Getty The Seahawks are trading for Eagles WR/TE JJ Arcega-Whiteside.
The Seattle Seahawks are making a preseason trade.
Not long after it was reported that the Seahawks had planned to release defensive back Ugo Amadi, Seattle is trading Amadi to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver/tight end JJ Arcega-Whiteside, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“Trade! The #Eagles are sending WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside to the #Seahawks for DB Ugo Amadi, per sources,” reported Pelissero on Monday, August 15.
Arcega-Whiteside is a former second-round draft selection of the Eagles back in 2019. However, he never panned out as a viable receiver in the passing game, posting just 16 receptions for 290 yards and one touchdown in 40 games and seven starts. His shortcomings as a receiver led to a positional move to tight end during this offseason. The 25-year-old receiver opened up on his move to tight end on Friday, August 12, via Zach Berman of The Athletic.
“Spoke to Arcega-Whiteside on Friday. On move to TE: ‘I’m always open to challenges. Last year, I was a big-bodied WR who was good at blocking, so I figured why not try doing it in the trenches and see how it works. If not, I’m still a big-bodied WR. Nothing really changes.'”
Why Seahawks Acquired Arcega-Whiteside
As noted by ESPN’s Brady Henderson, the Seahawks plan to use Arcega-Whiteside as a hybrid receiver/tight end. He is currently listed at 6-foot-2, 237 pounds.
“The Seahawks plan to use Arcega-Whiteside as a hybrid WR/TE, I’m told,” says Henderson. “The Eagles moved him to TE earlier this offseason and list him at 6-2, 237.”
With the Seahawks keeping Arcega-Whiteside in a tight end role, the move gives the Seahawks a blocker at the position with Noah Fant and Will Dissly projected as the top two players at tight end. Meanwhile, third-year man Colby Parkinson, second-year player Tyler Mabry and Arcega-Whiteside will likely battle for the last tight end spot.
According to Pro Football Focus, Arcega-Whiteside posted a 78.3 pass-blocking grade last year, ranking fourth among all receivers during the 2021 season.
As Henderson also noted, receiver Cody Thompson suffering a shoulder injury and being placed on injured reserve also led to the trade for Arcega-Whiteside.
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Seahawks Originally Planned to Cut Amadi
It had been reported by Henderson earlier in the day that Seattle would release Amadi as part of first cuts to trim the roster down to 85 players.
“The Seahawks plan to cut DB Ugo Amadi as part of their first wave of roster reductions, a source tells me,” reported Henderson. “Amadi has been a rotational player at nickel and has been competing with Marquise Blair and Justin Coleman for that job. Teams have to trim their rosters to 85 by tomorrow.”
Amadi was entering his fourth season with the Seahawks after he was selected with a fourth-round draft pick back in 2019. The 25-year-old free safety posted 54 tackles last season while starting seven of his 17 appearances. In addition to his regular role on defense, Amadi also appeared in 49 percent of the unit’s special teams snaps last year.
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