But first, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The roster math is especially tight this year with the Seahawks expected to keep both a third quarterback and a fullback. That essentially means Seattle has two fewer roster spots to work with than in recent years.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Players with fewer than four years of NFL service time are subject to waivers, which make them available for other teams to claim if they don\u2019t make the 53-man roster. So before a team can sign a player to its practice squad, that player first must clear waivers. That can impact strategy and decision-making as teams form their initial rosters.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n
Quarterback (3)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sam Darnold
\u2022 Drew Lock
\u2022 Jalen Milroe<\/p>\n
This may be the most clear-cut position group. Darnold is the QB1, Lock is the backup and Milroe is a third-string developmental project who can be used as a change-of-pace weapon in specialty packages. The Seahawks typically don\u2019t roster three quarterbacks, but Milroe\u2019s long-term potential makes this a unique situation.<\/p>\n
Running back (3)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Kenneth Walker III
\u2022 Zach Charbonnet
\u2022 George Holani<\/p>\n
After Kenny McIntosh went down with a torn ACL<\/a> early in camp, the RB3 battle became a two-man race between Holani and rookie Damien Martinez. It\u2019s possible the Seahawks could keep them both, but that may prove difficult due to the roster crunch of carrying both a third quarterback and a fullback.<\/p>\n At the moment, Holani seems to have the clear edge. He shined in the first two preseason games<\/a>, rushing for 110 yards and 9.2 yards per carry. He also made a good tackle in kick coverage and is contending to be one of the team\u2019s two primary kick returners. The 217-pound Martinez was one of the best tackle-breaking backs in college football last year, but Holani has the more well-rounded skill set and simply has shown more at this point.<\/p>\n Fullback (1)<\/p>\n \u2022 Robbie Ouzts<\/p>\n The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Ouzts is set to be the primary fullback in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak\u2019s scheme. Ouzts has already made a tone-setting impact in the preseason by delivering key blocks<\/a> on a pair of long runs. He\u2019s also showed his pass-catching ability by sneaking out of the backfield for a pair of receptions.<\/p>\n Wide receiver (6)<\/p>\n \u2022 Jaxon Smith-Njigba Smith-Njigba, Kupp and Horton are all locks. After that, things get very interesting.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Horton\u2019s emergence<\/a> could put Valdes-Scantling\u2019s roster spot in question, especially since the latter doesn\u2019t play special teams. But keep in mind, Valdes-Scantling had success last year playing in the Kubiak-led New Orleans Saints offense. Also, his contract includes a guaranteed $3 million, which could dissuade Seattle from cutting him. So for now, we\u2019ll assume he makes the team.<\/p>\n As for Bobo, it\u2019s difficult to envision him being left off, especially after his two-touchdown performance<\/a> last Friday night. He provides value in a variety of ways as a 6-foot-4 red-zone target, a key special teamer and a strong run blocker \u2013 the latter of which is a particularly important trait for receivers in Kubiak\u2019s scheme. We\u2019ll assume Bobo makes it.<\/p>\n So then, the question becomes whether to keep five or six receivers.<\/p>\n Kubiak\u2019s system features a heavy dose of two-receiver sets, so in an ideal world, the Seahawks could go with five wideouts to free up a roster spot elsewhere. But at the same time, special teams often play a significant role in these back-end receiver battles. And Seattle could really use another returner.<\/p>\n If the Seahawks were to keep just five receivers, their top return options would probably be Horton and Holani as the two kick returners, and Horton as the punt returner. That\u2019d be a lot to put on Horton\u2019s plate as a rookie.<\/p>\n So instead, we\u2019ll add a sixth receiver whose primary role would be to return kicks and\/or punts. And in that case, it\u2019d likely come down to Young and veteran return specialist Steven Sims.<\/p>\n If Sims can get healthy, he might get the nod. He\u2019s a proven punt returner and kick returner, which would give the team much-needed stability in an area that was sorely lacking last year. However, Sims has been dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the first two preseason games.<\/p>\n Young, meanwhile, has had an excellent preseason. He had a 29-yard kick return and has shown improved route-routing while hauling in four catches for a team-high 83 yards. And like Bobo, he\u2019s a strong run blocker. Taking all that into account, Young gets rewarded with a roster spot.<\/p>\n Tight end (4)<\/p>\n \u2022 AJ Barner After Noah Fant\u2019s release, this seems like a pretty straightforward position group. Barner and Arroyo are the two primary tight ends, Saubert is the blocking specialist and Russell is a core special teamer who can serve as both the backup fullback and fourth-string tight end.<\/p>\n Offensive line (10)<\/p>\n \u2022 LT Charles Cross Bradford appears to have run away with the right guard job, while Sundell seems to be closing in on the center job, due to both his strong preseason and Oluwatimi\u2019s lingering back issue. That would make for a starting O-line of Cross, Zabel, Sundell, Bradford and Lucas.<\/p>\n After that, Oluwatimi would be the backup center and Jones would serve as a veteran swing tackle. Jerrell also is a good bet to make the team. He has the best Pro Football Focus<\/a> grade among Seattle\u2019s projected backup offensive linemen this preseason, and he\u2019d give the team a second backup tackle option.<\/p>\n Haynes didn\u2019t quite give Bradford the type of push at right guard that many expected, but he probably still makes it as a backup. That being said, the Seahawks\u2019 reported interest in free agent veteran guard Dalton Risner<\/a> could suggest the team still feels a need to improve its guard depth. So we\u2019ll project Seattle to add either Risner or another veteran guard.<\/p>\n Late-round rookie draft picks Bryce Cabeldue and Mason Richman are also in the mix, but they might be players the Seahawks try to sneak through to the practice squad.<\/p>\n Defensive line (5)<\/p>\n \u2022 Leonard Williams * NFI list: Rylie Mills The rookie Mills and veteran Hankins both remain on the non-football injury list<\/a>. Mills, who\u2019s working back from a torn ACL he suffered last December, is expected to miss the first part of the season. Hankins\u2019 timeline remains unclear as he continues to deal with a back issue.<\/p>\n Their injuries help open the door for Pili and Morris, who have capitalized with strong preseasons. The 6-foot-3, 334-pound Pili burst through the line for a safety<\/a> last week, while Morris has flashed with two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Pili can fill Hankins\u2019 role as a run-stopping nose tackle, while the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Morris has the versatility to play several spots along the D-line. Morris also adds value as a key special teamer.<\/p>\n Quinton Bohanna, a 6-foot-4, 355-pound nose tackle, is also in the mix. But through the first two preseason games, Pili and Morris have stood out a bit more.<\/p>\n Edge rushers (5)<\/p>\n \u2022 Boye Mafe Nwosu passed his physical<\/a> this past weekend, which clears the path for him to return from the PUP list as he works back from offseason knee surgery. That would give Seattle a strong and established four-man edge-rushing rotation of Mafe, Lawrence, Hall and Nwosu.<\/p>\n The Seahawks could still look to bolster this group with a veteran free agent addition like Jadeveon Clowney or Za\u2019Darius Smith. But assuming Nwosu is good to go, that becomes a far less pressing need.<\/p>\n Ivey, a 6-foot-6, 274-pound undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, could nab a roster spot as a high-upside developmental piece. Projected by multiple experts as a fifth-round pick<\/a>, he was a disruptive force in the SEC last year and has continued to show promise with the Seahawks, recording the team\u2019s highest PFF run defense grade this preseason.<\/p>\n It seems unlikely that Ivey would make it through waivers, so the Seahawks probably have to stash him on the roster if they want to keep him around.<\/p>\n Linebackers (4)<\/p>\n \u2022 Ernest Jones IV Knight\u2019s status plays a big role here. He\u2019s been dealing with a knee injury and an undisclosed medical issue, but Macdonald said the team is optimistic he\u2019ll be ready for Week 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Assuming that\u2019s the case, O\u2019Connell and Thomas appear on track to be the backups. O\u2019Connell got the start in last week\u2019s preseason game, while Thomas is the only backup candidate who has played a regular-season defensive snap in the NFL. Josh Ross also might still be in the mix, but he\u2019s missed most of camp after undergoing hand surgery.<\/p>\n If Knight isn\u2019t ready for Week 1, the backups\u2019 lack of experience could compel the Seahawks to search for a veteran addition to this group.<\/p>\n Safeties (4)<\/p>\n \u2022 Julian Love The battle for the final safety spot or two likely comes down to Bell, Jerrick Reed II and Ty Okada. Bell ultimately gets the nod here as the most experienced option. He logged more than 1,000 special teams snaps for Cleveland over the past three seasons, while also recording a pair of interceptions.<\/p>\n Reed has had a strong preseason, but both he and Okada would seem like relatively safe bets to sneak through to the practice squad.<\/p>\n Cornerbacks (5)<\/p>\n \u2022 Devon Witherspoon The battle for the third cornerback spot appears very much unsettled, with Jobe, Griffin and now Pritchett all seemingly still in the mix. But in terms of roster spots, all three appear to be pretty safe at this point.<\/p>\n Pritchett entered camp on the roster bubble, but he\u2019s had a strong preseason with an impressive interception<\/a> and two pass breakups. He\u2019s also benefited from an injury to fellow cornerback roster candidate Shemar Jean-Charles, who has missed nearly all of camp with a lower-body injury.<\/p>\n Specialists (3)<\/p>\n \u2022 K Jason Myers Stoll has been working through a back injury, which prompted Seattle to sign veteran long snapper Zach Triner. But for the moment, we\u2019ll assume Stoll returns to health and serves as the team\u2019s long snapper for a third straight season.<\/p>\n More Seattle Seahawks coverage<\/p>\n \u2022 Stacy Rost: Why this may be the time for an all-in Seahawks trade<\/a>
\u2022 Cooper Kupp
\u2022 Tory Horton
\u2022 Marquez Valdes-Scantling
\u2022 Jake Bobo
\u2022 Dareke Young<\/p>\n
\u2022 Elijah Arroyo
\u2022 Eric Saubert
\u2022 Brady Russell<\/p>\n
\u2022 LG Grey Zabel
\u2022 C Jalen Sundell
\u2022 RG Anthony Bradford
\u2022 RT Abraham Lucas
\u2022 OT Josh Jones
\u2022 C Olu Oluwatimi
\u2022 OG Christian Haynes
\u2022 OT Michael Jerrell
\u2022 veteran backup guard (via signing or trade)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jarran Reed
\u2022 Byron Murphy II
\u2022 Brandon Pili
\u2022 Mike Morris<\/p>\n
* NFI list: Johnathan Hankins<\/p>\n
\u2022 DeMarcus Lawrence
\u2022 Derick Hall
\u2022 Uchenna Nwosu
\u2022 Jared Ivey<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tyrice Knight
\u2022 Patrick O\u2019Connell
\u2022 Drake Thomas<\/p>\n
\u2022 Coby Bryant
\u2022 Nick Emmanwori
\u2022 D\u2019Anthony Bell<\/p>\n
\u2022 Riq Woolen
\u2022 Josh Jobe
\u2022 Shaquill Griffin
\u2022 Nehemiah Pritchett<\/p>\n
\u2022 P Michael Dickson
\u2022 LS Chris Stoll<\/p>\n
\u2022 Report: Seattle Seahawks to host free agent OL on visit<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Big Ray: How Seattle Seahawks\u2019 new blocking scheme creates advantages<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Jake Bobo helped case to make Seahawks roster running out of spots<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Jeremiah: Charbonnet may be better RB1 fit for Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/p>\n
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