Seahawks Sign Ex-Panthers WR/KR Laviska Shenault

Coming off a disappointing tenure in Carolina, the Seattle Seahawks will take a flier on Laviska Shenault to compete for a roster spot on offense and special teams.

Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Bolstering depth on offense and special teams, the Seattle Seahawks have added more speed and explosiveness to their receiving corps in the form of ex-Panthers wideout Laviska Shenault.

According to agent David Canter of Football GSE Worldwide, who represents Shenault, the former second-round pick has signed with the Seahawks. Length and terms of the contract have yet to be disclosed, but per sources, the deal should be a one-year pact near veteran minimum.

After starring at Desoto High School in Texas, Shenault emerged as one of college football's most versatile playmakers at Colorado, racking up 1,943 receiving yards, 280 rushing yards, and 17 touchdowns in three seasons on campus. Though his numbers as a junior dropped significantly after eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2018, he opted to bypass his final year of eligibility to enter the draft and the Jaguars selected him with the 42nd overall pick in the second round.

In his first season in Jacksonville, Shenault showed signs of being a budding star, catching 58 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns while adding 91 rushing yards. But while he produced 619 yards in 2021, he didn't find the end zone once and struggled to catch the football, finishing second in the NFL with 10 dropped passes and first in dropped pass percentage.

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (15) runs / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Frustrated by his drops and lack of development, Jacksonville dealt Shenault to Carolina at the tail end of training camp in August 2022 in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round pick and 2024 sixth-round pick. In two seasons as a reserve with the Panthers, he caught 37 passes for 332 yards and one touchdown while adding 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, ultimately ending last season on injured reserve with an ankle sprain.

A powerful runner with the ball in his hands who can rack up yardage in bunches after the catch, the 6-2, 220-pound Shenault hasn't been as reliable as hoped as a receiver, but he offers the flexibility to play in the slot as well as the backfield and has frequently been used as a runner on jet sweeps in the past. Where he may fit in best with the Seahawks, however, will be on special teams, where he returned six kickoffs for 137 yards last season.

As general manager John Schneider noted last month at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando, Seattle has been reevaluating personnel on special teams as a result of the recently passed rule change on kickoffs. With the number of returns expected to go up, bringing in an explosive athlete of Shenault's caliber to compete for a roster spot in that capacity makes a great deal of sense.

With Shenault on board looking to jumpstart his career with the Seahawks, even more pressure will be on former second-round pick Dee Eskridge, who recently had his contract restructured to save a bit of cap space after not catching a single pass in a suspension and injury-riddled 2023 season. Those two players will have plenty of competition for a roster spot in a crowded receiving room, including returning contributors Jake Bobo and Dareke Young.