The Seattle Seahawks had a successful campaign in the 2020 regular season, ruling the stacked NFC West with a 12-4 record. However, head coach Pete Carroll and his Seahawks failed to translate their success in the playoffs, falling short against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round via a 30-20 defeat.
After seeing such a short trip to the postseason, the Seahawks are definitely not satisfied and will be eager to get back on their feet this season, especially after all the Russell Wilson trade rumors. Wide receiver DK Metcalf is expected to be one of the leaders of their offense upon entering his third season in the league. Last year, he had a stellar campaign with a Second-Team All-Pro selection and is poised to improve even more in 2021.
Aside from the Ole Miss product, the Seahawks also have another intriguing talent in tight end Gerald Everett who could very well be their X-Factor for the 2021 season. In today's NFL, the tight end position has become more valuable, especially for teams who are aiming to be title contenders. Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Rob Gronkowski have all been instrumental in powering their squads toward Super Bowl appearances over the past couple of years.
Everett is already poised to be Seattle's starting tight end for Week 1. Looking back, the 27-year-old vet spent the early years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, where he stayed for four seasons from 2017 to 2020. He managed to see action in most games but never secured a starting role for head coach Sean McVay during his stint with the team. Last season, he tallied career-best numbers of 417 receiving yards on 41 receptions to go with a lone touchdown in 16 appearances. After spending most of his career playing behind Tyler Higbee, Everett decided to part ways with the Rams and signed with the Seahawks during the offseason.
In recent years, Seattle didn't have a tight end who put up big numbers. A three-time Pro Bowler in Greg Olsen only suited up for the Seahawks for a lone season in 2020 before choosing to retire after 14 years in the league. Another tight end in Luke Willson was also forced to hang up his cleats due to a heart issue that caused him to be hospitalized in the offseason. Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister put up modest numbers, and Hollister is now gone.
All these tight end departures certainly opened up an opportunity for Everett to get the biggest break of his career thus far. With a starting role, he is now in a position to make valuable contributions to his new team on a regular basis, unlike in previous years.
After the offseason rift between Wilson and the team, it is extremely crucial for the offensive players to step up and provide sufficient help for their star quarterback on the field. Getting a chance to play a vital role will certainly elevate Everett's career as he aims to prove that he is indeed capable of being a TE1 in the league.
It remains to be seen how effective Everett can be as a regular starter, but the window of opportunity is definitely up for grabs for the South Alabama talent. He will just have to maximize his chances and be ready to deliver whenever his number is called on the field.
Ultimately, the success of the Seahawks will still lie on the shoulders of Russell Wilson along with DK Metcalf and their other core players. However, fans can't overlook the level of impact that Gerald Everett can bring to the table, especially once he gets to find his way within Pete Carroll's system. If all things fall into place, the Seahawks will definitely be in a great position to have a stronger playoff run in 2021.
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