Gee Scott: Chances of trade slim, but Seahawks did shop Jermaine Kearse

Is there any truth to the rumor that the Seahawks are trying to trade Jermaine Kearse? ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that the Seahawks are looking into trading the veteran wide receiver, but according to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Gee Scott, the possibility of a trade was real but the chances of one happening now are slim.

“I’m going to say this: the reality about the possibility of a trade, from what I’ve been told, at one time, it was true,” Gee said Thursday. “I did hear within the last couple weeks that there was (talks of a Kearse trade), true. Do I think Jermaine will be traded? No, I don’t. I don’t think so. … From the conversations that I’ve had, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Seahawks still have questions at last WR spot entering preseason finale

News of a potential trade involving Kearse was met with mixed responses in the Seahawks fan base. While some back the local product who originally worked his way onto Seattle’s squad as an undrafted free agent, others have criticized his lack of production in 2016. Last year, he caught just 46 percent of his targets, resulting in 41 receptions for 510 yards and one touchdown.

According to Gee, that criticism is fair.

“Even Jermaine Kearse, he will tell you himself out of his own mouth that he had a lower-than-expectations type of season last year,” Gee said. “He wasn’t as productive as he would’ve liked, maybe his team would have liked, and maybe you or us as fans would have liked. We all can agree with that.”

Kearse has been quiet through two preseason games in 2017, but was the team’s leading receiver last week against Kansas City, catching all three of his targets for 59 yards, including a 39-yard highlight reel catch over Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson. It was the kind of game that reminded fans of what Kearse has done in earlier seasons, including one catch in the 2014 NFC Championship that sent the Seahawks to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

Given Kearse’s experience, Gee posed a question to Seahawks fans calling for a trade: Are you ready to go with an unproven wide receiver corp?

Paul Richardson, 25, is one of Seattle’s speediest players and has shown he can make big plays but draws concerns with his injury history. Tyler Lockett, 24, is still recovering from a broken leg and has yet to play in the preseason. And Kasen Williams, 25, has been a standout in training camp and preseason contests, but hype surrounding him is still fresh and he has spent most of his pro career on Seattle’s practice squad.

“If you let (Kearse) out of here, then we are going with some unknown situations,” Gee said. “The only person on that wide receiver corp that, if Kearse is gone, we know is going to be there, is No. 89 (Doug Baldwin).

“The fact that I have not seen Tyler Lockett (in the preseason), the fact that I have not seen Amara Darboh catch a pass, that starts to concern me. And that’s why I have to say I just don’t feel deep down that the Jermaine Kearse trade will happen.”

Kearse isn’t the only Seahawks player who has reportedly been on the trading block. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweeted Thursday morning that cornerback Jeremy Lane and running back Alex Collins have also been shopped around.