Cornerback DeShawn Shead and tight end Luke Willson have agreed to new contracts with the Seattle Seahawks. Financial terms are not yet available. Shead spent the last five years with the Seahawks, while Willson has been with the team for four years.
Report: #Seahawks bringing back CB DeShawn Shead, TE Luke Willson https://t.co/C9n6hzU1jM pic.twitter.com/Veq6Ok6rUA
— Stephen Cohen (@scohenPI) March 17, 2017
DeShawn Shead Re-Signs With the Seattle Seahawks
Shead was a four-year starter at defensive back for Portland State, compiling more than 200 tackles and 11 interceptions in his time there. He was also voted the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back by his teammates and earned second All-Big Sky in his junior season. Shead switched to safety later in his collegiate career but returned to corner in the NFL.
The 28-year-old signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 as an undrafted free agent and was released after the completion of training camp. He was quickly re-signed to the Seahawks practice squad prior to the regular season. He was promoted to the active roster a little over a year later.
Shead eventually won the starting cornerback job opposite pro-bowler Richard Sherman after a positional competition with Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon due to Byron Maxwell‘s departure to the Philadelphia Eagles. He quickly adjusted to the starting role and earned the job full-time. Although Shead completed the 2016 season with 57 tackles and only one interception, he presented a promising future as a defensive back and starter.
During the 2016 divisional playoff round, Shead tore his ACL in Seattle’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, ending the Seahawks season as well as his own. He underwent a successful surgery nearly two weeks later. A few weeks later, Seahawks general manager John Schneider responded on the question of Shead’s impending return, stating that he does not believe Shead will be ready for the start of 2017, and could instead plan a return to the field later in the season.
Willson had 15 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns last season. Mainly a blocking tight end, he has 74 career receptions and six career touchdowns.
