San Francisco 49ers: Stacking up the tight ends against the NFC West

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DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 08: Ed Dickson #84 of the Carolina Panthers fights for yardage against the Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field on October 8, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Seattle Seahawks

Key Contributors: Nick Vannett, Ed Dickson

Quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks saw the team’s best tight end, Jimmy Graham, walk away and sign a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers.

Although, arguably, they may not even notice given that they never fully exploited his talents the way Drew Brees and the Saints did. As a member of the Seahawks for the last three years, he averaged just 57 receptions after averaging 89 a year in New Orleans.

In three years with Seattle, Graham put up 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns, while in five seasons with the Saints, he was putting up some serious numbers with 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns.

For a time, Graham was one of the more dominant tight ends in the game – and we saw but glimpses of it in Seattle.

Now, the Seahawks are led by Nick Vannett and Ed Dickson. Who? You’ll be forgiven if you don’t know.

Dickson is heading into his ninth-year – though his first with Seattle. Last year for Carolina, he put up 437 yards and a touchdown on 30 catches – the second highest totals of his career.

The Seahawks also have Nick Vannett, who at six-foot-six, 261 pounds, has been bestowed with the nickname “Baby Gronk.” So far in his career though, he’s been the anti-Gronk, posting just 15 total receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown.

To replace the production they lost when Graham walked, the Seahawks are going to need Dickson to play up to the level he was at last year – and get more of a contribution from Vannett, if they want to keep the chains moving and provide Wilson with some much needed pass catching help.