The Seattle Seahawks are going to field one of the league’s most exciting offenses in 2021. It’s a prediction that few would dispute. With Russell Wilson back under center despite some offseason trade rumors, the Seahawks should undoubtedly hit the ground running once again.

One area of Seattle’s offense that let them down a year ago was the production they received from their tight ends in the passing game. Despite the fact that Wilson threw for more than 4,200 yards last season, the Seahawks’ leading receiver at tight end was Will Dissly with a measly 251 receiving yards.

General manager John Schneider clearly identified the tight end position as one that needed upgrading this offseason. The team went through a bit of an overhaul there following the retirement of Greg Olsen paired with the departure of Jacob Hollister in free agency. Enter Gerald Everett, a former division rival who cut his teeth as a former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams. Everett steps into Seattle as the clear-cut favorite to lead the team in snaps at tight end this campaign.

The NFL offseason was crazy and filled with shocking signings and trades galore. It’s easy to understand why Everrett signing a one-year deal in Seattle didn’t receive a ton of national fanfare, but we could very well look back on this signing as one of the smartest moves made by any front office in 2021.

Everett’s addition to Seattle’s offense makes so much sense. They clearly needed a change at tight end and Everett will reunite with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who coached Everett in a variety of roles with the Rams, including stints as Sean McVay’s passing coordinator and tight ends coach.

Everett was regularly overshadowed by Tyler Higbee in Los Angeles. McVay has largely preferred to line up his offense in 11-personnel (one tight end, one running back, and three wide receivers) in L.A., and Higbee was his go-to tight end in that formation. If you think Everett didn’t take that as a slight, think again. He recently found a way to sneak in a shot at his former employer while expressing his excitement to play alongside Wilson.

“I mean, this is the first time in my career playing with a quarterback of Russell’s caliber,” Everett told Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.

On paper, this looks like a match made in heaven. Everett is an excellent athlete that can line up all over the field while giving the Seahawks something they haven’t had in some time as a tight end that can really stretch the field in the passing game. Opposing defenses are going to have a headache when trying to game plan for Seattle’s offense this season.

When pondering the likelihood of Everett experiencing a breakout campaign, it’s not difficult to envision it. He’s playing in an explosive offense with an extremely talented quarterback that he’s bonded with over the summer. He’ll have to share targets and touches with the likes of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Chris Carson, but won’t face any major competition from his fellow tight ends. Point blank, Everett is going to be on the field a lot for Seattle this fall.

If the chemistry that Wilson and Everett have been building all summer long carries over to the regular season, Everett will be one of the league’s most productive tight ends in 2021.