Jake Bobo has been a fan favorite for the Seattle Seahawks.

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As an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, the 6-foot-4 Bobo was an underdog story who made the Seahawks’ roster out of training camp in 2023 and caught a touchdown pass in his third NFL game. He’s served as the team’s fourth wide receiver each of the past two seasons, totaling 303 receiving yards and three touchdown catches over that span, while also contributing as a special teams mainstay.

But this year, Bobo may have some fierce competition for a roster spot.

The Seahawks are expected to run a heavy dose of multi-tight-end sets under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak – which means two-receiver sets will be the norm, rather than three-receiver sets. According to Sumer Sports, when Kubiak was the OC in New Orleans last season, the Saints used “11 personnel” (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) on just 33% of their snaps – a night-and-day contrast from Seattle’s 77% rate.

As a result, the Seahawks may very well only keep five receivers on their 53-man roster. In years past, they’ve typically kept six.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are virtual locks for three of the receiver spots. Rookie fifth-round pick Tory Horton also seems highly likely to make it, given his draft status.

That could leave Bobo competing with a slew of other wideouts – including rookie seventh-round pick Ricky White III, Cody White, Dareke Young and return specialist Steven Sims – for potentially one final spot.

“I think (for) a guy like Jake Bobo, it might be tough for him to make the team,” former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman said Monday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob.

The special teams aspect

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard agreed with Wyman’s take and expounded on it during Tuesday’s Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.

As Huard pointed out, Bobo would typically have an advantage in a roster battle due to his value on special teams. Last year, he logged the second-most special teams snaps of any Seahawks player.

However, that advantage is somewhat nullified by the other receivers he could be competing with.

Cody White blocked a punt for Seattle last season. Ricky White III had a whopping four blocked punts last year at UNLV, which by himself was more than any other FBS team. And Sims has considerable return experience in the NFL, including a punt-return TD for the Houston Texans in a January 2024 playoff game.

“Nothing against Jake Bobo,” Huard said. “A great guy. A fan favorite. Gets absolutely everything out of every mitochondria in his body. … He’s an elite special teams player. But you know what the Seahawks brought in at receiver as well? Other elite special teams players. They drafted one in the seventh round that blocked more punts than anybody in college football. They brought in a punt returner that’s got NFL experience and juice in Houston and Baltimore.

“So there’s gonna be competition within his room. … Where does that leave the musical chairs with Jake Bobo? I think that’s a real discussion, a real conversation.”

Huard said it’ll be key for Bobo to have a strong preseason on special teams.

“Bobo can’t (just) be good in special teams in these three preseason games – he’s gotta be elite and a differentiator amongst his peers, because that competition is gonna be red-hot,” Huard said.

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