The Seattle Seahawks didn’t have many picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, but these three veterans could still be cut.
Due to multiple trades, the Seattle Seahawks only had three picks in the 2021 NFL Draft and only one (No. 56 overall) in the top-100. That’s the price you pay when you’re in win-now mode, with a quarterback who went against his normal grain to publicly air his issues early in the offseason.
With their three picks, the Seahawks were able to add depth at three key spots. The addition of undrafted free agents will provide an opportunity to unearth a few gems who might stick.
The Seahawks could easily and probably should turn to post-draft free agency to add pieces, with reunions possible with cornerback Richard Sherman and linebacker K.J. Wright.
Any additions made will push someone out of the picture for the Seahawks. But these three veterans could be cut strictly because of the draft.
3 veterans the Seahawks could cut because of the draft
Seattle used their first pick on wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge, who former NFL GM Mike Tanenbaum compared to Julian Edelman. The Western Michigan product averaged over 23 yards per catch last season, and 18.9 yards per catch over his other two seasons as a full-time wide receiver for the Broncos of the MAC.
In addition to drafting Eskridge, the Seahawks signed three undrafted free agent wide receivers (Tamorrion Terry, Cade Johnson and Connor Wedington). Terry and Johnson were widely seen as sleeper prospects during the pre-draft process.
With the four rookie additions to the wide receiver room in Seattle via the draft and the days after the draft, Swain has one foot out the door. A sixth-round pick in 2020, he played 33 percent of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps as a rookie and finished with 13 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
Swain may find a training camp opportunity elsewhere. But he’s clearly not long for the Seahawks’ roster now.
Reed was a nice story for the Seahawks last season, starting eight of 10 games he played for them after suffering a torn pectoral and being waived in the preseason by the 49ers. He finished with 62 total tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Seattle added cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Pierre Desir in free agency, and they also re-signed Damarious Randall. Then they used their second draft pick (No. 137 overall) on cornerback Tre Brown, and signed North Carolina Central cornerback Bryan Mills as a UDFA. Brown is a small corner, but he plays bigger and was a three-year starter at Oklahoma. Mills, at 6-foot-1, fits the profile the Seahawks have tended to prefer in their corners and he’s an interesting developmental-type for their system.
If the Seahawks do bring back Richard Sherman, or they sign another veteran corner, that will further clog the depth chart and push Reed down the pecking order. It’s a simple game of numbers at times, and Reed seems set to be plying his trade elsewhere at some point.
Chris Carson was re-signed, Rashad Penny may be back healthy and 2020 fourth-round pick DeeJay Dallas is still around. Some others from last season (Alex Collins, Bo Scarbrough) may become a factor in a battle for roster spots as offseason work and training camp looms.
The Seahawks further added to their running back depth chart by signing BJ Emmons (Florida Atlantic) and Josh Johnson (Louisiana-Monroe) as undrafted free agents. They may just be OTA/training camp bodies, but they are at least that for others to navigate and stand out among.
In 25 games (with one start) over two seasons with the Seahawks, since being a sixth-round pick in 2019, Homer has 43 carries for 202 yards along with 20 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. He played more offensive snaps in 2020 (138) than he did in 2019, but he has still seen far more total time on special teams (331 snaps in his two seasons). He has averaged 23.5 yards per kickoff return in his career.
Quite frankly, due to a loaded-up numbers game at the position and a mostly special teams role unless the Seahawks are crushed by running back injuries, Homer is thoroughly replaceable.