Seahawks 53-man roster projection: Logjams at RB, TE and OL make for tough decisions

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Three weeks of training camp practices and one preseason game provide a large enough sample to take a stab at projecting the Seattle Seahawks’ 53-man roster, which will be finalized a few days after the preseason finale.

Once that happens, Seattle can begin assembling its 16-man practice squad. For now, here’s the first attempt to project the initial active roster. (Rookies in italics)

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (3): Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe

Lock has been ahead of the rookie Milroe all of training camp, and there’s been no indication of a change to the depth chart. Lock played the entire first half against the Las Vegas Raiders and completed 12 of 22 passes for 147 yards with one touchdown and an interception.

Lock demonstrated why he’s considered a reliable backup, though not quite good enough to be a starter. He made some tight-window throws to tight end Eric Saubert and receiver Tory Horton (for a 10-yard touchdown) that were among the best tosses of the night. He also produced Seattle’s only turnover when he underthrew Horton on third-and-10 in the first quarter, leading to an interception.

But for now, Lock is a more polished quarterback than Milroe, who led five series in the second half and completed 6 of 10 passes for 61 yards. He scrambled twice: once for 5 yards on third-and-12 and again for 6 yards on second-and-7. Milroe kept the ball once on a zone-read play and raced up the sideline for 27 yards.

Milroe’s only sack came on third-and-10 on the final drive after his protection broke down and there was nowhere to go. Otherwise, Milroe largely avoided negative plays. He’s on the right track and should continue to improve with more game reps.

Running backs (5): Ken Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Damien Martinez, George Holani, Robbie Ouzts (FB)

Holani, an undrafted signee last year, made a strong case to make the team with his performance Thursday night. Not only did he lead all ball carriers with 61 yards rushing and a touchdown, but he was also on multiple special teams units and had a tackle on kickoff coverage that coach Mike Macdonald highlighted after the game.

Martinez wasn’t as effective running the ball in his NFL debut. The seventh-round rookie out of Miami gained just 10 yards on six carries and didn’t produce a first down. His first kickoff return gained just 20 yards, and his second gained only 5 yards because he muffed the catch on a line-drive kick. As a receiver, Martinez caught an 8-yard swing pass from Lock and forced a missed tackle. He was also the recipient of a 7-yard screen pass on third-and-16.

Martinez was outperformed by undrafted rookie Jacardia Wright (seven carries, 34 yards, one touchdown), but the draft pick deserves another shot before I project him to be left off the initial roster.

Cut: Jacardia Wright, Anthony Tyus III

Practice squad candidates: Wright, Tyus

Wide receivers (5): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Bobo

Horton’s emergence has been one of the best stories of training camp. At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if he began the year as WR3 and the primary punt returner (Steven Sims was acquired for the latter role but hasn’t been available because of a hamstring injury).

This feels like an important week for Valdes-Scantling, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract with $3 million guaranteed this offseason. The soon-to-be 31-year-old wideout put up good numbers in his brief stint with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak last year in New Orleans but hasn’t made many splash plays in camp. Seattle’s starting offense is expected to play Friday against Kansas City. It would benefit Valdes-Scantling to showcase chemistry with Darnold in practice, then take that into the game and make a few plays down the field with his speed.

There’s a chance Seattle keeps six wideouts and makes room for Bobo and either Dareke Young or Cody White. Bobo seems more likely to get the nod if the Seahawks keep just one of the three, though. He is the best pass catcher, contributes on special teams and is a strong run blocker.

Cut: Dareke Young, Cody White, Ricky White III, Steven Sims, Tyrone Broden, John Rhys Plumlee

Practice squad candidates: Young, White, White III

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Tight ends (4): AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Eric Saubert, Brady Russell

Barner didn’t suit up against the Raiders, and that should be taken as a sign that he’s the team’s No. 1 tight end, at least for now. He’s earned that spot based on his performance in training camp.

Russell is technically a fullback, but he does a little of everything for Seattle, which is why he’s projected to make the roster. He’s a backup fullback, tight end and emergency long snapper in addition to his regular special teams duties. He’s a guy coaches like to have because he can fill in at so many different spots during the regular season.

Cut: Marshall Lang, Nick Kallerup

Practice squad candidate: Lang

Offensive line (9): Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Olu Oluwatimi, Anthony Bradford, Abe Lucas, Josh Jones, Jalen Sundell, Michael Jerrell, Christian Haynes

The Seahawks have selected eight offensive linemen over the last three drafts, on top of signing Sundell — the potential starting center — as a rookie free agent last year. Because of all the resources allocated to the line in recent years, there will likely be some tough decisions made with the young players in that position group when it’s time to trim the roster.

Cross, Zabel, Bradford, Lucas, Oluwatimi and Sundell should be locks (regardless of the outcome of the center competition). Jones is the top swing tackle, so he should be safe, too. That leaves only two or three available spots for the rest of the young guys like Haynes and Jerrell.

Cut: Sataoa Laumea, Bryce Cabeldue, Mason Richman, Amari Kight, Luke Felix-Fualalo, Federico Maranges

Practice squad candidates: Laumea, Cabeldue, Richman

Defense (24)

Interior defensive line (6): Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Pili, Mike Morris

Hankins is still on the non-football injury list with a back issue and has not been present at training camp. It’s unclear when he’ll join the team. Hankins is a backup nose tackle (he was listed behind Murphy on the unofficial depth chart) entering his 13th season, so he can probably afford to skip training camp and still be up to speed when the season begins, health permitting.

But Seattle doesn’t seem to be missing much in the middle of the defense with the way Pili and Quinton Bohanna are playing as reserves. They both stood out in the preseason opener, and if they keep playing well, there will be an argument to be made in favor of keeping both on the team regardless of Hankins’ health status.

PUP: Rylie Mills

Cut: Quinton Bohanna, J.R. Singleton, Bubba Thomas, Anthony Campbell

Practice squad candidate: Bohanna

Outside linebacker (4): DeMarcus Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, Tyreke Smith, Uchenna Nwosu (PUP)

Smith, a 2022 fifth-round pick, is someone I highlighted ahead of the preseason opener as a player to watch. He showed why in the game, both as a run defender and a pass rusher. He had a couple of good run stops in the first half, a pair of pressures — one that led to a flag for intentional grounding and another that drew a hold, negating a 24-yard completion — as well as a quarterback hit during a two-minute drill. Smith also had a tackle on the opening kickoff.

With Nwosu sidelined, there’s an opportunity for another pass rusher to crack the rotation. Morris is in the mix as an edge defender as well, but at 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, he’s more of a “big end” than an outside linebacker like the 6-3, 255-pound Smith.

PUP: Uchenna Nwosu

Cut: Jamie Sherriff, Jalan Gaines, Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole, Seth Coleman

Practice squad candidate: Sheriff, Gaines, Ivey

Inside linebacker (4): Ernest Jones IV, Tyrice Knight, Drake Thomas, Patrick O’Connell

Knight is dealing with a knee issue, though the severity is unknown (Macdonald said he expected to gather more information Friday). An extended absence for Knight could be an issue for Seattle, which doesn’t have great depth at the position. Thomas and O’Connell have been around since 2023, but they project as special teamers and not potential starting linebackers. Josh Ross, another backup at that position, just had surgery on his hand.

Cut: Josh Ross, D’Eryk Jackson, Michael Dowell

Practice squad candidates: Ross, Jackson

Cornerback (5): Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, Shaquill Griffin, Nehemiah Pritchett

Jobe and Pritchett had interceptions against the Raiders, displaying the type of playmaking Seattle hoped to see from two guys who made appearances in the starting lineup last season. Rookie Nick Emmanwori’s emergence as a “big nickel” in the starting rotation might decrease the number of snaps Jobe sees this year, but he should still be involved in sub packages. A fifth-round pick in 2024, Pritchett is still developing, but like Jobe, he’s (if nothing else) a capable backup who understands how important it is to uphold the standard in the defensive back room if his number is called due to injury.

Seattle has a “plan” for re-inserting Griffin into the mix, Macdonald said. The veteran corner was away from the team for more than a week while tending to a personal issue, but he’s back and will likely get up to speed this week in preparation for the Chiefs game.

Cut: Isas Waxter, Damarion Williams, Tyler Hall, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kam Alexander, Keydrain Calligan

Practice squad candidates: Waxter, Williams, Hall

Safeties (5): Coby Bryant, Julian Love, Nick Emmanwori, Ty Okada, D’Anthony Bell

Emmanwori is listed as a safety but hasn’t played much in the deep area of the field like a traditional safety would. During the rookie’s two defensive series against Las Vegas, Okada and Bell were the deep safeties, and Emmanwori played nickel. Seattle will probably expand Emmanwori’s role at some point, but for now, there’s still an argument for keeping both Okada and Bell as the backups for Bryant and Love.

Cut: Jerrick Reed II

Practice squad candidate: Reed

Specialists (3)

K Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Chris Stoll

A back injury kept Stoll out of the game Thursday night. The team used the recently acquired Zach Triner as its long snapper against Las Vegas. Assuming Stoll isn’t in danger of missing more time, he’ll be the team’s long snapper for the third straight season.

Cut: Zach Triner

(Photo of George Holani: Jane Gershovich / Getty Images)

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