
#38 TE · Seattle Seahawks
1 transaction this offseason
Height
6'5"
Weight
266 lbs
Age
33
College
Ohio State
Draft
2016, Rd 3, #94
Experience
10 yrs
TE Rank
#99 / 164
Grade Nick Vannett
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
On the field, Nick Vannett grades out as a middling TE for Seattle Seahawks (C- Performance). That places him 99th of 164 graded tight ends. The money matches the play — the Contract Value Index lands at C, fairly priced. The public read is mixed (C+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score. With 10+ seasons of track record, these grades rest on a deep sample.
| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 111 | 108 | 1,012 | 9 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 10 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | ![]() | 17 | 17 | 135 | 3 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 8 |
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.3M
AAV
$1.3M/yr
Spotrac flags Nick Vannett's contract as a market-rate deal; FanVerdicts grades it C Contract Value Index because the production-to-pay ratio shakes out accordingly. At $1.255M AAV on a one-year deal, Vannett's compensation sits squarely in the replacement-level tight end range—a fair price for a 33-year-old established veteran bringing a C- performance grade into 2026. His 2025 season saw limited counting stats across 10 games, the kind of depth-piece role that aligns with this contract tier; he's not a featured weapon, but his blocking-first skillset and schematic fit within Sean McVay's run-heavy, play-action system justify the modest investment. At this career stage—a decade into his NFL tenure following a third-round draft selection—Vannett has settled into a complementary role, and the CVI reflects that realistic positioning: he's paid like a trusted reserve, not a playmaker. The sentiment around the signing is notably positive, with the "Baby Gronk" narrative and McVay's public endorsement signaling genuine organizational value, which slightly elevates his profile above a typical minimum-contract addition despite the marginal contract grade itself. The one-year structure carries zero long-term cap risk, making this the kind of low-risk, scheme-dependent veteran gamble teams routinely deploy in the middle rounds of roster construction.
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Nick's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Snap share and per-play impact line up to a C- performance grade for Nick Vannett. At 33 years old with ten seasons of NFL experience, Vannett occupies a complementary tight end role in Sean McVay's scheme — a tier below primary pass-catching weapons but squarely functional as a blocking-first contributor in run-heavy, play-action looks. His 2025 season consisted of ten games, which reflects the limited snap allocation and durability constraints typical of a depth piece in a competitive offense. The media narrative frames him as a "scheme fit" signing with a niche identity: the blocking prowess and physical approach that earned the "Baby Gronk" moniker resonate particularly well in McVay's system, and McVay's public endorsement signals genuine organizational value rather than a throwaway minimum-contract move. Where Vannett falls short of higher-tier production is in consistent pass-catching volume and explosive plays — areas where his complementary status limits his ceiling. His standing as an established veteran entering what remains a strong Rams roster means he's filling a specific, valued role rather than carrying dual-threat expectations, positioning him as a trusted reserve whose contribution is measured in blocking efficiency and situational availability rather than receiving statistics.
Nick Vannett ranks 99th of 164 graded tight ends by performance. That slots Nick between Lucas Krull (C-) just ahead and Harrison Bryant (C-) just behind.
Graded higher
Lucas KrullDenver BroncosC-Anthony FirkserWashington CommandersC-Qadir IsmailChicago BearsC-Graded lower
Harrison BryantSeattle SeahawksSeahawks bring back a familiar backup tight end on a low-risk deal. Media coverage emphasizes the nostalgia angle of reuniting with a former draft pick. Vannett's previous stint with LA suggests Seattle views him as depth competition. Fans see this as a safe, unspectacular roster addition for a rebuilding team. He'll likely serve as a reserve unless injuries create unexpected opportunity ahead.
Auto-moderated fan forum with 5-minute speaker turns
Loading discussion...
Nick Vannett is a veteran in his 10th NFL season listed at TE for the Seattle Seahawks. FanVerdicts covers every NFL player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Nick Vannett, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C, Performance C-, Sentiment C+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NFL game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NFL player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 0 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 9 | 6 | 55 | 0 |
| 2021 | ![]() | 7 | 9 | 133 | 1 |
| 2020 | ![]() | 15 | 14 | 95 | 1 |
| 2019 | ![]() | 16 | 17 | 166 | 0 |
| 2018 | ![]() | 15 | 29 | 269 | 3 |
| 2017 | ![]() | 15 | 12 | 124 | 1 |
| 2016 | ![]() | 9 | 3 | 32 | 0 |
Updated Jul 24, 2026
Peers ranked by Performance grade among players at the same position. Tap any name for their full profile.