass attempts in 2018 (427), the Seattle Seahawks are a premier slot receiver destination in the NFL. Baldwin and Tyler Lockett have both thrived inside the slot with Russell Wilson at quarterback and the departure of Baldwin not only unlocked a roster spot, but it freed up over 70 passing targets heading into the 2019 season — a season in which you can almost certainly bet doesn’t end with Wilson dead last in pass attempts.
The Prince we don’t deserve
Gary Jennings, a 4th-round selection out of West Virginia has the slot experience that Seattle was looking for when they took him off the board in April’s NFL draft. With the highest contested-catch rate among the class (54%), and the 2nd-highest passer rating when targeted in 2018 (144.7), Jennings is an intriguing option who could smash his current rookie ADP (4.10). As a freshly minted 21-year old wide out and a 95th-percentile SPARQ-x athlete, you would be out of your mind not to make a splash play to acquire him.
Here is as good as it gets
Seattle has been notoriously thin at wide receiver at times during the Russell Wilson era so it was no surprise that when it was time for Baldwin to pack his bags and call it a career, the Seahawks made some big time moves. Of course, D.K. Metcalf has incredible upside as a weapon on the outside, but he too carries a history of injury. And despite the rumors of Lockett potentially moving full time into the slot, I believe the Seahawks just can’t afford to lose his big play ability on the outside. Cue Jennings. If everything breaks right, we could see Jennings starting inside the slot immediately, or at worst splitting time with Lockett between the slot and the Z receiver position. All in all, it is wheels up for Jennings in Seattle.