The Seahawks’ initial 53-man roster has been set.
While there were some mild surprises in moves made over the last few days, the bulk of the roster is as expected.
It’s worth remembering that the roster can — and almost certainly will — change between now and the regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against Denver.
But for now, the template of the 2024 Seahawks has been set.
Let’s briefly analyze each spot.
Quarterback
2 — Geno Smith, Sam Howell.
Comment: There was never any real intrigue here. The Seahawks released veteran PJ Walker but may re-sign him to the practice squad. In the big picture, they have a proven starter in Smith and a solid backup in Howell, who has a full season of NFL experience under his belt.
Running back
3 — Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh.
Comment: In a mild surprise, they waived rookie George Holani. But the expectation is he will be re-signed to the practice squad. And keeping just three running backs on the 53 allowed for some needed flexibility elsewhere.
Tight end
4 — Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, Brady Russell, AJ Barner.
Comment: It became apparent early in camp that these would be the team’s four tight ends. Fant and Brown have been dealing with foot injuries, but the expectation is each will be back for the opener. All four will likely be active on game day with Russell and Barner playing on special teams. The Seahawks waived former Husky Jack Westover as injured. Assuming he clears waivers, he will revert to the team’s injured reserve list.
Receiver
6 — DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Laviska Shenault, Jr., Dareke Young.
Comment: The first five seemed a given from the start, with the question being if the Seahawks would keep more and who that would be. The answer came Tuesday as the Seahawks kept Young, who has some vital special teams roles, while waiving 2021 second-round pick Dee Eskridge, who projected as potentially being a returner but who has struggled to stay healthy in his career.
The emergence of Dee Williams as a viable returner helped make Eskridge expendable. They could re-sign Eskridge to the practice squad, but each side might decide to move on. They also waived Easop Winston Jr. and Cody White, who had good preseasons. Each are likely to return on the practice squad.
Offensive line
11 — Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Connor Williams, Anthony Bradford, George Fant, Olu Oluwatimi, Christian Haynes, Jalen Sundell, Sataoa Laumea, Michael Jerrell, Stone Forsythe.
Comment: Here is where there were some surprises as the Seahawks kept four rookies, including UDFA signee Sundell who didn’t join the team until July 23. They released McClendon Curtis, who for a time during the offseason program was starting at right guard. Curtis and a few others who were waived such as Raiqwon O’Neal, Garret Greenfield and Max Pircher will likely be back on the practice squad.
Sundell emerged as the backup center to Oluwatimi over the last few weeks in games following the trade of Nick Harris. Williams is expected to be the starting center, but he is still getting back into football shape having not practiced until last week and having yet to take part in a full-contact practice. Sundell may be a hedge on Williams having any setbacks and serving as the backup if Oluwatimi must start.
They also kept their late-round OL picks, Laumea (a sixth-rounder) and Jerrell (a seventh). Both are likely to be inactive on gamedays, but the Seahawks obviously like the potential of each enough to not risk putting them on waivers and having them claimed.
As became expected over the last few weeks, the Seahawks left Abraham Lucas on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to work back from January knee surgery. Lucas must miss at least the first four games. But having Fant and Forsythe able to play right tackle buys them some time with Lucas.
Defensive line
6 — Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Johnathan Hankins, Mike Morris, Myles Adams.
Comment: This was exactly how I had it at the end as the Seahawks keep Morris and Adams to have enough depth up front, and in the case of Morris, also hang on to a player who remains intriguing.
Don’t be surprised if the Seahawks make an addition here via waivers or signing a veteran free agent. One disappointment is second-year defensive tackle Cameron Young remaining on the physically unable to perform list with a lower-body injury.
Outside linebackers/edge rushers
5 — Dre’Mont Jones, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, Trevis Gipson.
Comment: The most positive news of the day may have been the Seahawks making no move with Nwosu, who suffered a reported sprained MCL on Saturday against the Browns. If he’d gone on IR he would have had to miss four games. Not going on IR indicates they think there’s a chance he’ll be back more quickly.
The trade for Gipson assures the Seahawks have four healthy players at this spot heading into the season, assuming Jones is OK (coach Mike Macdonald said Saturday they were optimistic he’ll be back for the opener).
They released preseason star Jamie Sheriff but hope to get him back on the practice squad.
This is another spot where it will be little surprise if the Seahawks makes an addition via the waiver wire or free agency.
Inside linebackers
4 — Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker, Tyrice Knight, Drake Thomas.
Comment: There were a few surprises here as the Seahawks waived veteran Jon Rhattigan and kept Thomas, who only returned to practice on Aug. 12 after recovering from a knee injury last November. But they like Thomas’ special teams contribution and potential as a linebacker.
As for Rhattigan, his $2.985 million salary put him in danger of being waived as the Seahawks can save all of that against the salary cap. If Rhattigan clears waivers they will obviously try to get him back either on the practice squad or if a 53-man spot opens. For now, the appear to have decided to save about $2 million by keeping Thomas, who is due to make $915,000 this year, as a backup instead of Rhattigan.
The Seahawks would seem likely to try to re-sign Michael Barrett and Patrick O’Connell to the practice squad if they clear waivers. It felt like a mild surprise that they waived Barrett after trading cornerback Michael Jackson to Carolina for him last week. But they may be gambling he’ll clear waivers.
Safety
4 — Julian Love, Rayshawn Jenkins, K’Von Wallace, Coby Bryant.
Comment: These four served as the top four in the safety rotation throughout camp. The Seahawks waived Ty Okada and released Marquise Blair and will likely try to get both back on the practice squad. Not keeping either indicates that the leg/foot injury Wallace suffered in practice last week is not overly serious. Jerrick Reed II remains on the PUP list and appears to figure in the team’s long-range plans at safety.
Cornerback
5 — Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Tre Brown, Nehemiah Pritchett, Dee Williams.
Comment: One on-the-surface surprise here is cutting veteran Artie Burns. But as a vested vet, Burns does not go through waivers and they could re-sign him at any time, and the Seahawks may just be gambling that Burns will hang tight and remain available to bring back soon, something they have done in past years with vested vets. Burns was carted off the field in Saturday night’s game and it’s unclear the severity of that injury and if it played a role in his release.
It would have been a surprise a few weeks ago that Williams made the team. But it didn’t seem like it as Tuesday approached as Williams emerged as a viable returner on punts and kickoffs. He’s unproven as a cornerback which is why they could be planning to bring back Burns.
The Seahawks cut sixth-round pick D.J. James but undoubtedly hope to bring him back, as well as Lance Boykin. Also, Bryant can play cornerback if needed.
Specialists
3 — PK Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Chris Stoll.
Comment: These spots have been set all along.
