The Seattle Seahawks upgraded the passing attack with the addition of one of the more prolific pass-catching tight ends in the NFL by trading with Tampa Bay for Kellen Winslow Jr. late Monday.
The Seahawks said they gave up a conditional draft pick in 2013 to obtain Winslow, reportedly a seventh rounder that could be upgraded to a sixth rounder depending on the University of Miami product’s production with Seattle.
Winslow said earlier Monday on a radio show that new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano told him the team planned to trade him.
Seattle has not renegotiated Winslow’s contract. He has three years remaining on his deal, and is due to make $3.3 million in base salary in 2012, $4.5 million in 2013 and $5.5 million in 2014.
Tampa Bay replaced Winslow, who turns 29 on July 21, by signing former Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark to a one-year deal.
The Seahawks had been looking to add a veteran tight end after losing John Carlson to Minnesota in free agency, and had Jacob Tamme and Visanthe Shiancoe in for visits during the first few weeks of free agency. Tamme signed with Denver, while Shiancoe remains available.
But Winslow is the pass-catching tight end Seattle had been looking for to pair with physical run blocker Zach Miller, who signed a five-year, $34 million deal to join the Seahawks in free agency from Oakland before last season.
Miller had a career-low 25 receptions in his first year in Seattle, but was used mainly as a blocker as the Seahawks struggled to protect quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the first half of the season.
Winslow averaged 73 receptions and 792 receiving yards the past three seasons in Tampa Bay.
The Seahawks got an up-close look at his production two seasons ago when Winslow caught seven passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-15 win over the Seattle on Dec. 26, 2010.
At 6-foot-4 and 240-pounds, Winslow was the No. 6 overall selection by Cleveland in 2004. He finished with 219 catches in five seasons with the Browns, including a career-high 89 in 2006.
He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2007. After five seasons, the Browns traded Winslow to Tampa Bay in 2009 for second- and fifth-round draft picks.
For his career, Winslow has 437 receptions for 4,836 yards and 23 touchdowns. He caught 75 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns for Tampa Bay last season, leading the team in receptions.
Winslow is the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow.
Although he hasn’t missed a game in three years, Winslow has regularly been a limited participant in practice at Tampa Bay because of balky knees.
Seattle has seven tight ends on the 90-man roster.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.wiliams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks @eric_d_williams
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