The Seattle Seahawks have lost some key pieces since the start of the league year on Wednesday, with players like linebacker Bruce Irvin and offensive lineman J.R. Sweezy, following free agent dollars elsewhere.
Seattle's front office has made it a priority to focus on the offensive line leading up to the 2016 season, but that doesn't mean general manager John Schneider won't take a timeout to give quarterback Russell Wilson weapons to work with. Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said previously that he wasn't willing to take a hometown discount to remain a Seahawk, but agreed to a three-year contract Thursday night that will keep him in Seattle.
The contract is reportedly worth $13.5 million. Kearse was Seattle's second-leading receiver last season with 49 receptions for 685 yards and five touchdowns. He has been a consistent playmaker, especially in big games, for Seattle. The Seahawks failed to beat the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2015, but Kearse still recorded 11 catches for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Seattle outscored the Panthers, the NFC's top-seeded team, 24-0 in the second half, but were too far behind to mount the comeback.
"In the big game settings, he just seems to make big plays happen," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said following the game. "He can do it all throughout the year, but he seems to have a knack for being in the right place to make a special play... He's a terrific player."
Seattle has a strong receiving core in place for the 2016 season, as Doug Baldwin is coming off a career-best season in receptions (78), yards (1,069), and touchdowns (14). Baldwin was Seattle's leading receiver last season, but second round draft pick Tyler Lockett proved himself a viable option in his rookie season catching 51 passes for 664 yards and scoring six touchdowns.
The combination of Kearse, Baldwin, and Lockett in 2016 gives Wilson plenty of options on Sundays. Tight end Jimmy Graham is reportedly expected to be ready by the start of the regular season after tearing his patellar tendon last year.
Seattle will still need to focus on filling holes and building a viable starting offensive line for the 2016 season, but the franchise has re-signed a talented playmaker in Kearse who seems to continually come up big when the Seahawks need him most.
