15 Most Important Seahawks: No 13: ‘Chess piece’ TE Gerald Everett
Jul 27, 2021, 9:07 AM
New Seahawks TE Gerald Everett should have a big role in Seattle's offense in 2021. (Getty)
(Getty)
Leading up to Seahawks training camp, my co-host Jake Heaps and I will be counting down the 15 most important Seahawks of 2021. We’ll spotlight a new profile every weekday at 1 p.m. during Jake and Stacy.
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Our countdown began with No. 15 Carlos Dunlap and No. 14 Jordyn Brooks. Today it continues with No. 13: tight end Gerald Everett.
Whether or not Everett can be a true No. 1 tight end in Seattle’s offense is one of my biggest questions for training camp. His addition in free agency this offseason drew significantly less fanfare than Seattle’s 2020 signing of ex-Panthers star Greg Olsen – which is understandable given Olsen’s exceptional career in Carolina – but the less-decorated Everett has a chance to be a more impactful addition.
Why Everett makes the list
Everett cracks the top 15 most important Seahawks list because he’s Seattle’s most intriguing tight end option and the Seahawks offense needs reliable pass catchers outside of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. A series of injuries for the position group has limited contributors in more recent seasons; no individual tight end has recorded more than 400 receiving yards since Jimmy Graham did it in 2017 (520 yards and 10 touchdowns) nor started as many games (Will Dissly has made the most starts of any tight end since 2017, with 12 in 2020).
Everett doesn’t boast the resume of the league’s top tight ends. He reached career highs in yards and receptions last year (41 catches for 417 yards) as well as yards after catch (243), which are impressive numbers but still pale in comparison to a player like Travis Kelce. But Everett is cheaper than a top tier tight end, younger than Seattle’s last signing, has finished with more yards than any other Seahawks tight end over the last two seasons, and brings a unique edge: familiarity with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, which could be a boon for quarterback Russell Wilson.
What Jake says: “Gerald Everett brings so many unique traits. And when I say unique traits, I mean that his ability as a receiving tight end can’t be overstated. He’s extremely smooth, I’ve seen him in person down in San Diego, had the chance to work with him and talk to him, and then see him out there in practice at minicamp. He’s smooth, he understands how to run routes, he understands his strengths. And I think he’s a guy that within the Rams’ offense was utilized in so many different ways: as a receiver on the outside, as a tight end in the slot, hand in the ground blocking and in the play-action naked game, also being used as a running back for man-to-man matchup situations against linebackers. This guy’s truly a chess piece. And when you’re talking about Shane Waldron coming here to Seattle, I had little doubt Gerald Everett would be at the top of the Seahawks’ big board in terms of free agents to try to add to this roster.
“I think for Gerald Everett, this has all the makings of a seamless transition. It’s the same offense that he played in with the Rams pretty much, and you got an upgrade at the quarterback position and an opportunity to be the guy in the tight end room. Doesn’t mean he won’t split time with Will Dissly or Colby Parkinson, but he’s going to see the majority of those reps at the No. 1 tight end spot and I’m really, really excited to see what he can do with it.”
Listen to the discussion here or below.
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