Tight End Situation

The reason Ryan Hannam left was money. Seattle and Hannam both wanted him to stay. However, Dallas gave him a 4-year, $5 million deal including a $1.25 million signing bonus, while the Seahawks offered him a $500,000 signing bonus. Stevens is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason, and if he plays this year like he finished last season, he might find his way to the pro bowl and be asking for that type of money. Itula Mili is scheduled to make $1 million this season, and $1.2 and $1.5 million the next two seasons. Mili might only have one or two years left, but he has held most of the tight end receiving records for the Seahawks. There was just not enough money for all three guys. Dallas could face the same problem this coming offseason when Jason Witten hits free agency with Hannam and 2nd-round pick Anthony Fasano also on the team.

Hannam brought some interesting things to the table and is better than any our or third TE prospects now, but he was not an exceptional blocker (although clearly better than Stevens or Mili). He is a downgrade in that department for Dallas from Dan Campbell (who went to Detroit in free agency). Will Heller is probably comparable to Hannam in the blocking department. Hannam was undersized and more of an H-back at 6'2", 248. His biggest strength was his ability to get down the field (to block on the second level and in the passing game). Heller is built more like Stevens at 6'6", 265 and is not nearly as fast as Hannam. He can probably make more of an impact around the line of scrimmage and in the red zone. He is a hard-worker and made the team for Ruskell in Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent.

The Seahawks will need to address the tight end situation next offseason, especially if Mili is cut or retires. The free agency pool is fairly deep with Jerramy Stevens, Jason Witten, Eric Johnson, and Daniel Graham all set to be on the market. However, the potential draft pool is very weak at this point and it could be a lot like 2005 when only 8 TEs were taken. That year Heath Miller was the first TE off the board at #30, none were taken in the 2nd, then two went in the 3rd, none in the 4th, one in the 5th, and then two in both the sixth and seventh. Clark Harris (Rutgers) or Matt Spaeth (Minnesota) could be options that are both decent receivers and blockers.