Seahawks Final 53-Man Roster Projection: Which UDFAs Earn a Spot?
After wrapping up their exhibition season with a 19-15 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks have officially shifted attention towards their regular season opener at home against the Los Angeles Rams.
With Week 1 less than two weeks away, Seattle wasted little time starting the process of trimming its roster from 90 players to 53, waiving seven players to kickstart the process on Sunday. The front office and coaching staff will have until 1 PM PT on Tuesday to make all of the necessary moves to cut their roster down to 53 via waivers, trades, and injured reserve designations, with additional moves inevitably set to happen in coming days to continue shuffling the deck before September 10.
Heading into a difficult couple of days executing those league-mandated cuts, while a few players from other teams likely will join the mix before facing the Rams, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll hopes to maintain as much continuity as possible on the roster and 16-man practice squad after a "great camp."
"This locker room is special, it is strong, it is together, and I couldn’t be more pleased with it," Carroll told reporters after Saturday's defeat. "As we get to this weekend, you think about here comes the change in the roster and all of that. 69 of these players are going to be with us and that is a bunch of guys in this locker room right here that are going to stay with us. There will be some changes. There are always some, but a bulk of these guys are going to be with us, and I love that because these guys are connected and they know how we play, what we expect, how we prepare, how we talk about our challenges and all of that. That is only going to make us better as we go through the start of the season coming up. I feel really good where we are right now."
Which 53 players will be on Seattle's initial roster? And who will be back on the practice squad? Considering injuries, positional value, and performance in training camp and preseason games among other factors, here's my final stab at projecting who will be on the final roster on Tuesday before waiver claims.
Quarterbacks (2): Geno Smith, Drew Lock
Practice Squad: Holton Ahlers
Unlike a year ago when Smith and Lock were battling to replace Russell Wilson, there wasn't a question in regard to who would be Seattle's starting quarterback this summer. With both players fully in command of Shane Waldron's offense and playing well throughout training camp and the preseason, there's no drama at the position rolling into the 2023 season with Smith entrenched as the starter on a new three-year contract and Lock taking a big step forward in his second season as a backup in the same system. After a solid preseason, Ahlers likely will be a practice squad candidate for further development.
Running Backs (5): Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, DeeJay Dallas, Kenny McIntosh, Nick Bellore
Practice Squad: SaRodorick Thompson Jr.
Injuries have been a persistent issue for Seattle's backfield since camp opened in late July with Walker battling a groin injury, Charbonnet missing time early with a shoulder injury, and McIntosh still working back from a knee sprain. But all three of those players either have already returned or should be ready for the season opener, and barring no injuries in the two weeks before the season opener, Walker and Charbonnet should provide a fun one-two punch out of the backfield. Meanwhile, Dallas' special teams skills and third down flexibility should keep him on the roster over Thompson Jr., who impressed in the preseason after being a late addition to the team as an undrafted rookie and could be a practice squad candidate.
As for Bellore, he rarely sees snaps on offense and defense these days, but the core special teams player returned on a two-year contract in March and his value in the locker room as well as hunting down returners in kick and punt coverage makes him an invaluable asset for the Seahawks.
Receivers (5): DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Easop Winston
Injured Reserve: Dareke Young
Suspended List: Dee Eskridge
Practice Squad: Cody Thompson, Cade Johnson, Matt Landers, Tyjon Lindsey
Two big preseason performances may have helped Easop Winston separate from the rest of the competition battling for one or two spots at receiver for the Seahawks.
With Metcalf and Lockett atop the depth chart, Seattle will once again have as much star power at the receiver position as any team in the NFL. Unfortunately, Smith-Njigba may not be quite ready for the start of the season after recently undergoing wrist surgery, Eskridge will miss the first six games with a suspension, and Young likely will need a procedure to repair a lingering hip injury, creating major questions at the position beyond the dynamic duo out of the gate.
Assuming Smith-Njigba won't be ready for Week 1 and doesn't make a miraculous recovery, Bobo likely will benefit the most from his absence after an outstanding training camp and preseason, while Winston's strong finish coupled with kick return capability locks him up the final spot with a slim edge of Johnson and Thompson. Both of those players as well as speedy undrafted rookies Landers and Tyjon Lindsey could be considered for practice squad spots with special teams contributions being a significant factor.
Tight Ends (3): Will Dissly, Noah Fant, Colby Parkinson
Practice Squad: Tyler Mabry
With the full cast of characters returning, including Dissly being back from a knee injury that prematurely ended his 2023 season, the Seahawks will roll out the same tight end trio that combined for more than 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns a year ago while also providing steady blocking in the run game. Entering contract years, Fant and Parkinson will have much to play for and could be bigger factors early in the season with Smith-Njigba potentially sidelined. Typically keeping only three players at the position on the roster, Mabry may come back for another run on the practice squad as a proven veteran insurance policy.
Tackles (4): Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Stone Forsythe, Jake Curhan
Practice Squad: Jalen McKenzie
Coming off stellar rookie seasons as a rookie starters, Cross and Lucas will be counted on to take sophomore leaps protecting Smith and opening up holes in the run game, as their development could be a key factor in whether or not the Seahawks can push for an NFC West crown. Behind them, Forsythe had a challenging preseason, but the third-year tackle has performed admirably when called into action as a reserve and has flexibility to play on both sides. Even more versatile, Curhan has continued to improve at both guard spots, making him an invaluable swing reserve with starting experience on the roster.
Guards (3): Damien Lewis, Phil Haynes, Anthony Bradford
Practice Squad: Kendall Randolph
Back for his fourth year as a starter with the Seahawks, Lewis now stands as the seasoned veteran on a young offensive line with no starters older than 27. At the other guard spot, Haynes finally will have his chance to be a full-time starter after platooning with departed veteran Gabe Jackson last season and the organization remains high on his upside, while the powerful Bradford flashed in spurts during his first preseason after being selected in the fourth-round out of LSU and will be waiting in the wings as a potential successor at either spot down the road.
Centers (2): Evan Brown, Olu Oluwatimi
Practice Squad: Joey Hunt
Early in training camp, Brown and Oluwatimi looked destined to spar in a down to the wire competition for the starting center job. But after splitting reps early, Brown started to create separation and an elbow injury set Oluwatimi back, unfortunately forcing him to sit out a preseason game and preventing him from making up ground on his veteran counterpart. Nonetheless, both players will be on the opening roster with Brown getting the first crack to start and the fifth-round pick ready to take over later in the season if called upon.
EDGE/Outside Linebackers (6): Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor, Derick Hall, Tyreke Smith, Levi Bell
Likely to open his career as a rotational reserve, Derick Hall should have a chance to make an immediate impact in a surprisingly deep edge rushing group for the Seahawks.
After being rewarded with a massive extension prior to training camp, Nwosu will be aiming to improve upon his breakout 2022 season and could have a new running mate across from him in Mafe, who turned heads by demonstrating remarkable improvement across the board in training camp and the preseason. Looking to keep players fresh in a rotation, Taylor should be a dangerous situational rusher with double-digit sack potential once he returns from a shoulder injury, while Hall has demonstrated plenty of twitch and pass rushing ability in the preseason.
Where things could get interesting, however, is whether or not the team has room on the roster for both Smith and Bell, who each made splashy plays during the preseason. Since the Seahawks have depth concerns at defensive tackle, Bell's versatility being able to slide inside to 3-tech end on passing downs ultimately lands him a spot, while Smith's upside keeps him on the roster as well.
Defensive Ends (4): Dre'Mont Jones, Mario Edwards, Myles Adams, Jacob Sykes
Injured Reserve: Mike Morris
Practice Squad: Roderick Perry
Leading the charge for a new-look defensive tackle group, Jones and Edwards will earn the start against the Rams eager to lead a much improved run defense and wreak havoc as interior pass rushers. Depth behind them took a significant hit with Morris undergoing a shoulder procedure, however, and with the rookie not expected to be available for a while, Adams is the only other player at the position with regular season experience and should be in line to easily blow away his previous career-high for snaps. Filling in for Morris, the athletic Sykes impressed as a pass rusher in the preseason, opening the door for another undrafted rookie to make the squad.
Nose Tackles (2): Jarran Reed, Cameron Young
PUP List: Bryan Mone, Austin Faoliu
Practice Squad: Matt Gotel
If there's a position on Seattle's roster that still remains ripe to skepticism, the decision to move forward with Reed at nose tackle and the untested Young as his only backup likely takes the cake and eats it too. In time, Mone and potentially Faoliu could return to bolster the middle of the defensive line as traditional nose tackle types, but from the outset, lack of size and depth will be substantial concerns for a team that finished 30th defending the run last season. This could be a prime spot for a waiver claim off another roster in the next few days.
Inside Linebackers (3): Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Devin Bush
Injured Reserve: Vi Jones
Practice Squad: Jon Rhattigan, Patrick O'Connell
If Brooks, who underwent ACL surgery in January, hadn't made a ludicrous recovery from the injury to position himself to be ready to play in Week 1, the Seahawks likely would have hung onto a veteran such as Rhattigan or Ben Burr-Kirven as a depth piece or even considered keeping O'Connell as an undrafted rookie. But with Wagner and Bush already on the roster as proven starter-caliber players and Brooks practicing full speed two weeks away from the opener, there may not be any reason to keep any of those three players on the active roster at the expense of depth in the secondary to open the season.
Cornerbacks (5): Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Mike Jackson, Tre Brown, Coby Bryant
Practice Squad: Artie Burns, Lance Boykin
Though his play was up and down during the preseason, after starting 17 games last year, Mike Jackson may still be the favorite to line up opposite Riq Woolen in Week 1 for Seattle.
Throughout training camp, Jackson and Brown have been battling for the right to start across from Woolen, who didn't play in the preseason but should be ready to roll for Week 1 after slowly being brough back from knee surgery. At this point, while it's possible, if not inevitable, either veteran will receive the starting nod against the Rams, Witherspoon's impending return from a hamstring injury coupled with inconsistent play from both Jackson and Brown in the preseason opens the door for the rookie to vault into the starting lineup despite not playing in the preseason at all.
Even if Witherspoon isn't the starter on the left side, Seattle will want to get the top-five pick onto the field as much as possible early in the slot, the position he has logged the most snaps at during training camp when healthy. This means Bryant, who spent time at safety this summer to add to his flexibility, likely will be a dime package and special teams player to start the year after being the primary nickel as a rookie in a deep, talented cornerback stable.
Safeties (6): Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, Julian Love, Joey Blount, Jerrick Reed II, Jonathan Sutherland
Due to the uncertainty of Adams' status for the season opener, no position on Seattle's roster may be more difficult to project than safety, where the team has a wealth of riches featuring established stars, rising young players, and exciting rookies. If the former All-Pro can play in Week 1 after being activated from the PUP list last week, then the need to carry an extra safety won't be near as necessary, putting either Reed or Sutherland on the wrong side of the bubble.
But if Adams isn't available, which Carroll hinted as a strong possibility with him scheduled to start participating in walkthroughs next week, the Seahawks likely aren't keen on the idea of opening the regular season without additional depth at a critical position. In that scenario, Love would be starting alongside Diggs, increasing the chance both Reed and Sutherland will be kept along with Blount, who is viewed as one of the team's better special teams players.
Specialists (3): Jason Myers, Michael Dickson, Chris Stoll
The decision to not bring back veterans Tyler Ott or Carson Tinker this offseason surprised many, but Stoll has acclimated well as Seattle's new long snapper, while Myers and Dickson remain two of the best in the NFL at their craft. Assuming the undrafted rookie continues to snap well, this group should still be a strength for one of the league's premier special teams units.
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