Tag: Will Dissly

The significance of TE Greg Olsen signing with Seahawks for 2020

The Greg Olsen signing shakes up the Seattle Seahawks’ tight end unit and precedes the team’s decisions on Jacob Hollister and Ed Dickson.

The Seattle Seahawks recently agreed to terms with veteran tight end Greg Olsen on a one-year, $7 million deal ahead of the start of the new league year, giving quarterback Russell Wilson a new target to throw to for the 2020 season.

Now that Olsen is under contract and Will Dissly is returning from injury, Seattle’s tight end unit should be something to keep an eye on. With Jacob Hollister being a restricted free agent and Ed Dickson’s status up in the air after spending the 2019 season on injured reserve, the Seahawks now have two tight ends who are locked in to make the roster. Olsen’s leadership should prove valuable to Dissly and Hollister if the latter stays in the Emerald City.

Of course, Olsen also has a few question marks, primarily his age and durability. He is 35 years old and has not played a full season since 2016, missing a total of 16 games in the following two years due to foot injuries.

However, Olsen has still been able to produce when he has been healthy, and he will be far from Wilson’s only reliable target with Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Dissly leading the charge, provided they avoid injuries of their own.

This is Seattle’s first move in an offseason with numerous decisions to be made.

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Twitter reacts to Seahawks signing of tight end Greg Olsen

The Seattle Seahawks bolstered an area of need by signing veteran tight end Greg Olsen, and Twitter had some excellent reactions.

On Tuesday afternoon the Seattle Seahawks made their first big move of the offseason, signing veteran tight end Greg Olsen to a one-year, $7 million dollar contract.

Considering Will Dissly’s troubling injury history and the pending free agency of Luke Willson, adding a veteran presence like Olsen – who has proven he’s still a well above-average contributor when healthy – is an excellent move for John Schneider and company.

The move was celebrated by the Seahawks on Twitter, who lauded him for his career accomplishments in a short video:

Olsen originally made his interest in Seattle clear on Twitter, with quarterback Russell Wilson endorsing the idea of the duo coming together – a tweet exchange that, as Wilson put it, aged pretty well.

Wilson was not the only Seahawks player excited about adding Olsen into the mix, as Dissly warmly welcomed his new tight end partner on Twitter as well.

Lastly, Seahawks fans expressed their excitement over the team’s newest acquisition, helping make the 34-year-old feel welcome in just his third NFL home.

Olsen and the rest of the Seahawks will reconvene this summer for the start of training camp, but for now a big area of need has been put to rest, nearly eight months before the start of the season.

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2020 NFL Draft: Why TE Thaddeus Moss is a good fit for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks need to find a new blocking tight end and Randy Moss’ son, LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, might just be the perfect fit.

Even after the recent acquisition of veteran tight end Greg Olsen, the Seattle Seahawks could still look to add depth to a position that dealt with injuries to multiple key pieces in 2019.

While re-signing one or both of Luke Willson and Jacob Hollister remains a possibility, the Seahawks could also turn their attention to the NFL draft in order to add more depth at tight end to partner with Olsen and budding star Will Dissly.

While there are quite a few draftable tight ends in this year’s class, one who sticks out in particular for his Seahawks-ey skill set is LSU’s Thaddeus Moss.

Moss, the son of NFL legend Randy Moss, began his collegiate career at North Carolina State in 2016. He played sparingly before transferring and missing all of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He made a triumphant return with the Tigers of LSU last year, hauling in 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns – two which came in the College Football Championship win over Clemson.

However, Moss is a fit for the Seahawks not because of his receiving skills, but rather his in-line blocking – a trait Seattle has long coveted in their tight ends, and will need more than ever if they go into next year without both Willson and George Fant, who is also set to hit free agency after serving as the team’s sixth linemen the last two seasons.

Moss has a lot of work to do to be an impactful receiver from the tight end position, but many scouting reports believe he can start as a blocking tight end right away. With Dissly and Olsen expected to be the primary receiving options, Moss makes sense as a backup and in-line blocker, a role the Seahawks need to fill next season.

Projected as a fourth round pick by a handful of mock drafts, including Draft Wire’s, Moss would be an ideal target for Seattle at that stage of the draft.

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Seattle Seahawks sign tight end Greg Olsen to 1-year deal

The Seattle Seahawks made their first move of free agency by signing veteran tight end Greg Olsen to a one-year, $7 million dollar deal.

The first domino of the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason plans has fallen into place.

Late Tuesday afternoon, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen signed with the Seahawks, a move that was later confirmed by the team.

It had been reported earlier in February by Schefter himself there was mutual interest between the Seahawks and Olsen. Now the rumors have become reality as Seattle has made the first headlines of the impending free agency season.

This is a great low risk, high reward signing for the Seahawks. With only $5.5 million guaranteed to Olsen, Seattle certainly isn’t breaking the bank for a quality veteran and former Pro Bowl tight end. The Seahawks also addressed an area of need rather quickly.

After Will Dissly went down with another season ending injury and reserve tight end Luke Willson kept battling nagging injuries as well, the tight end position became rather thin quickly for Seattle.

Having Olsen in the fold, who is used to a physical, run-first style offense, will give Russell Wilson and the offense the consistency at the position they were lacking in the latter half of the 2019 campaign.

Although the 34-year-old Olsen may not be what he once was at his prime, he firmly believes he can still play. He clearly isn’t the only one who holds this belief, as Olsen also negotiated with the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills.

Not for nothing, it’s certainly a belief his new quarterback shares as well.

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3 veteran free agents the Seattle Seahawks should consider signing

The Seattle Seahawks could look at a handful of veteran free agents to shore up key positions of need ahead of the 2020 season.

The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the free agency portion of the offseason with 19 unrestricted free agents and five restricted free agents – which will make for a busy month of March for John Schneider and company.

While Seattle will surely bring back at least a handful of their own players, it’s pretty clear next year’s roster will have plenty of new faces as well.

Many of those new names will come via the 2020 NFL draft, but the Seahawks have showed willingness to bring in veteran guys who they believe can help contribute right away, and this year’s free agent class is full of players who fit that bill.

While reunions with players like Michael Bennett and Marshawn Lynch remain a possibility, there are also some new faces – at least new to the Seahawks – who Pete Carroll and his staff could bring into training camp to compete for important jobs in 2020.

Here are three veterans who would immediately boost this Seattle team at key areas of need next season.

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Seahawks could use a reliable 3rd wide receiver in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks could use a reliable third wide receiver, as only Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are reliable targets at the moment.

The Seattle Seahawks find themselves with a solid one-two punch at wide receiver in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, but they could use a reliable third option to go with the dynamic duo.

Seattle’s offense also has tight end Will Dissly, who is a real threat when healthy, but he has succumbed to season-ending injuries in both of his years in the NFL so far. Seattle’s offense has occasionally suffered in Dissly’s absence, and given his injury history, Russell Wilson may just need another weapon to utilize in the 2020 season.

Players like David Moore, Malik Turner, and Jaron Brown have not produced significantly enough to be locked in as the No. 3 receivers and all of them are impending free agents. The only other wide receiver currently on the roster for next year is John Ursua, who made a tremendous catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 of 2019 but has seen extremely limited playing time.

The Seahawks could turn their attention toward free agency and the draft, even though they could have more pressing needs at other positions. Lockett and Metcalf are locks to make the 2020 roster, but the keepers of the third, and possibly fourth and fifth, wide receiver slots are currently unknown.

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Seahawks face important free agency decision with Jacob Hollister

The Seattle Seahawks face one of their most important free agency decisions with tight end Jacob Hollister, who has proven himself valuable.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister could be an integral part of the team’s future, but he is a restricted free agent. He is a player who many will keep an eye on as free agency gradually approaches.

After being acquired by Seattle via trade with the Patriots, Hollister found responsibility thrust upon him swiftly in the 2019 season. Star TE Will Dissly suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, Nick Vannett was traded to the Steelers and Ed Dickson found himself on injured reserve.

Hollister did not produce on the level of Dissly but proved himself to be a valuable contributor for the Seahawks. His breakout game came in Week 9 against the Buccaneers when he caught four passes and 37 yards for two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime to make the final score 40-34.

Hollister followed this up against the eventual NFC champion 49ers in Week 10, recording eight catches for 62 yards. He did an admirable job of filling Dissly’s role in his absence, and both of them could form a lethal one-two punch at tight end next season. Hollister has not proven himself to be the most capable blocker, but there are certainly more positives to his game than negatives.

The Seahawks could offer Hollister a second-round tender in free agency to keep him around for next season, and it is difficult not to think of the potential of an offense featuring him, Dissly, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Chris Carson with Russell Wilson under center.

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Seattle Seahawks 2020 free agent profile: Tight end Luke Willson

Will the Seattle Seahawks bring back fan favorite Luke Willson at tight end in 2020, or will the veteran be looking for another job?

*The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the 2020 offseason with 19 players set to become unrestricted free agents, which should make for another busy spring and summer for Pete Carroll and John Schneider as they look to shore up the roster and contend for the number one seed in the NFC again next year.*

Our free agent series continues with a look at tight end Luke Willson.

One of the many areas Seattle is expected to make significant changes at is tight end. After starting tight end Will Dissly went down with a torn Achilles, his second straight season-ending injury, the team turned to midseason free-agent pickup Luke Willson and practice-squad call-up Jacob Hollister.

Willson was signed after the team dealt Nick Vannett to the Steelers, and he immediately brought joy to the locker room and the fanbase, as the fan-favorite returned to Seattle after spending the 2018 season with the Lions.

Willson may have been a great locker room presence, but he didn’t do much on the field, hauling in eight receptions (on 10 targets) for 79 yards in eight games – missing a handful of games down the stretch with a rib injury.

With Dissly expected to return healthy in 2020, Willson’s role on this team is unclear. Hollister and tackle George Fant are both free agents as well, so Seattle almost certainly needs to re-sign at least one of this trio or else find someone else on the free-agent market or in the draft.

Willson is a strong run-blocker, something the Seahawks crave in their tight ends, but his age and lack of performance could have him looking for a new job in 2020 if the team decides to look elsewhere for production at tight end.

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Seattle Seahawks 2020 free agent profile: Tight end Jacob Hollister

Will the Seattle Seahawks look to re-sign surprise performer Jacob Hollister next year, or will they look elsewhere for a backup tight end?

The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the 2020 offseason with 19 players set to become unrestricted free agents and five players who will be restricted free agents, which should make for another busy spring and summer for Pete Carroll, John Schneider and company as they look to shore up the roster and contend for the number one seed in the NFC again next year.

One of the many areas Seattle is expected to make significant changes at is tight end. After starting tight end Will Dissly went down with a torn Achilles, his second straight season-ending injury, the team turned to midseason free-agent pickup Luke Willson and practice-squad call-up Jacob Hollister.

Hollister ended up taking over as Seattle’s primary pass-catcher, hauling in 41 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns – nearly getting a fourth in the Week 17 finale against San Francisco.

Hollister emerged as a reliable outlet for Russell Wilson, but his size limited him as a run-blocker – an area the Seahawks love their tight ends to thrive.

With Dissly expected to return, Hollister’s potential role on this team going forward is unclear. Willson and tackle George Fant are both free agents as well, so Seattle almost certainly needs to re-sign at least one of this trio or else find someone else on the free-agent market or in the draft.

Hollister is a restricted free agent, meaning the Seahawks will have the right to match any contract offers tendered to him during free agency.

Considering Hollister’s lack of exposure to the rest of the league, he seems like a decent bet to re-sign with the Seahawks for a relatively small price and compete for that backup role once again in 2020.

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Seahawks interested in veteran tight end Greg Olsen

Former Carolina Panthers star tight end Greg Olsen is slated to head to the Great Northwest and the Seattle Seahawks on a free-agent visit.

The Seattle Seahawks are in the full swing of the offseason and they certainly are not wasting any time moving forward in 2020. As the team plans ahead to the new season, there is an open desire from quarterback Russell Wilson to add more superstar talent to the roster.

Perhaps this could come in the form of an old rival of the Seahawks.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s NFL insider, Adam Schefter, reported former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has scheduled a visit with the Seahawks.

In one of the more shocking developments this early in the offseason, the Panthers announced there was to be a mutual parting of ways between their organization and the longtime star tight end.

Olsen may not be a Panther anymore, but don’t expect him to sit idle. On Saturday before the Super Bowl during the NFL Honors, Olsen had a tweet which certainly piqued the interest of Seahawk fans everywhere.

After battling injuries in 2017 and 2018, Olsen returned to play in 14 games. His raw numbers didn’t leap off the page, but he was playing with a backup quarterback the majority of the season and watching the games showed he is still more than capable.

Seattle’s interest in Olsen is certainly understandable. Due to more season-ending injuries to Will Dissly, and nagging health concerns with Luke Willson, the Seahawks became rather thin at the position towards the end of the year. Not to mention all the years Olsen has played against the team, which has provided the Seahawks with plenty of first-hand experience as to what he can bring to the field.

The Seahawks could use a solid veteran presence at tight end, especially with Dissly coming back off yet another arduous rehab. At 34 years old, Olsen is no spring chicken. But he does seem to have some gas left in the tank, and Wilson seems to agree.

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