The Seattle Seahawks are reuniting with a familiar face to bolster their receiving corps, but it isn’t Josh Gordon. As the team deals with multiple injuries in training camp, they are now bringing back Paul Richardson to Seattle.
Richardson, a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, is returning to the club where his NFL career began and reuniting with the quarterback who helped him have a breakout season.
Seahawks bolster receiving corps with Paul Richardson
Richardson signed with the Washington Football Team before the 2018 season, striking it rich with a five-year contract worth $40 million. However, due to injuries and poor quarterback play the 6-foot speedster struggled to make big plays with his new team.
After setting career-highs in receptions (44), receiving yards (703) and touchdowns (seven) with the Seahawks in 2017, Richardson’s stats went way down in Washington. Across two seasons, he totaled only 48 receptions for 507 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 17 games.
Washington released him in February, moving on from the free-agent bust after two years. Now, a few seasons after blasting his former club’s culture, Richardson is returning to Seattle.
The Seahawks are particularly thin at wide receiver right now following two recent injuries Phillip Dorsett and John Urshua were sidelined this week and both players are without clear timetables to return. As a result, Seattle is bringing in a talented player who it knows very well.
If Richardson makes the 53-man roster to begin the season, he should have an opportunity to be the No. 4 receiver. While he will be far behind the likes of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for targets, he can make some big plays down the field.
By signing Richardson, it now feels unlikely that Gordon will return to the Seahawks. However, we wouldn’t rule out the team still making a push for Antonio Brown, if he lowers his asking price.