Full Breakdown
Seattle Seahawks Acquire Special Teams Gunner Irv Charles
5/28/2026, 1:32:01 PM
Trade Details and Immediate Roster Moves
On May 27 2026, Seattle traded a conditional 2028 seventh-round pick to New York for wide receiver and special-teams gunner Irv Charles. Seattle waived rookie Trayvon Rudolph; New York signed veteran kicker Younghoe Koo to fill the vacancy.
Background and Context
The Jets finished 2024 at 3-14, the league’s worst record. Seattle entered the offseason as defending Super Bowl champion and the NFL’s top-ranked special-teams unit (ESPN Analytics). The Seahawks added a gunner after free-agent Dareke Young left for the Raiders. The acquisition is intended to preserve Seattle’s special-teams edge for the 2026 campaign.
Charles’ Production and Injury History
Charles played 25 games for New York (2023-24), logging 450 special-teams snaps, 14 tackles and one blocked punt. He recorded seven tackles each season and earned Pro Football Focus grades of 90.3 (2023) and either 88.6 or 88.3 (2024). Offensively he logged 53 snaps, zero receptions and two targets. A torn ACL in Week 14 of 2024 caused him to miss the 2025 season.
Official Statements and Responses
Seattle announced the acquisition on its website, calling Charles a “receiver and special-teams standout.” The Jets confirmed the trade via an ESPN source and noted the signing of kicker Younghoe Koo. Special-teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh said Charles adds “another piece of the puzzle” for the gunner role.
Criticism and Opposition
Commentators called the trade unusual, noting Seattle paid a conditional seventh-round pick for a player who missed the prior season with an ACL injury. Seaside Joe warned that Charles must beat out roughly 40 competitors for a roster spot and called the seventh-round pick “virtually worthless.”
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources differ on the conditional pick’s exact criteria, with no public details. PFF grades for 2024 appear as 88.6 in one report and 88.3 in another. Snap counts are listed as 450 special-teams snaps in most accounts, while one source cites “more than 400” snaps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was just trying to do things on my own,” — Irv Charles, former Jets receiver
- “I never got in trouble with the law or anything like that, but it was everything I needed it at the time, honestly.” — Irv Charles
- “We’ve been trying to find ways to get him up and we had an opportunity and we did it,” — Robert Saleh, Jets head coach
- “an absolute wolf” — Robert Saleh, describing Charles’s special-teams play
What’s Next
Charles must pass a physical before reporting to Seattle’s training camp. He will compete for the gunner role and his roster status will be decided during preseason cuts in late August.
