So what have we learned about the Seattle Seahawks roster during the team’s last 11 OTA and minicamp practices?
As the Seahawks head into summer, we’re updating our projections for what their 53-man roster might look like at the start of the regular season.
Keep in mind that there is only one roster reduction date this year: August 27. On that day, teams must reduce their rosters from the maximum of 90 players from training camp to the maximum of 53 players from the regular season.
After the cuts are made, teams can assemble their 16-man practice squads for the regular season. Typically, most of the PS players are players they waived.
For this reason, GMs often view camp as a way to figure out who their 69 best players are, as well as their 53 best, with the final cuts often made in large part by assessing which players they think are most likely to not be claimed off the waivers list by other teams and be free to be re-signed by the practice squad.
Continue to the projections.
quarterback
2 — Geno Smith, Sam Howell.
Comment: There are no changes here, with Smith coming into camp as the starter and Howell as the backup. Howell could face some competition with the signing of veteran PJ Walker last week. Walker didn’t arrive in time to do much during minicamp, so it’s hard to say yet how he might fit in. But at least he’ll make enough of an impression to stay on the practice squad as the third QB.
Back Race
3 — Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh.
Comment: Nothing that happened in the offseason changed that. All three appeared healthy and practiced regularly. The Seahawks will likely keep at least two more on the practice squad and bolster the group competing for those spots with the expected signing of Ricky Person Jr., who stood out for Birmingham in the United Football League this year and was in the Ravens’ training camp in 2022 when Mike Macdonald was the team’s defensive coordinator.
Close finish
4 — Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, Brady Russell, AJ Barner.
Comment: The first two are set, and the Seahawks are sure to keep a third. The question will be whether they keep four. Russell worked as the third TE — and backup holder on field goals — throughout the offseason program as Barner was limited with a hamstring injury. Barner returned and worked on the field during minicamp. As a fourth-round pick, Barner has a leg up on former Washington Husky Jack Westover, who gets a fourth spot on the roster as a tight end if they keep that many. But Westover is a sure candidate for the practice squad.
Recipient
6 — DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Dee Eskridge, Laviska Shenault, Jr.
Comment: Those are the same six I had before the offseason program. Eskridge is getting his last chance with the Seahawks. But he was healthy and practiced without restrictions during the offseason program, and his return skills could also be valuable due to the new kickoff rules. The new return rules are also why I see Shenault ahead of Dareke Young. Young, Easop Winston Jr., and UDFA newcomer Dee Williams all seem like practice squad candidates if they are released. Shenault is a seasoned veteran and could be released without having to go through waivers and re-signed later, and that could give them the opportunity to keep just five WRs to start with and open up a spot at another position.
Offensive line
10 – Tackles: Charles Cross, George Fant, Abraham Lucas, Stone Forsythe; Guards: Laken Tomlinson, Anthony Bradford, McClendon Curtis, Christian Haynes; Center: Olu Oluwatimi, Nick Harris.
Comment: Here’s one place where the potential composition of the Opening Day roster got muddled during OTAs and minicamp. Curtis worked as the No. 1 right guard the entire time while Bradford was nursing an ankle injury, ahead of Haynes, a third-round pick. Haynes seems like a surefire candidate to make the roster.
That could present the Seahawks with some tough decisions regarding final roster spots. Lucas appears on track to return for training camp and will compete with Fant for the starting right guard spot. Bradford, Curtis and Haynes will compete for the right guard spot. Oluwatimi worked as center throughout, while Harris worked with the second team. And as expected, Cross was the LT and Tomlinson was the LG. A tough decision here is leaving out sixth-round rookie Sataoa Laumea. He generally worked as a third-team left guard behind Tomlinson and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and seems firmly in the mix. As Macdonald said during minicamp, a lot can change when the pads are tightened during training camp.
Defence line
7 — Leonard Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Johnathan Hankins, Mike Morris, Cameron Young.
Comment: Young’s place on the roster was difficult to gauge during the offseason, as he missed drills that the media could watch because of a lower-body injury. But assuming he’s fit for training camp, he’ll likely serve as a backup at the interior tackle positions. If not, Myles Adams could sneak into the roster.
Full-back
4 — Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor, Derick Hall.
Comment: Nwosu and Mafe consistently worked as starting OLBs — and Nwosu being able to do so without limitations after his pectoral injury last year was one of the better developments of the offseason. Jones played some rush end during minicamp, part of the Seahawks’ plan to increase the flexibility of all of their defensive linemen. How much edge-rush pressure they expect from Jones and others will play a role in whether the Seahawks look to add competition to that group during the preseason.
Centre-back
5 — Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker, Jon Rhattigan, Patrick O’Connell, Tyrice Knight.
Comment: Filling that spot became more unclear in the offseason, with Dodson and Baker unable to play due to injuries. Both are expected back for training camp and are projected to be the two starters on the interior line. Without them, Rhattigan worked as the starter on the middle line and O’Connell on the weak side. Knight, the Seahawks’ third pick in the 2024 draft at 118th overall, worked behind O’Connell. Knight’s potential seems to make it hard to leave him off the 53. But if O’Connell is ahead of him in the rankings, it would be hard to leave him off, too.
Security
4 — Julian Love, Rayshawn Jenkins, K’Von Wallace, Coby Bryant.
Comment: Love and Jenkins have been the starting safeties throughout the offseason program and Wallace and Bryant have usually been the backups, so that spot seems pretty clear heading into camp. Also, I’m not including Jerrick Reed II here for now because it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to play again after his ACL injury suffered in November. That would mean he’ll start camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Corner
5 — Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Tre Brown, Michael Jackson, Nehemiah Pritchett.
Comment: The top three are the starting CB trio. Jackson, Pritchett, rookie DJ James and veteran Artie Burns will compete to complete the rest of the CB corps. Jackson looked to be the fourth CB and, after agreeing to a lower salary, appears to be in good shape for the roster. Burns, as a seasoned veteran, can be released and re-signed without having to go via the waiver list, giving the Seahawks some flexibility. The presumption here is that the team is more likely to keep Pritchett and hope James comes via the waiver list and returns to the PS, and that Burns re-signs, either at 53 if a vacancy opens up or at the PS after the first release. Burns seemed to play well in the offseason program and looked to be the fifth cornerback.
Specialists
3 — PK Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Chris Stoll.
Comment: There is no drama here as these are the only three specialists on the list.
