Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson came off another promising season. The Canadian product that went to Rice University finished with 22 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore campaign, all career highs, and looked ready to take on an even bigger role in the team’s offence in 2015.

That was all put into question in early March this off-season when the Seahawks acquired three-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints in a blockbuster trade. But Willson was encouraged by the move, conjuring up what seems to be Seattle’s mantra on offence: the more the merrier!

“I think that the cool thing about our team is we have so many weapons; it’s not your traditional NFL offence with a couple stud guys that have big numbers every game,” Willson told TSN.ca. “One game it’s Doug Baldwin, one game it’s Jermaine (Kearse); I was lucky enough to have a few games in there. (Tyler) Lockett’s had some games, even the rookie Paul Richardson had some big games down the stretch. I think it’ll be cool to have a big two tight end package coming into the year.”

In fact Willson’s only concern with Graham’s acquisition was whether he’d fit in as Seahawk, but it didn’t take long for him to realize the veteran will be a fine addition.

“In the NFL, you spend so much time meeting, especially with your position group. My first reaction was ‘man, I hope we get high profile guys.’ He’s not a prima donna, he’s a good teammate. This off-season, after meeting him, he really is a great guy.”

“I consider him a good friend and we’ve only known each other for 2-3 months. I’m excited to work with him. He’s extremely talented so it’s going to be fun. “

And despite Graham outranking Willson with five service years to two, the former fifth rounder said it’s been more of a give-and-take-learning relationship between the two so far.

“It’s kind of cool because I was able to help him a little with offensive terms, just learning exactly what we’re doing,” Willson said.

“But then as far as actual on-field technique, he’s kind of been able to help me, which has been kind of cool too.”

After winning the Super Bowl his rookie season, Willson and the Seahawks fell in the big game last year. When asked if that led to a different kind of off-season. Willson said the difference was more experience related.

“For me, it’s been a difference but it’s been more so a Year 1 to Year 2 type of thing. This is my second off-season, I’ve never had that much time off in my first one.”

“My rookie year, we won the Super Bowl then did the parties and all that sort of thing but afterwards you’re home mid-February, you don’t have anything to do, no-one’s watching you. ‘Here’s the workouts we’re giving you and we’ll see you at the end of April.’”

“This year I was a little more used to it, so in that sense it was different.”

Willson added that as he gains more experience, he’s no longer the rookie leaning on veterans to help get through the tough stretches every team inevitably goes through, like, say a .500 start through six games. He’s now more the guy now doing the helping, having seen a lot in just his first two years on the job.