Who is Seahawks’ No. 3 WR? Bumpus says Seattle has ‘a good problem’
Aug 17, 2020, 2:04 PM | Updated: 2:17 pm
David Moore is one of three players competing to be the Seahawks' No. 3 WR. (Getty)
(Getty)
It common to hear a team has a good problem on its hands because it has multiple players at one position fighting for playing time. And for the Seattle Seahawks, that’s the case at wide receiver.
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The Seahawks have a rock-solid 1-2 combination atop their depth chart at receiver with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, but it’s unclear who will emerge as the third receiver for the 2020 season. Former Seahawks receiver Michael Bumpus explained last week after watching a training camp practice that it’s a good thing because Seattle doesn’t have a lack of options.
“I love the receiver group,” Bumpus said while joining Dave Wyman and Jim Moore on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Bob, Dave and Moore. “What I like most about this receiving corps if that they don’t know who the third receiver is going to be, and that’s a good problem to have. Is it going to be (Phillip) Dorsett? Is it going to be David Moore? Is John Ursua going to step up? We know that (tight end) Greg Olsen, he’s not a receiver, but he’s part of that receiving group. So they just have so many options.”
Bumpus shared thoughts on each of the three players he mentioned whose position is officially wide receiver. He noted that he’s rooting for Ursua, a second-year player out of Hawaii, who he believes will get a chance at more playing time in 2020. But what about the veterans?
“This is David Moore’s fourth year – it’s time for him to evolve as a route runner,” Bumpus said. “I know that he can go up top and grab the football. Now can you get off the press, can you sit in a zone? It’s all about competition.”
Dorsett, a speedy six-year veteran coming off three seasons with New England, is going to be tough to beat out in a position battle, though.
“Phillip Dorsett can run every route in the book,” Bumpus said. “I watched him run routes when playing for the New England Patriots. He did it all, from the hitch to a slant, a go, a post, a dig. He’s a technician at the top of a route.”
Bumpus expects that whoever ends up establishing himself as Seattle’s No. 3 guy will have proven something.
“Every receiver in this corps brings something to the table and it’s all about who outperforms the other ones,” he said. “It’s nice when you have the 1-2 combo and then you’re trying to figure out the third, and it’s not like, OK, you’re the third by default. It’s going to be you’re the third receiver because you outplayed these other two really good receivers.”
There’s a wild card to consider, though: Josh Gordon, the suspended former All-Pro who spent time with the Seahawks last season and who seems likely to return to Seattle if his suspension is lifted by the NFL.
“I think you always take a shot when you can get Josh Gordon, I don’t care what you have,” Bumpus said. “I think the Seahawks will be OK with what they have now, but when you have a chance to get Josh Gordon, it’s going to make that receiving corps that much better. And unfortunately, if they do get Josh Gordon, that means one of these solid No. 3 receivers might get cut.”
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