Barring a minor miracle, or at least another unforeseen loophole in contract language, the Seattle Seahawks are likely to have a new wide receiver by the end of today.
Nate Burleson, a Seattle native and restricted free agent, will become the Seahawks property unless the Minnesota Vikings find a way to match a creatively-written offer sheet. The Vikings have a deadline today to decide whether to match the seven-year, $49 million offer or accept a third-round draft pick in return.
Like Minnesota did in luring Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle, the Seahawks reportedly added some language in Burleson’s offer sheet that all but guaranteed the Vikings would be unable to match.
Seattle’s offer included a provision that the average salary given to Burleson not amount to more than any running back on the roster or all $49 million would be guaranteed. The Seahawks signed running back Shaun Alexander to an eight-year, $62 million deal last month, while Minnesota’s highest-paid running back is currently recent addition Chester Taylor ($14.1 million over four years, or just over $3.5 million per year).
The offer to Burleson also reportedly included a clause in which he would be paid the entire sum of the contract if he plays more than five games in 2006 in Minnesota.
Because Burleson is a restricted free agent, Minnesota would receive a draft choice based on where he was selected as a rookie – in this case, the third round.
Burleson, who will turn 25 in August, grew up in Seattle and played at O’Dea High School before briefly attending the University of Washington. He eventually transferred to Nevada, where he caught 248 passes in three seasons before the Vikings selected him in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft.
Burleson had a breakout year in 2004, catching 68 passes for 1,006 yards, but saw his performance fall off last season (30 receptions, 328 yards) due in part to a sprained knee that limited him to nine starts.
The addition of Burleson could be particularly important to Seattle considering the loss of free agent Joe Jurevicius and the health of starter Darrell Jackson. According to a recent report in the Tacoma News Tribune, Jackson had a second surgery on his right knee and won’t practice with the team until training camp opens in late July.
A market to corner? The list of available veteran cornerbacks is slowly dwindling, so the Seahawks might have to wait until next month’s draft to address their most pressing need.
Andre Dyson, who played with the Seahawks last season but was released in a salary cap-related move, signed with the New York Jets on Thursday. According to the Bergen Record, Dyson signed a five-year, $11.5 million deal.
The Seahawks were reportedly hoping to re-sign Dyson to a lower salary. Now, the only experienced veteran free agents still available are Ty Law (Jets) and Charles Woodson (Oakland), both of whom could be commanding large contracts.
The Boston Globe reported Thursday that the Seahawks are interested in Law and he has a visit scheduled with the Seahawks next week, but the team’s interest could be contingent on the 32-year-old signing an affordable contract.
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