Potential Bills Free Agent: WR D.J. Hackett

by Brian Galliford on Feb 12, 2008 7:00 AM EST in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Hackett an underrated free agent wideout (Aggie Skirball/WireImage)

What is the Buffalo Bills' biggest need this off-season? This community says it's neck-and-neck between defensive tackle and wide receiver; needless to say, there are a huge amount of Bills fans who would like nothing more to see the Bills add a wide receiver this off-season.

There are certainly more attractive wide receiver names that may or may not be available this off-season, but Seahawks WR D.J. Hackett may be the best fit in Buffalo. Flying under the radar as a free agent somewhat, the 26-year-old Hackett was a key cog in a successful aerial attack in Seattle. Though he's battled injuries throughout most of his career, he's been productive when healthy - in six games last season, he caught 32 passes for 384 yards and three scores. He also played a key role in a playoff win over the Washington Redskins.

Field Gulls' Take
Few Seahawks fans have watched the beginning of Hackett's career with a keener eye than John Morgan, head blogger of a truly excellent Seahawks blog called Field Gulls (a proud member of SB Nation). Mr. Morgan has a very sharp football mind (not to mention a sharp wit), and was kind enough to give us a first-hand perspective on Hackett. His insight is very intriguing...

Hackett seemed to have an impact on the Seahawks' offense when he was healthy enough to play. What are the chances that the Seahawks re-sign him?

Hackett is a very good receiver - when healthy. It's very unlikely Seattle re-signs him, because he's among the top receiver talents in free agency, Tim Ruskell seems determined to reshape Seattle's roster in his image and because Seattle has among the smallest amounts of cap space in the NFL. Too many teams will be able to throw big cash at Hacks that the Hawks simply will not be able to match. While I'd love to see Seattle re-sign Hacks at something equitable given his actual production, I doubt it.

Speaking of those injuries, do you see Hackett as a guy who can't avoid the injury bug?

Injuries are a dicey thing to project, but Hack's recurring high ankle sprains should be enough to give any team pause. A high ankle sprain is a serious injury that requires at least 6 weeks to recuperate from (non-TO, who's either a cyborg, a true freak of nature or a PED-infused cheater.) Further compounding this worrisome predilection is that sprains themselves can increase the probability of recurrence. One might hear "high ankle sprain" and think it not as serious as other injuries, but long term instability or even arthritis caused by recurring sprains can be debilitating, performance reducing or even career ending.

What would you say are the basic strengths and weaknesses of Hackett's game?

Hackett is a crisp route runner, who's adept at losing a DB mid-route. He also has excellent jumps and jump ball skills and timing. That makes him a deep and red zone threat despite sub-optimal top speed. Hackett is quick, but lacks the ability to shed true cover corners. He's a high value per-reception player, but fails to get open consistently enough to truly take over a game. An exceptional slot player that may be a bit overvalued because of success against subpar or Cover-2 type corners.

Discussion Time
I'd like to thank John Morgan once again for taking the time this early in the off-season to answer some questions about a player he may not be cheering for in the near future.

Hackett is an incredibly intriguing option to me. With players like Bryant Johnson at the head of the free agent receivers list (and with players like Randy Moss and Roy Williams potentially available), a Hackett signing would make a lot of sense for a Bills team that probably doesn't have to break the bank to increase effectiveness at the position. Hackett has the size, muscle and red zone capabilities to be the chain-moving red zone threat that the club has lacked since Eric Moulds donned the red, white and blue.

His injuries, however, are disconcerting. It would undoubtedly make me a bit nervous if the Bills brought Hackett into the fold without thoroughly checking out his injury history and passing a physical or two. We saw how ineffective the wideouts became when Peerless Price was injured this past season - and that was just Peerless Price. The player we bring in needs to be in the lineup, it's as simple as that.

I'd love to hear your thoughts not only on Hackett and his impending free agency, but how you'd like to see these bios/interviews structured as we move forward. Be sure to check out our free agent database, a one-stop shop where you can track all of these interviews. Have at it, folks.

Seahawks WR D.J. Hackett
Year	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	FL
2005	13	28	400	14.3	2	0
2006	14	45	610	13.6	4	0
2007	6	32	384	12.0	3	0
TOT	3	105	1394	13.3	9	0

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Comments

Hackett

I like D.J.'s ability, and think that if he could stay healthy, he would be a great fit. However Brian hit the nail on the head, when he mentioned what the loss of Price did to the receivers last year, whomever the Bills get to be the #2 guy, has to be able to stay healthy. I would put Hackett behind Johnson, and Wilford on my wish list, for that reason.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Feb 12, 2008 7:16 AM EST reply actions

Hackett would be an upgrade over Reed

I like DJ Hackett. I think he has legitimate talent and besides his recent injuries, his numbers were hindered in Seattle simply because of Matt Hasselbeck's ability to spread the ball around to a cluster of wide receivers. However, like Ernest Wilford, I still see Hackett as more a of a better option than Josh Reed in the slot as a 3rd receiver/red zone target than as the answer to our black hole on the outside opposite Lee Evans. I don't think Josh Reed is any better than a 4th receiver, but the problem for him is that Roscoe Parrish is an elite punt returner who was just signed to an extension, basically locking down the "4th spot" on the roster where Josh Reed could be useful. These bargain bin receivers we're looking at can be useful players, but they're not going to solve the worst offense Buffalo has fielded in the post-Ferragamo era. Buck up and grab a true difference maker via trade or free agency or bite the bullet and draft one in the 1st or 2nd round. Even if your argument is that 1st year receivers aren't going to be major contributors (And I still say this is nothing but ESPN-induced rhetoric as players at any position are 50/50 or so in terms of their chances of being able to contribute immediately), this receiver problem needs a real fix and not just more band aids. Josh Reed's not having size, speed, or good hands makes him a liability in his current role and I fully endorse the idea of signing someone like DJ Hackett to replace him. Now, let's look at finding a player that will replace the 2002 version of Peerless Price which Buffalo has not gotten right in five consecutive offseasons.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 12, 2008 8:05 AM EST reply actions

Re: Reed

Reed is here to stay. He's terrific in the slot, and was game-to-game Buffalo's most consistent receiver last season. He's got two years left on his deal. Personally, I believe if the Bills can keep Reed from playing outside at all, he'll return to his rookie year form (when, I'll remind you, he was playing inside Peerless Price in his prime).

We've got 3 guys who aren't going anywhere. We need a fourth and a fifth with size to diversify the group. The sixth (if there's a sixth) will probably be Justin Jenkins for special teams purposes.

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 13, 2008 7:14 AM EST up reply actions

Reed

Brian, I will never agree with your assessment of Josh Reed who has been given opportunity after opportunity in his pro career and has failed time and time again. To call him "terrific" in any capacity is laughable; he's a guy who's made a career out of making 8 yard catches on 3rd and 11 (actually, a perfect fit for the mindsets of Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards and a nod to Kelly Holcomb all in one). My lasting impressions of Josh Reed are his dropped flea flicker TD against the Pats in 2003 and his alligator arm act against the Jags last season which cost JP Losman his last chance of holding onto his job. Reed has been a central cast member of the dark ages of offense in Buffalo this entire miserable ride, spanning the middle of 2002 to the present. When are we going to see him replaced? We don't have Steve Fairchild to kick around anymore, and if anyone thinks that as bad as Trent Edwards was last season, this offense is going to drastically improve by simply adding a retread like Wilford, Hackett, or DREW CARTER to the mix and promoting someone with the spotty resume of Turk Schonert, they're kidding themselves. When an operation is as historically bad as our offense was last year, band aids are not the answer. Why waste the most competent offensive line and most electric running back we've had since Marv Levy roamed the sidelines? If Buffalo follows the cop-out, wishy washy, tweak a roster here or there line of thinking, nothing is going to change next season. The Reeds, Royals, Prices, and Gaines of this team need to go, or you can't justify staying with the Edwards and and Schonerts of this team. The bottom line is someone needs to take the fall for the disaster that was last season. Either Edwards had historically bad weapons at his disposal or he was so historically bad, he had no idea how to unleash them. Which is it?

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 13, 2008 8:13 AM EST up reply actions

Reed

Reed has his faults, there is no debating that, and yes this team needs to get better, but you can't have a superstar player at every position. Most sports teams, Football being the best example, can't be made up of great players at every position, it just never seems to work, you need those guys who do the small stuff, and the little things that don't show-up in box scores.
Could Josh Reed be replaced with some one better? no doubt.
Does he drop passes? yes so do most receivers.

I think that Reed does do some good things for this team, and is worth keeping around, as a 3rd or 4th receiver, at his modest pay.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Feb 13, 2008 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

superstars

I realize we can't have a superstar at every position. But Reed's been part of the problem for a long time so at some point, it's time to go in another direction.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 13, 2008 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Reed

I will admit, that when he was a free agent, I was surprised that the team brought him back. I thought his play up to that point, made him a goner.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Feb 13, 2008 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

I'll agree with that

I just don't see Reed leaving this team for the next couple of years (he's got two years left on his deal). He's a solid possession threat inside - he'll never dominate a game, but he can be that Troy Brown/Kevin Faulk pain-in-the-butt player that defenses overlook on third downs. Trust me - Reed isn't the problem, and he's not going anywhere.

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 13, 2008 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

No he can't

Reed's been in the regular lineup for 6 seasons. He's not a difference maker like Troy Brown or Kevin Faulk and at this stage of his career it's highly unlikely he ever will be. He takes up space on the field and I'd rather see someone else get a shot because Reed's had plenty of time to develop...He may not be going anywhere, because, as you often say, "Dick Jauron likes him", but that doesn't make it a good decision to keep trotting him out there when he consistently can't make meaningful plays. If our lack of playmakers at the skills positions isn't the problem and Edwards isn't the problem and neither Lynch nor the offensive line is the problem, why did we score just 20 TDs last season? If Coach Jauron, with his remarkable track record of winning, offensive football, has closed the door on improving our QB, then something else has to give. I don't think Jauron grasps just how mind boggling and historic 20 offensive TDs in 20 games truly is and maybe that's the biggest problem our team faces this offseason.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 13, 2008 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

I understand

That you're worried about Edwards and Jauron and Schonert and Reed and the offense in general, because you've shared your opinions on that in the past. I just don't believe that a massive overhaul, top-to-bottom, at the skill positions is necessary to increase offensive effectiveness. It's not realistic, and it won't happen.

Do you recall Reed's catch in Washington? The one that set up a game-winning field goal? If we improve the talent at #2 WR and TE, a.k.a. find some receiving talent at those spots, Reed can make more of those plays. It doesn't make sense to cut a guy because he's been unproductive in an anemic offense when, as you've already stated, we've needed a #2 wide receiver since Peerless' first stint with the Bills.

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 13, 2008 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

Mistakes of Spring, 2006

When they brought in Price to start in 2006 and inexplicably re-signed Reed to a 4 year contract and gave Robert Royal a free agent contract to be the new starting TE, each move was an independent mistake that stands on it's own legs. Reed's failures are totally his own, regardless of how badly we need a #2 receiver is.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 13, 2008 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Reed

Lay off Reed. He's not a bad player. He's just been playing out of position for a majority of his career. He's not a #2 and should be in the slot, which unfortunately hasn't been part of the plan during his tenure here. Think of him more as part of the supporting cast in the Bills' offense and not one of the main characters. As soon as we get our leading man, everyone can do their job. And that flea-flicker drop was against the Jags in the second game that season.

by Scotty P on Feb 13, 2008 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

flea-flicker

Or it wasn't. My bad

by Scotty P on Feb 13, 2008 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

If you want to call...

... a 51-catch season in which he averaged 11.3 yards per reception (second on the team) a "failure", then be my guest. For a guy that should be working predominantly out of the slot, those are excellent numbers (Wes Welker's inflated stats aside).

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 13, 2008 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

51-catch season

I just got done looking up his numbers and was surprised to see he had that many catches. Second only to Lee. Granted 51 is lower than we would all like (given that he was 2nd on the team) but that isn't bad.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Feb 13, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions

2nd on OUR team means nothing

51 catches for a guy who started 75% of the season is nothing to brag about especially when you don't score a siingle touchdown all season. Better suited for the slot or not, he was called to do a job when Price got hurt and he failed. 8 Td's in 6 full seasons is just fine by Buffalo's standards, I guess. Reed's averages after 6 seasons mixed between starting and being the 3rd wideout: 38 catches, 447 yards, 1 TD. You don't see any connection between our 6 years of failing on offense and his arrival and subsequent wasting space on the field each year? Maybe not- Edwards wins an uncontested job as starting QB of an NFL team by producing TDs in just 4 of the 9 games he started. Schonert gets a promotion by failing to develop Losman when he was hired as QBs coach. Jauron gets more power by producing 6 losing seasons in 7 as a head coach...Nobody in this organization holds anybody accountable, why should the fans?

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 13, 2008 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

PP`

I just think that PP will be back next year, and that the reason we missed him last year, is because he is better than Josh Reed, unfortunately. If we get a player like Hacket, we will need to draft a game changer, and if Price is back next year, then we start to become a very stacked WR corps and that will either push a player like reed to step up, or find himself on the chopping block

The Bills can win every game

by killascript on Feb 12, 2008 3:39 PM EST reply actions

I'm surprised

that more people havn't been mentioning Hackett's name on our little blog here. I think he is in the second tier of FA wideouts (with Randy Moss constituting the entire first tier). Hackett is right there with Johnson and Berrian as the best reciever who is realisticly available. Hackett and Johnson should be FA WR options 1a and 1b come March 3rd.

Personally I think Hackett is a better fit for the Bills than Bryant Johnson. Johnson may be the popular upside pick because of his speed, but I think Hackett makes up for that lack of speed by being quicker in his cuts. For a team planning on doing a lot of short passing I think DJ can be really good running a lot of 10-15 yard outs, curls and similiar timing routes. That said, his injury history is far more extensive than Johnson and is downright scary.

by kaisertown on Feb 12, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions

I would love to add Hackett

I feel he'll be more expensive that Wilford, but worth it if healthy.

Hackett's my #1 target in FA for WR's. In fact, the only other player I'd pursue is Wilford. I think Johnson is a major bust and will try to get absurd money for his production. Hackett's not the 6'4" guy that everyone wants, but he is a solid red zone threat and at 6'2" is not undersized by any means.

No matter who we sign, we better still be bringing in a rookie in the top 3 rounds. If Hackett were signed, then that rookie becomes even more important based on DJ's injury history.

by Kurupt on Feb 12, 2008 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Adding Hackett

I truly think Hackett would be a great addition as well, except for his inability to stay healthy. Here is the order of WRs that ca nbe aquired:

Moss - we would never pay that kind of money
Berrian - He is going to be franchised and would cost too much, but would be a good fit. He is 3 inches taller than Evans but has the speed and ability to get YAC. If he is not franchised, I would make him a priority over DT.

3a) Johnson - Siz and speed and didn't get a shot as a #2 w/ Boldin and Fitzgerald in Arizona.

3b) Hackett - Good size and a lot of potential but is plagued by injurues.

3c) Wilford - e was supposed to be the man in Jacksonville, but was okay at times and they ran the ball a ton.

4) What about Jerry Porter - Do we think he is more trouble than he could help?

Possible SLEEPER PICK: Andre Davis - I don't think we gave him a fair chance at wideout but had a good year with Johnson hurt most of the year (he was in a sense Houston's #1 for awhile). He is only 6'1 but he can stretch the field and worst case is he is a great special teamer. I also think he will not cost a ton of money.

by hilliarddavid on Feb 12, 2008 4:29 PM EST reply actions

Hackett would be a decent fit.

I could live with his addition, provided it didn't break the bank. Along with a developmental WR taken in the middle of the draft, I think the WR would be improved from last year.

by krytime on Feb 12, 2008 4:54 PM EST reply actions

Good Player, but hurt

I love DJ, especially since I get to watch him every week he is healthy enough to play during the season. Sadly, that first line says it all, when he is healthy enough to play.

He has good size, excellent hands and runs great routes, he really is crisp when he makes his cuts. All of those are good reasons to get him, but the issue here is that the man has NEVER completed a full season, he has always missed a couple of games up to half a season being injured. Do we really want this guy to try and be our #2 wideout? We need someone who can keep people of Lee Evans ALL the time, not for 10 games or less a season.

I would prefer us to go after Johnson, then Wilford followed by Hackett mostly because Johnson and Wilford can stay more healthy over a season than Hackett can. Not because I think they may be better skilled guys than him.

Also, I think if we are going to run the ball more this year, we should lean towards Wilford since ALL good running teams need wideouts who can block (Ward with Pitt, or even TO who puts a body on DBs when the running game is clicking in Dallas). And the one thing the Jags could do was run, and break big ones which really need good downfield blocking by the wideouts.

So how done was Pat Williams when we let him go Tommie boy??? Stick a fork in him level right?

by WABillsfan on Feb 12, 2008 5:38 PM EST reply actions

I agree

with krytime and hillarddavid as for order. Miami just released seven, didn't Booker have a pretty good year considering they were 1-15? I think everybody else was old or injury prone.

by btk0930 on Feb 12, 2008 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Re: Further bios

Just an FYI - we're not conducting these interviews in any sort of preference order, it's just as the interviews roll in. I've already added Booker to the list; I encourage everybody to mention more free agents they'd like to see covered in these articles so that I can best serve your wants and needs.

We've got 6 interviews on several free agents (at multiple positions) coming up within the next week, so hang tight! :)

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by Brian Galliford on Feb 12, 2008 8:32 PM EST up reply actions

How about some of the RFA's I had posted

Only the reasonable ones, obviously. I posted Michael Boley, but I can't imagine he doesn't get at least a 2nd round tender, which is too much to give up. I'll just list a few I'd like to hear more about:

Brandon McGowan FS Bears
Greg White, DE Tampa Bay
Leonard Weaver FB Seattle
James Butler S NY Giants

by Kurupt on Feb 12, 2008 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Hackett

Well he is only entering his 4th year, so he has that going for him, but come on. He is just a complete flier. Too many injuries and thus no consistency. I'd much rather bring in a Wilford or draft someone than have a guy who is in the training room all the time taking up space. DJ hackett is not the answer to our offense

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Feb 12, 2008 8:34 PM EST reply actions

Greene

What about Trent Greene as a backup QB? I know he is old and several concussions, but wouldn't/couldn't he serve as a 2nd or 3rd QB and teach Trent quite a lot? More than JP will ever teach him. However, don't give away the farm for JP, he has value.

by btk0930 on Feb 12, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions