clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Kaelin Clay would fit best with ....

We look at which NFL team Kaelin Clay would fit best with

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

While it does not look like former Utah wide receiver Kaelin Clay will get drafted, he stands a good chance to get picked up as an undrafted free agent. Clay showed some promise at wide receiver for Utah last year, recording 43 receptions for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Where he excelled however was on special teams. He returned four kicks/punts for a touchdown (one kickoff and three punts), leading to him being named an All-American. Clay brought excitement to the return games fans had missed since Reggie Dunn graduated after the 2012 season. Clay has better hands and is overall a more polished wide receiver than Dunn, who currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. The ideal landing spot for Clay is a team that has a need at return man and could use another wide receiver, especially as a deep threat. One team that fits the bill is the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks had a dynamic return man in wide receiver Percy Harvin at the start of the 2014 season, but personal conflict between Harvin and many of his former teammates led Seattle General Manager John Schneider to trade Harvin to the Jets. With Harvin gone, so was Seattle's return game. Wide receiver Paul Richardson showed some promise returning kicks, averaging 23.5 yards per kick return, but he did not return punts. Seattle's main punt returner was wide receiver Brian Walters, who averaged a pedestrian 7.7 yards per punt return. Seattle finished 30th in the NFL in kickoff return average and 25th in punt return average. There is no guarantee Richardson is ready to go for the start of the 2015 season, so the Seahawks will likely want to add a speedy, dangerous return man. When Richardson is back, having him and Clay to return kicks would give the Seahawks a dangerous one-two punch.

The Seahawks have a need at receiver as well, especially with Richardson possibly not being able to go to start the 2015 season. Clay could fill a role as a deep threat for the Seahawk's offense. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll loves players with speed, and quarterback Russell Wilson shows great accuracy on deep passes. Clay would also have Richardson, who is a similar wide receiver, to help mentor him in years to come. With Richardson possibly out, the Seahawks could likely utilize Clay solely as a speedy deep threat at wide receiver, a role he played well at Utah. Clay has enough speed to get separation against NFL defensive backs. He is not the best route runner, but he can easily run simple go routes.

The Seahawks have the most draft picks of any NFL team and have a fairly complete roster without too many holes. While he likely will not get drafted, the Seahawks would be one team that could consider drafting Clay since it would be a low risk pick in the seventh round for Seattle. Seattle is a team that could find ways to utilize Clay's talents while minimizing situations that would showcase his weaknesses.