Why NFL’s new kickoff rules shouldn’t factor into Dee Eskridge’s Seahawks future

A couple of weeks ago, Field Gulls’ own John P. Gilbert did his early 53-man Seattle Seahawks roster projection and included wide receiver Dee Eskridge and omitted Jake Bobo, citing in part Eskridge’s potential to contribute in the revamped kick return game. Eskridge had the last year of his rookie contract restructured.

I did a similar roster projection prior to the start of rookie minicamp, and I left Eskridge out and added, “I’m not fooled by one good kick return.”

The new kickoff rules, which should in theory discourage touchbacks and encourage more returns, may genuinely be an interesting wrinkle in final roster cuts. I also feel like we might be overthinking this a bit.

Unlike punts, which you want to force as much as possible, you don’t want to force the other team into kickoffs, otherwise you’ve allowed points. In the optimal world, the only kick return you’re fielding is the one to open the first or second half, but we know that’s not possible on a weekly basis.

While it’s expected that there will be rejuvenated value in return specialists, I’m not sure that in itself that will be enough to keep Eskridge (or Tennessee UDFA Dee Williams) on the roster.

Using the last three seasons worth of data from Stathead, the average number of non-onside kick kickoffs per game is about 10. The Seahawks have faced 262 regular kickoffs (with 157 returns) over their last 51 games, good for an average of 5.14 per game.

Is it really worth using a roster spot on someone because they might have a big kick return with one of their (on average) five attempts?

Here are the top 10 players in kick return attempts since 2021, and their relative involvement in their respective teams’ offense or defense in that same three-season span:

DeAndre Carter (WR)* - 74 catches for 873 yards and 6 touchdowns; 15 rushes for 92 yards

Braxton Berrios (WR)* - 91 catches for 814 yards and 3 touchdowns; 17 rushes for 142 yards and 4 touchdowns

Ray-Ray McCloud (WR)* - 65 catches for 665 yards and 1 touchdown; 9 rushes for 123 yards and 1 touchdown

Kene Nwangwu (RB) - 27 rushes for 88 yards; 6 catches for 30 yards

Keisean Nixon (CB)* - 103 tackles, 6 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 0.5 sacks, 17 games started

DeeJay Dallas (RB)* - 78 rushes for 360 yards and 2 touchdowns; 44 catches for 285 yards

Jamal Agnew (WR/CB)* - 61 catches for 641 yards and 5 touchdowns; 23 rushes for 195 yards

Ameer Abdullah (RB) - 70 rushes for 275 yards; 82 catches for 631 yards and 2 touchdowns

Devin Duvernay (WR)* - 74 catches for 697 yards and 5 touchdowns; 23 rushes for 149 yards and 1 touchdown

Godwin Igwebuike (RB) - 21 rushes for 122 yards and 1 touchdown; 8 catches for 63 yards

* - Player doubled as a primary punt returner

Only Nwangwu, Abdullah, and Igwebuike didn’t double up as punt returners. Nwangwu and Igwebuike were the only scarce contributors on offense, and that’s probably why Igwebuike isn’t on an NFL roster right now. In Nwangwu’s case, he was second-team All-Pro was a kick returner in 2022. Every other offensive player here can be reasonably classified as a receiving back or a third/fourth option wide receiver.

Eskridge didn’t return punts in college, hasn’t returned punts in the NFL, and is not expected to have those duties this year. This means that his game is limited exclusively to kickoffs and whatever he can do as a wide receiver, which has been very little. As a reminder, the history of receivers drafted as early as Eskridge having even moderately successful careers with such scant productivity through three seasons is unheard of. Most of the other players in Dee’s vicinity were not on an NFL roster in their fourth season.

If we assume that DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the top three receivers, then Eskridge is fighting to be WR4. He’s already been outproduced by Jake Bobo. He may also be challenged by Laviska Shenault Jr, who may be considered a draft bust, but he’s been far more productive than Eskridge on worse teams. While Shenault is a recent convert to returning kicks in the NFL, he’s also had 58- and 63-catch seasons under his belt.

It’s been theorized that new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb may be able to get the best out of him in the way Shane Waldron couldn’t. I am not so easily persuaded by the hypothesis that coaching was the problem. What about the coaching was so difficult for Eskridge that he was instantly outperformed by undrafted free agent Jake Bobo? Or that he lost out on snaps to age 32 Marquise Goodwin? The many injuries (including a serious concussion) have surely had an impact on Eskridge’s development (or lack thereof), but it can’t be the exclusive reason.

Eskridge’s route tree has not been expansive in limited playing time in Seattle. We’ve seen him close to the line of scrimmage and occasionally get a jet sweep handoff. The limited route tree was described as a weakness in multiple pre-draft scouting reports, and the next contested catch he makes will be his first.

If Eskridge is going to be rostered, it’s because he finally made tangible strides in camp as a wide receiver, not because he might get to do more kick returns (which are not in itself a guarantee he’ll be consistently successful). He’ll have to show something to justify touches on offense when there are at least seven more deserving players who will get those opportunities.

I have my doubts that drastic change is coming for someone entering his age 27 season and ninth year combined between college and the pros.