| Andrew Perna. 2nd March, 2009 - 7:19 pm
 He needed longer to decide than he initially thought he would, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the most coveted free agent wide receiver on the market, has finally chosen a home for the 2009 season.
Despite overtures from the Bengals and Vikings, Houshmandzadeh has agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract with the Seahawks. According to multiple reports, the deal includes $15 million in guarantees.
While he was only “officially” on the market for around 90 hours, his name was such a sizzling one on the NFL’s version of the hot stove that Cincinnati beat writers aren’t the only ones that know how to spell Houshmandzadeh anymore.
This offseason’s crop of available pass-catchers was so thin that nearly every team looking to add a top-flight receiver was linked to T.J., but only three ended up having a legitimate chance at his services.
Entering free agency, Houshmandzadeh was head-and-shoulders above every other unrestricted free agent at his position. If he was the top option, and he was, the fight for second place was among Nate Washington, Amani Toomer, Reggie Williams, Bobby Engram, Bryant Johnson and Jabar Gaffney.
Based on that fact, it’s not surprising to see the Seahawks throw $15 million in guaranteed money at a receiver that will turn 32 just a few weeks into the 2009 season.
That is the number that really matters in these free agent signings, because of the non-guaranteed status of NFL contracts. Sure, Albert Haynesworth signed with the Redskins for $100 million, but you and I have just about the same chance of collecting that much from Washington as he does.
I probably should have focused on that fact more in the handful of other GTD pieces wrote over the weekend: (Redskins Sign Haynesworth For $100M, Browns Deal Winslow To Bucs, Washington Gives Hall $54M, Pioli Brings Cassel To Chiefs).
When looking at free agent signings, a receiver is probably most likely to play out the life of his contract and eventually reap the full value of his initial pact. Houshmandzadeh will be 36 when this deal expires, an age at which crafty receivers can still be effective.
Immediately, one might predict a huge season for T.J. considering that he has hauled in a total of 294 receptions for 3,128 yards and 25 touchdowns over the last three seasons, but as Seattle’s roster currently stands, opposing defenses will be able to double him when they feel inclined.
Houshmandzadeh has good hands, and I’d blame a majority of his dropped passes this past season (5) on Carson Palmer’s injury. There’s a reason why the Bengals allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to leave via free agency.
Just as he was the unquestioned top wide receiver on the market over the past few days, Houshmandzadeh will ascend to the top of Seattle’s depth chart right away. Engram, a free agent as mentioned above, led the team in receiving last season with 47 catches for 489 yards and not a one touchdown.
Houshmandzadeh would form a nice one-two combination with Deion Branch, if he could somehow stay healthy, but with Engram and Koren Robinson’s unrestricted free agent status, you have to believe that the Seahawks are going to target another receiver.
I suppose they are “in play” for Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree with the fourth overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, but I’d like to see them go after someone like Shaun McDonald or Devery Henderson, no matter how unlikely of targets they might seem.
The addition of Houshmandzadeh, along with the healthy (cross your fingers) return of Matt Hasselbeck should along the Seahawks to quickly erase the memory of their dreadful 4-12 season. I have maintained all along that they were the most talented four-win team in the NFL last season, and the coaching change won’t be drastic due to the time Jim Mora Jr. put in under Mike Holmgren.
Grade for Seahawks: A-
T.J. appeared to have his choice of destinations, which makes it hard to believe that he’d regret the deal…at least for the next few months. The sizable pay raise, alone, makes the pact a good one for Houshmandzadeh, who will also enjoy a departure from the drama of Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson.
Grade for Houshmandzadeh: A
Losing Houshmandzadeh is dreadful news for the Bengals, who would have had an easier time getting rid of Johnson if T.J. had re-signed. Marvin Lewis has said that he doesn’t anticipate Cincinnati entering the 2009 season without both of their top receivers, and if that holds true, they’ll be stuck with the receiver they most wanted to get rid of in Ocho Cinco.
Grade for Bengals: C-
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM’s Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
