Which Seahawks undrafted free agents have the best chance to make the roster?

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The Seattle Seahawks have a history of giving rookie free agents at virtually every position a chance to stick around after training camp, whether on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.

Recent examples include wide receiver Jake Bobo, safety Ty Okada, inside linebacker Patrick O’Connell, running back George Holani, center Jalen Sundell, long snapper Chris Stoll and outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff, all of whom are still with the team. The next batch of rookie free-agent hopefuls will participate in minicamp practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center this weekend, seeking to make a strong first impression.

In addition to Seattle’s 11-man 2025 draft class, the team has acquired the following undrafted free agents, according to player agencies, college social media accounts and league sources.

• Jacardia Wright, RB, Missouri State
• Tyrone Broden, WR, Arkansas
• Nick Kallerup, TE, Minnesota
• Marshall Lang, TE, Northwestern
• Federico Maranges, C, Florida Atlantic
• AJ Gillie, G, Louisiana
• Amari Kight, OT, UCF
• Jared Ivey, edge, Ole Miss
• Connor O’Toole, edge, Utah
• Jalan Gaines, edge, Illinois State
• Seth Coleman, edge, Illinois
• Wy’Kevious Thomas, DT, South Alabama
• TJ Jackson, DT, West Virginia
• J.R. Singleton, DT, Iowa State
• Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV
• Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
• Isaiah Hamilton, CB, Ole Miss
• Isas Waxter II, CB, Villanova

Seattle’s roster was already in decent shape before assembling one of the largest draft classes of the John Schneider era. Therefore, the undrafted signees have a lot of work to do to make the team. But that’s what these next few months are for. Here are the five rookie free agents who appear most likely to make Seattle’s roster.

Jackson Woodard

A Mike linebacker with green-dot responsibilities, Woodard had more than 250 tackles in his two seasons at UNLV (transferred from Arkansas). His final season was particularly productive in coverage, as the 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker had 16 passes defensed and four interceptions, on top of 17 total tackles for loss. His athletic testing was poor for a player his size, but he showed good instincts in coverage with a nose for the football, which is enough to make him an intriguing rookie free agent to watch.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had a late-Day 3 grade on Woodard in his draft guide, “The Beast.” He described him as someone who can become a team’s fourth linebacker, play special teams and go from there.

Seattle is rostering only three veteran linebackers behind Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight: Josh Ross, Drake Thomas and O’Connell. Ross is going on his fifth season playing for coach Mike Macdonald, which bodes well for his chances of sticking around. O’Connell, on the other hand, hasn’t played any regular-season defensive snaps since joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Montana in 2023. Thomas played 33 defensive snaps last year, but those reps were the product of injuries and lopsided scores.

“It will be tough for Woodard to be as dynamic in the NFL as he was in college,” Brugler wrote, “but his play recognition, toughness and intangibles are traits that keep players on NFL rosters.”

Zy Alexander

A transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, Alexander earned a fifth-round grade from Brugler, who described the two-year starter at LSU as a potential starter in a Cover-3 scheme (some NFL teams view him as a safety because of his run defense). Alexander is tall and long at 6-1 and 187 pounds with 31-inch arms and, according to Brugler, allowed a completion rate of just 43.5 percent in 2024. Alexander had six pass breakups and two interceptions last season.

Alexander’s athletic testing, much like many of the other rookies on this list, was underwhelming. That’s perhaps how a productive SEC cornerback ended up a rookie free agent. That said, Seattle’s depth chart at corner works in Alexander’s favor. There are a handful of unproven players and Nehemiah Pritchett, a 2024 fifth-round pick (the depth chart at safety isn’t much better). A guy with range and ball skills who is also a willing tackler could make some noise during camp if he maximizes his opportunities.

Jared Ivey

Ivey was the 25th-ranked edge rusher, with a fifth-round grade in Brugler’s draft guide. He has great size and length at 6-5 and 274 pounds with 33 1/2-inch arms. Last year, he recorded seven sacks with a pair of forced fumbles and was third-team All-SEC. When Seattle used a fifth-round pick on Notre Dame’s Rylie Mills, the team said the draw was his get-off, positional flexibility and ability to play a “big end” role, which is important on early downs. Ivey has a different body type but similar attributes as a versatile defensive line piece.

Ivey’s hopes of making the team are slightly dependent on the role envisioned for him, because the depth chart looks different at certain spots. The outside linebacker group, for example, has stiffer competition than the “big defensive end” group, which is essentially Mills coming off a torn ACL and third-year lineman Mike Morris.

For a big long end, Jared Ivey has some serious prowess rushing from the edge pic.twitter.com/Jy0hDm1pXr

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 15, 2025

“Ivey has the length and versatile skill set NFL teams want in their defensive line rooms, although he needs to play with more consistent violence and rush efficiency to stand out when working alongside proven NFL vets,” Brugler wrote. “He can contribute on sub-package downs as a rookie and push for a more meaningful role with added consistency.”

Connor O’Toole

O’Toole was the 64th-ranked edge rusher in “The Beast,” with a free-agent grade. O’Toole (6-3, 248) began his career at Utah as a wide receiver, then switched to defense and turned into a talented edge rusher. His athletic testing at his pro day was stronger than many of the other players on this list, but he didn’t put up big numbers at Utah last season, recording just five total tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks in eight games (he had 4 1/2 sacks in eight games the season prior).

Again, the Seahawks aren’t hurting for edge rushers, and Sheriff’s preseason showing last summer is an example of how tough it can be for players who produce to find a roster spot. But O’Toole’s deal with Seattle reportedly came with $264,000 guaranteed, which suggests he was a highly coveted rookie free agent.

Isas Waxter II

Another tall, long defensive back, Waxter (6-1, 205) was CB36 with a free-agent grade in “The Beast.” Waxter’s overall athletic testing numbers were hampered by a mediocre 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds at the scouting combine (though he did run 4.50 at his pro day). He recorded a pair of pass breakups and three forced fumbles last year at Villanova.

Brugler described Waxter as a tough competitor who’s willing to be physical against the run, with a future as a safety in the NFL, according to some teams. Potential position switch aside, those other traits could give him a chance to impress Macdonald and his defensive staff this summer.

“Waxter needs to polish his footwork and technique, but he passes the eye test, runs well enough and battles on every snap,” Brugler wrote.

(Photo of Jared Ivey: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

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