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Why Seahawks new WR Malick Meiga could learn a Dareke Young-esque role
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- Why Seahawks new WR Malick Meiga could learn a Dareke Young-esque role
The Seattle Seahawks might have been reminded of former special teams standout Dareke Young when they signed undrafted free agent wide receiver Malick Meiga to the practice squad Wednesday afternoon. Like Young, Meiga possesses big-play traits coming out of college, but hasn't fully unlocked them yet.
Meiga's athleticism and accomplishments mirror Dareke Young's package at the same stage of his career. Elite athletic tools, imposing frame, seemingly well-liked by teammates. Both came into the NFL from lower-level colleges and will take time to develop, but his special teams and big-play potential could suddenly click into place after one great practice.
Meiga is a 96th percentile athlete at the WR position, even when compared with other NFL draft prospects. He's taller than 6'3" and weighs over 200 pounds, broad jumps over 10 feet, runs a 4.45 40-yard dash, has longer arms than New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell , and hands the same size as Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold . So, why was he available? Why was he a relatively unknown undrafted free agent out of Coastal Carolina this year? The answer lies in his story.
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Meiga was born in the Ivory Coast and raised in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada . He was only a three-star recruit in high school despite possessing five-star level athleticism. Penn State took a chance on his upside, but he never established a regular role in his three years there. He won an award for his special teams contributions, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was named a captain—but even after two more years at Coastal Carolina, he never eclipsed 209 yards in a season. The Carolina Panthers signed him in June but cut him after he caught one pass in the preseason. He was also selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the 2026 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft.
John Schneider and the Seahawks' personnel department have likely already compared the two in meetings. That could hint at a potential role down the line. However, Young was always caught in a preseason roster battle—and there's a good chance Meiga will fall victim to the shuffle before ever appearing for the team, too. The best thing he can do for now is stick around and stay available.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Why Seahawks new WR Malick Meiga could learn a Dareke Young-esque role
