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Seattle Seahawks Waive Ex-USFL LB Levi Bell

Despite having a solid preseason for the Seahawks last August, with a new coaching staff in charge, Levi Bell will have to find a job elsewhere this offseason.
Corbin Smith|
Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Levi Bell (98) tackles Minnesota
Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Levi Bell (98) tackles Minnesota | Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

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Seattle Seahawks

Opening up an additional roster spot prior to this week's rookie minicamp at the VMAC, the Seattle Seahawks announced they have waived second-year outside linebacker Levi Bell.

Undrafted out of Texas State last season, Bell initially signed with the Ravens before quickly being cut and joining the Michigan Panthers in the USFL. Impressed by his play in the spring pro league, the Seahawks signed him shortly before the start of training camp and he enjoyed a strong preseason, recording 12 tackles, a sack, and 10 pressures, performing well enough to warrant consideration for making the team.

Though Bell didn't earn a spot Seattle's initial roster, the team re-signed him to the practice squad after he cleared waivers. He missed a significant portion of the season on injured reserve before being activated towards the end of the season, but he didn't dress for any regular season games and produced no stats.

Levi Bell stood out as one of the Seahawks best preseason performers last year, but a new coaching staff has decided to go a different direction with him being waived on Wednesday.
Levi Bell stood out as one of the Seahawks best preseason performers last year, but a new coaching staff has decided to go a different direction with him being waived on Wednesday. | Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Back in January, the Seahawks signed Bell to a future/reserve deal, but that happened prior to the dismissal of coach Pete Carroll and hiring of Mike Macdonald as his replacement. Interestingly, Macdonald was the Ravens defensive coordinator for the past two years, so he had a role in the decision to move on from Bell before even seeing him on the practice field last May.

While Bell showcased above-average burst and a relentless motor in exhibition action last August, Macdonald has always preferred edge defenders with length, and with arms under 32 inches and a smaller 75 1/2-inch wingspan, he doesn't check off that box. With veteran Uchenna Nwosu and Joshua Onujiogu returning from injury and a new crop of undrafted rookies set to sign before camp this week, he became expendable in a new scheme.

Currently, after not selecting one in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seahawks have five outside linebackers on the roster, including Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor, and Derick Hall. Onujiogu re-signed in January after missing all of last season with an elbow injury and the team reportedly has signed Houston standout Nelson Ceasar as one of their priority undrafted free agents to compete for a roster spot this summer.

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Corbin K. Smith
CORBIN SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.