The Seahawks franchise has already seen some significant player personnel changes in the past year and is moving forward with young talent on their roster, as Seahawks players are retiring or leaving in free agency.
Seahawks fourth leading rusher all-time Marshawn Lynch's retirement has already been confirmed by his agent this offseason, and head coach Pete Carroll will look for the youth on the Seahawks roster to step up with multiple key players departing this offseason.
The Seahawks are expecting running back Thomas Rawls to fill in nicely in their backfield in 2016, and they will need wide receiver Tyler Lockett to step into a bigger role in his second season in the league. Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse reiterated Thursday that he is looking forward to signing with a new team this offseason and "does not plan to return to Seattle" next season.
Kearse had said earlier this offseason that he was not willing to take a hometown discount to stay in Seattle, and he is looking to get paid after signing a one-year contract with the team prior to last season and will likely have plenty of interest on the open market. The Seahawks receiver recorded 49 receptions for 685 yards and scored five touchdowns last season, and he could draw interest from teams looking for starting receiver this offseason.
Teams like the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants could be in the market for the talented 26-year-old receiver, but expect Kearse to look for the best offer, as the unrestricted free agent is looking get paid after starting in the league as an undrafted rookie.
With Kearse out in Seattle, the Seahawks front office will have to make some decisions at the receiver position, as wide receiver Doug Baldwin is entering the final year of his contract. Baldwin is coming off a career-best season in which he recorded career-highs in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,069) and touchdowns (14).
The Seahawks will look towards Baldwin and Lockett in 2016, but it wouldn't be surprising if Seattle's front office decided to select a wide receiver in the middle rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft. Seattle has plenty of holes outside of wide receiver to fill this offseason, but losing Kearse creates another hole for their offense that general manager John Schneider will look to fill.
