Key Takeaways:
– Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge’s future uncertain with the franchise.
– Eskridge’s subpar performance over past seasons places his role in jeopardy.
– Coaching changes in the team could offer Eskridge a fresh opportunity.
– Eskridge’s contribution to both receiving and special teams fails to meet expectations.
Seattle Seahawks Under Fire
With a roster full of notable offensive talents, the Seattle Seahawks might be looking at potential cuts to optimize their team composition. Latest reports suggest that wide receiver Dee Eskridge’s standing within the team is precarious.
Offensive Playmaker’s Sluggish Performance
According to Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, who recently listed potential cuts from each NFL franchise, Eskridge is a strong candidate for the chop from the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a stark revealing reality for a player initially picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, holding the 56th overall selection.
Over Eskridge’s NFL career, he has exhibited a mediocre performance with only 17 catches from 373 career snaps, translating into a meager 122 yards. These statistics are not annual figures but the combined results of Eskridge’s three NFL seasons. Further dampening his record, Eskridge finished the 2023 season without a single reception from his four appearances.
The Curious Case of Rookie Contract
Eskridge, now facing the final season of his four-year, $5.9 million rookie contract, is due to cost the Seahawks $1.4 million in cap hit for 2024. “We kept Dee Eskridge only because of the coaching change,” Seattle’s general manager John Schneider confessed on “The John Schneider Show.” This suggests that the motivation for retaining Eskridge is a direct outcome of the coaching shuffle.
The management’s perspective denotes their intention to give Eskridge a “second chance” under the new coaching regime. Schneider expressed his hope that a clean slate with a new coach could provide a chance for Eskridge to revive his flailing NFL career.
Unfulfilled Expectations on the Field
Eskridge needs to reestablish his worth to the new coaching staff to maintain his spot on the roster. Brought from Western Michigan, he originally was expected to bring a significant contribution to the team as a returner in special teams.
In 2020, Eskridge managed 17 returns for 467 yards and a touchdown at Western Michigan, averaging 27.5 yards per attempt. Despite contributing to special teams in Seattle, the overall contribution lacked the boost the coaches initially hoped for.
His college football days saw him recording 34 catches for 784 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his final season, earning him a third-round grade by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein heading into the 2021 NFL draft. However, his output for the Seahawks has failed to mirror his college success, leaving his future with the team under significant scrutiny.
Time for a Comeback?
Despite the odds stacked against him, Eskridge might find salvation in his much-appreciated ability to stretch the field from the slot, seen in his college days. Eskridge’s potential as a speedster with “home run potential” might still earn him a spot in the Seahawks’ 2024 roster if he could leverage his speed and live up to the expectations that initially earned him the draft pick.
As it stands, the upcoming season will be a critical juncture for Eskridge to either turn his fortunes around or risk losing his place in one of the NFL’s top franchises.