WR Jermaine Kearse re-signs with Seahawks 3yrs/13.5m

[olyfan63]

Love this signing. Bargain for the Hawks.
Kearse has such incredible value to this team, and many don't see it, focused on only evaluating his passing game WR skills, which are good, but not great.

Kearse gives this team a legit deep threat, not so much with his speed, but with his ability to win the ball in the air. Because of that, opposing defenses have to respect the deep ball way more than without Kearse.

Wilson's chemistry with Kearse is fantastic. The reason is that J. Kearse is a very, very smart football player, reads defenses, knows exactly how Mr. R. Wilson thinks, and is on the same page with him in real time on the field, and is a key guy Wilson looks for when scrambling. I used to dog on Kearse a bit too, then when I really watched him, I started to notice the little things he does that make all the difference, making the right reads, selling the route and making the cut at just the right time as Wilson delivers the ball right on time for a catch. It's true that in some ways Kearse has lesser physical talent/pure speed/ankle-breaking cuts (see Mr. D. Baldwin and Mr. T. Lockett for ankle-breaking), but damned if Kearse doesn't get the most out of what he has with dogged hard work and smarts.

And how many WR's block a punt for you and catch a TD pass for you in the same game? Kearse did that in the Dallas beatdown, the Golden Tate-Sean Lee game. Kearse has been a stud on special teams, and we all know Pete loves special teams contributors.

Others have pointed out Kearse's strong blocking in the running game, and that is a big factor as well.

None of that really matters though; in the final analysis, Kearse earned his whole contract and more on one play, the 2013 4th-and-7 TD against the 49ers that sent us to the Super Bowl. Kearse earned it again with the overtime catch to send us to the Super Bowl AGAIN in 2014. And then Kearse earned the contract YET AGAIN with the miracle catch vs. the Patriots to put us in range of what should have been our second Lombardi trophy.

Kearse is an absolute bargain at that contract and a key contributor on this team, doing the dirty work as well as at crucial times, the flashy work. Welcome back Jermaine, glad to have you!

 

[kearly]

While I'm not particularly big on Kearse, Seattle needed an X receiver one way or another. Whoever they brought in would have to be ready to play 80-90% of the snaps. Lockett and Richardson can rotate into that spot fine, but neither is a guy you want to see getting jammed all game long. They're better in motion and off the line of scrimmage. Also, if you want explosive runs, you probably don't want three tiny receivers and Jimmy Graham blocking downfield. Consider how much of a factor guys like Fitzgerald and Floyd bring to Arizona's running game. It's huge. Kasen and Kevin have potential, but we don't know that they're ready to be THAT guy on a consistent basis.

This may have been inevitable as soon as Rishard Matthews got priced out. No other decent options as a potential X, really, which is kind of unfortunate. Just hope this doesn't ultimately cost us Okung.

All good points.

Additionally, this upcoming draft has very few WRs with the athletic profile that Seattle prefers. Seattle might draft a guy in the late rounds as a project, but I very much doubt JS wanted to enter the draft feeling like he needed another WR.

I was impressed by Kevin Smith at UW and in the 2015 preseason, but it felt like he squandered his opportunities in the 2015 regular season. If Smith had looked good, or if this draft had been much more athletic at WR, I think Seattle would have just let Kearse walk, even for very little money.

Seattle can always cut or trade Kearse if they feel that they don't need him later on. As much as I like Kearse, I see this signing as being more about keeping options open than committing to the guy. Best to keep him around until Baldwin signs his extension and Richardson/Graham prove they can stay healthy.

Kearse had half of a very good season last year. If he keeps it up he might solidify his long term role, but until then I'm guessing that the FO sees him as more of an insurance policy than a fixture.

 

[vin.couve12]

Doug's case is really an interesting one. He's really not the fastest strait line WR. He probably still runs in the high 4.4s, but where Doug is truly elite is in his quickness. His 6.56 3 cone blows others away. Even guys like DeSean Jackson. You might be able to catch up to him, but when he cuts he really gets a lot of separation. When RW really began to get through a quick one two three progression with more proficiency and efficiency (visibly gunshy earlier in the year), that's where a WR like Baldwin is really deadly because he can get the ball on time just after or even during those separating cuts.

Baldwin isn't the most scheme diverse guy either. With a younger guy that camps on the ball and just tries to push the ball downfield all day, he won't look as good. However, with a more efficient quick read QB he'll look absolutely deadly. He could take a Wes Welker type role and kill it. Him with Brady...their combined timing and efficiency would be bad. Very, very bad.

 

[kearly]

Summary of my point: it's tough enough to be physical in spread. But if you're spread AND all your receivers are tiny little finesse guys and your TE can't block, you're really setting yourself up to get punched in the mouth.

That's why I don't think a Baldwin/Lockett/Richardson/Graham receiving unit is a workable base solution. Mix everyone in, fine, but you need at least one guy who can punch back, if not more.

I completely agree. That said, I'll go to bat for Doug Baldwin's run blocking. It's a lot better than it should be for someone at his size.

Tyler Lockett's run blocking is pretty pretty bad though. It's like watching Jon Ryan block.

I've seen it happen all the time where yards (and TDs) were left on the field because of bad WR blocking. It's actually pretty important for any team, but it's extra important for a team with a rabbit QB and an OC who loves bubble screens.

 

[Crizilla]

To people who don't really like this new deal, If kearse blocks out browner and butler doesn't get to lockette, would you be happier with this new contract?

 

[Scottemojo]

To people who don't really like this new deal, If kearse blocks out browner and butler doesn't get to lockette, would you be happier with this new contract?

That one will forever and always be on the OC, not Kearse. Kearse was asked to win a battle he physically should not be able to win.

 

[kearly]

A year ago, I would have been annoyed by this, even after the clutch plays. But in 2015, Kearse really found himself a nice niche as a short-yardage option in Bevell's new system. You need one of those guys for the spread to really work.

People keep talking about this spread.

I have no confidence that we are going to suddenly do it and damn the power running game that Pete loves. He loves physical football, the spread isn't that. I don't think a few games of production will force Pete to change his philosophy. When we couldn't run the ball with Tavaris a few years ago he went shot gun, hurry up. That worked well but he didn't stick with it.

I just need to see more before I think this team is suddenly different in philosophy than the smash mouth running team we have had.

One of the things I love about Pete is that he will do anything to win games or fix problems, even if that means deriving from his personal preferences. It allows him to succeed where most other coaches would be rigid and fail.

I don't know if Seattle will be a spread team for the rest of Russell's career, but I do think it's pretty likely they'll be a spread heavy team until they are confident that the OL can survive switching back. And that might be a while.

 

[peppersjap]

I hate it. That is over 4 million that could have been used for the offensive line or other needs. Apparently there was no market for him because I did not see one mention of him over the last few days. I really do like the guy but at less than he is going to make. These contracts being signed this year are unreal, Kearse making more than Baldwin and Irvin making way more than Bennett. Then you throw in Mark Barron for the Rams making way more than Kam. This might be an ugly off season.

 

[peppersjap]

Im sure all of you who dont like this deal or dont like Kearse cheered so loud when this guy did this to send us to the superbowl..

Or this in the championship game with about 13 minutes to go for the go ahead points to go on to WIN the superbowl




Or idk..THIS in the superbowl was pretty legit



He JUST turned 26 and is that big play WR we need, especially in the playoffs. 4 or so million a year is a good deal to keep a WR Wilson has had success with

Its not like we are paying a bunch for WR right now. COMBINED we are only paying out 11million or so i believe and one of the lowest in the league in spending on WR.

I cheered very loudly when he caught that perfectly placed pass against GB in the NFC championship game! I also was pissed on the 3 interceptions that were caused because he couldn't hang onto the ball in the same game. He makes spectacular plays but he makes many boneheaded ones too or just disappears as he did for quite a few games last year. He is also the one who said he was looking forward to moving on to another team!

 

[bbsplitter]

People quickly forget that Richardson beat out Kearse his rookie year late in the year.

Kearse played vastly better this past year in my opinion, I still think it's possible we slightly overpaid for him and that money would of been better spent elsewhere.

I think its too early to tell at this point. I think if JS/PC have a plan - along the lines of spending a lot of draft capital on O-linemen, and the money aspect never comes back to bite us - I approve of this signing. And lets be honest, they had the opportunity to match Mebane's fairly affordable contract - and they chose not to. Kearse is a very un-selfish blocker, has increasingly improved his route running and catching, and overall seems to have great team chemistry. This won't be a back-breaking contract to get out of after a year if one of the other cheaper options at WR show him up during the season.

Overall I think it is a good deal. If the money really could have been spent at a much larger glaring need - most likely that glaring need would not have been fixed with the type of money they will be paying him, or with just one player.

 

[BlueTalon]

A year ago, I would have been annoyed by this, even after the clutch plays. But in 2015, Kearse really found himself a nice niche as a short-yardage option in Bevell's new system. You need one of those guys for the spread to really work.

People keep talking about this spread.

I have no confidence that we are going to suddenly do it and damn the power running game that Pete loves. He loves physical football, the spread isn't that. I don't think a few games of production will force Pete to change his philosophy. When we couldn't run the ball with Tavaris a few years ago he went shot gun, hurry up. That worked well but he didn't stick with it.

I just need to see more before I think this team is suddenly different in philosophy than the smash mouth running team we have had.

You talk like it's only ever one or the other. We mixed it up a lot last year.

 

[BlueTalon]

On the topic of Kearse and his contract -- did we overpay? Perhaps. But besides all the tangibles and intangibles that have already been discussed in this thread, there is value for the Seahawks in having the issue settled. It allows them to plan for the draft with one less thing to worry about. I consider any "overpay" to be piece-of-mind insurance.

 

[TwilightError]

There is no way of getting anything close as good cheaper. Having the wide receiver core set for next season is just great. Allows focus on everything else. That being both of our lines...

Besides I have learned to trust Kearse recently. As it was said by someone, you pay for what you are going to get, not what you used to get.

 

[SomersetHawk]

In terms of a Free Agency comparison, Kearse measures up pretty well to Rishard Matthews who just got paid $15m for 3 years.

He's a WR3 who put up over 800 yards with 7TDs last season, there's a very good chance he could have been productive elsewhere, and maybe on one of our WR-needy rivals like the Patriots or Panthers. Whilst Kearse has had quiet regular season games against Carolina, over the last two post-season matchups Kearse has put up 239 yards and 3TDs.

 

[Bryce84]

I see a lot of comments on Kearse being a good blocker and I feel like we've been watching two different players. He did improve in 2015 but he's generally been very not good in that area, and he's definitely still not a better blocker than Baldwin. I believe he graded out as one of the worst blocking WRs in 2014 so hopefully his upward trend continues, but until I see that 2015 wasn't an aberration for him as a blocker, I'll still believe he's not very good in that area.

I also see comments on Russ "trusting" Kearse to bring down the jump balls that adds to his value. Do you REALLY think that Russ isn't going to trust any other WR he'd throw those passes to? Cause if you don't, I don't think you've paid attention to the persona of our franchise QB very much.

Either way, I don't want to come off as completely bashing the move because we've yet to see if the offensive philosophy is going to shift more toward the pass game going forward. If it is, then this is a solid signing. If we're going to remain a primarily run-based offense, paying this much for a #3/4 WR is not money well spent (in my opinion), as I stated in my first post.

 

[hawknation2016]

Complaining about a player returning: :34853_doh:

 

[massari]

I'll bet the same people who are loving Kearse at 4.5M per are going to be the same people complaining about the OL all season. :stirthepot:

 

[TorontoHawk]

I'm good with it. I'm meh with it. Beats a kick in the...

Nothing really to get exited about, I think we were fine without him.

 

[Hawkfan77]

Good signing I like it. Didn't expect it but I'm glad they're keeping their guys when they can

 

[Mick063]

Kearse has an excellent target/drop ratio. He has a large catch radius. He makes big plays in big games.

I love this signing.