The Seahawks agreed to trade tight end Nick Vannett to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2020 draft. The trade is pending a physical from Vannett.
A 2016 third-round pick (No. 94 overall) out of Ohio State, Vannett appeared in 42 games (16 starts) for Seattle, recording 48 catches for 463 yards and four scores. His 2018 season with the Seahawks included career-bests in receptions (29), yards (269), and touchdowns (3). This season, Vannett has four catches for 38 yards.
"Thank you Seattle! You welcomed in a kid from Ohio with open arms and showed nothing but the best support from day 1," Vannett tweeted earlier Wednesday. "It's been an honor to wear the blue and green the last few years. No feelings but love and gratitude for the Seahawk organization and the city of Seattle!"
Vannett has been the Seahawks' backup tight end through the first three games of 2019 behind Will Dissly, a University of Washington product and fourth-round pick (No. 120 overall) from a year ago. Dissly has impressed with 12 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns in three games with the Seahawks this year after returning from a torn patellar tendon that brought an early end to what looked to be a promising rookie campaign.
Outside of Dissly and Vannett, the Seahawks don't have any tight ends listed on their roster, although offensive tackle George Fant often lines up to play a similar role in Seattle's offense. The team could add more help at the position to deal with Vannett's absence, but it's also worth noting veteran tight end Ed Dickson, who started the season on injured reserve, would be eligible to come off the list and move to the active roster as early as the eighth week of the season. The Seahawks also have tight end Jacob Hollister, an offseason trade acquisition, on their practice squad.
