HawkShack.com

The Seahawks are finalizing a trade to send tight end Nick Vannett to the Steelers, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Complete details of the deal weren't immediately known.

Steelers starting tight end Vance McDonald injured his shoulder early in Sunday's loss in San Francisco. His status for Week 4 on Monday night against the Bengals hasn't been announced by the team.

Vannett will join a tight end group in Pittsburgh that includes Xavier Grimble and Zach Gentry. The team also signed Alizé Mack to its practice squad Tuesday.

Vannett, an Ohio State product, is in his fourth season with the Seahawks. He has four catches for 38 yards this year.

Yup, saw that. No word yet on what the Hawks would receive in return.

5th round pick in 2020 according to PFT.

Edit:
PFT is also reporting we are bringing back Luke Willson.

Stupid, for a just a 5th rounder, your losing a serviceable TE. 3rd rounder fine but a 5th no way.

obiken wrote:Stupid, for a just a 5th rounder, your losing a serviceable TE. 3rd rounder fine but a 5th no way.

With Dissly playing at Pro Bowl form, Dickson coming off of IR in a few weeks, their new found interest in Luke Willson, and Jacob Hollister waiting in the wings on the practice squad, Vannett may have been deemed expendable.

It's hard to tell what kind of value the Hawks placed on Vannett. He may have been on the verge of being cut anyway.

I don't think Willson is such a great drop off from Vannett. A 5th seems appropriate.

In 3 weeks Reed will be added to the roster, so someone will have to go then.
I thought they would just add Hollister from the PS, but it doesn't seem to be the plan.

edit:
As well, with Vannett in a contract year, they might not have thought they could re-sign
him to a team friendly (relative to his production) contract, not to mention past success
in selecting players in the 5th round.

When I first heard about this trade, I thought a 7th or MAYBE a 6th rnd pick if we are lucky. Very surprised we got a 5th for a UFA after the season. Good job by JS again.

IMO Vannett and Willson are the same guy. Maybe Luke is a slightly better blocker.

BTW, I wonder if we can get our "conditional" 7th back for Hollister? Barring injury, looks like he won't be on the 53 at all this year.

govandals wrote:When I first heard about this trade, I thought a 7th or MAYBE a 6th rnd pick if we are lucky. Very surprised we got a 5th for a UFA after the season. Good job by JS again.

IMO Vannett and Willson are the same guy. Maybe Luke is a slightly better blocker.

BTW, I wonder if we can get our "conditional" 7th back for Hollister? Barring injury, looks like he won't be on the 53 at all this year.

Luke was pretty fast for a tight end and created some matchup problems for defenses, but I agree that he's pretty much a wash vs. Vannett.

Here's our updated 2020 draft picks, which doesn't include the one we may get for Hollister:

#1-1, #2'-2, #3-1, #4-2, #5-2, #6-1, #7-1

I don't think Willson is such a great drop off from Vannett. A 5th seems appropriate.

I always thought WIllson was better than Vannett. But I haven't followed closely.

Willson has serious speed, in the 4.45 range. Generally speaking he's durable and a fast healer. He returned from a high ankle sprain in one week a couple of years ago. Hes had bigger days than Vannett ever did. And we got a 5th rounder for Vanett and likely got Willson back for a song. Great move by PC and JS.

Hawktawk wrote:Willson has serious speed, in the 4.45 range.

Yep, and as a tight end, it presents some serious match up problems for defenses where he'll be going against linebackers and free safeties. But his Achilles heal is in line blocking, an attribute that is huge in Schott's offense.

Nevertheless, he's at least a wash when compared to Vannett, who never did much in the 3 years he's been with us. I'm good with the trade, too. We now have 10 picks in the 2020 draft. I wouldn't be surprised if we make another move before the trading deadline. Schneider isn't known for hoarding draft picks. He has some money in his pocket and is itching to spend it.

come on you all. If Willson had the same or near skill set TODAY that Vannett does, Pittsburgh would of signed Willson directly instead of giving us a 5th for Vannett.

You need to look past what he did 3 -5 years ago and concentrate on the fact he was released from 2 teams ahead of our FA signing.

jshawaii22 wrote:come on you all. If Willson had the same or near skill set TODAY that Vannett does, Pittsburgh would of signed Willson directly instead of giving us a 5th for Vannett.

You need to look past what he did 3 -5 years ago and concentrate on the fact he was released from 2 teams ahead of our FA signing.

They're different players with different skill sets, Vannett the better in line blocker, Willson the better receiver. Obviously Willson's availability influenced the Hawks to pounce on a trade opportunity.

And as North Hawk pointed out, Vannett was going to be a free agent at the end of the season anyway, and we might not have felt he would be worth the market value it would take to resign him.