Vincent Jackson Holdout News: Is He Worth The Price For The Seahawks?

For Vincent Jackson, the San Diego Chargers, and the Seattle Seahawks, nothing is official yet. It never is until the name is signed on the dotted line.

But one thing is official: The Chargers have told Jackson, one way or the other, that if he's unhappy, they're okay with letting him walk. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Seahawks have been granted permission to negotiate a contract with the disgruntled receiver. The next step, negotiating a trade.

The Chargers were a bad day from Nate Kaeding away from an AFC Championship showdown with their favorite playoff opponent, the Indianapolis Colts.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, drafted sixth overall in this year's draft.

As the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens proved in 2008, a poor season one year doesn't necessarily reflect bad things on the horizon the next year.

Does anyone really think that the Seahawks are on the verge of being a playoff contender? That a Pro Bowl wide receiver will make or break them as a whole?

Or are they a team that's in rebuild mode after two regime changes in two years, and two consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the mid-90's?

What I'm saying is this: Doesn't it seem like the Chargers are trading Jackson away to a place where they feel he has no hope of coming back to haunt them?

The Seahawks perhaps made more roster moves than any other team this offseason in regards to their starting 22. They're picking up players faster than they can get rid of them, unless of course that player's name is LenDale White.

It could be awhile before the Seahawks build continuity as a team.

It could be even longer, though, if Pete Carroll doesn't prove to be up to the challenge. Let's not forget that Carroll failed miserably with a cupboard stocked full of future Super Bowl champions in New England.

Forget about the massive payroll the Seahawks already have at wide receiver—they’re paying TJ Houshmandzadeh upwards of eight million next year, and Deion Branch continues to limp around on Seattle’s money.

Jackson is a talented enough receiver to warrant big dollars.

Talent is not the issue. It’s his responsibility. Jackson has already been guilty of two DUIs in his NFL career, and will sit out three games for his most recent transgression. One more late night could spell a season-long suspension for the Pro Bowl receiver.

With receivers like Housh, Branch, second-round pick Golden Tate, and comeback kid Mike Williams, is Jackson worth the high price the Seahawks would have to pay (both via trade and contract) to acquire him? That fleet of receivers may be mediocre, but could the money and draft picks needed to acquire Jackson be better allotted elsewhere?

Rebuilding takes time. The Seahawks need to step back and see the big picture before making a hasty move to acquire Jackson.