Seahawks rumors: Seattle could reload at TE with Austin Seferian-Jenkins
The Seattle Seahawks let tight end Jimmy Graham walk in free agency. But they could reload at the position with New York Jets free agent Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
The Seattle Seahawks are down one tight end in Jimmy Graham and could lose another, Luke Willson, as the new league year approaches.
But New York Jets free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins could be a nice way to fill that hole.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Seferian-Jenkins has a visit scheduled with the Seahawks on Wednesday:
#Jets FA TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is currently in the Seattle area, plans to take his first visit to… the #Seahawks. I imagine he’ll just drive on over.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2018
Seferian-Jenkins is originally from Fox Island, Washington, and staying with family near Seattle. The family connection makes Seattle an extremely likely destination for the veteran tight end in free agency. Seferian-Jenkins also played college football for the University of Washington Huskies.
If the Seahawks hope to land the tight end, however, they’ll have to pay him a deal worth somewhere north of $5 million annually.
In February, Seferian-Jenkins and his agent reportedly rejected a two-year, $8 million offer from the New York Jets, who hoped to keep Seferian-Jenkings in New York. The deal was “short on guarantees and total value,” according to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut Seferian-Jenkins in 2016 following multiple DUI arrests and the Jets claimed him off waivers. Over his career, the former second-round draft pick has produced 1,070 yards and 10 touchdowns off 105 receptions.
A new contract with any team will be paying Seferian-Jenkins for the promise of future potential rather than past production. Now sober, his 2017 season was his best yet, with 357 yards and three touchdowns on 50 receptions.
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According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Seferian-Jenkins also plans to visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars. And Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times notes that the New Orleans Saints will also be in the market for his services after losing out on bringing back Jimmy Graham, who signed with the Green Bay Packers.