The Seattle Seahawks have completed their first week of preseason, which definitely didn’t go as well as hoped. While preseason final scores mean not a jot, individual and collective performances for players looking to solidify roster spots do mean something, and the Seahawks’ reserve largely struggled in Saturday’s 17-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
After every preseason game, we’ll be doing an updated roster projection. This is, of course, an initial 53-man roster and not remotely close to what the roster will look like over the course of the season. Heck, this projection might be obsolete by Tuesday, but you know what?
Offense (26)
Quarterback (3): Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe
Cut: N/A
Notes: If you think Milroe played himself off the team last night I think you’re being a bit too hasty. If he looks underwhelming for the rest of preseason then maybe a conversation can be had.
Running Back (3): Jadarian Price (R), Emanuel Wilson, George Holani
Cut: Jacardia Wright, T.J. Harden, Justin Jones (R), Velus Jones Jr
PUP: Zach Charbonnet
Notes: There’s no need to keep four running backs for a month if/when Zach Charbonnet is back in October. Just elevate a practice squad back if necessary and you’re fine. Price, Wilson, and Holani are clearly the top three and there’s some distance between them and the rest.
Fullback (1): Brady Russell
Cut: Brock Lampe
IR: Robbie Ouzts
Notes: This is going to be complicated. Brock Lampe played only three snaps in the Cowboys game but unlike Russell, he’s a true fullback. Russell is more of a FB/TE hybrid whose real value is on special teams. My feeling is that Lampe could be a practice squad stash as a late arrival to the team.
Wide Receiver (6): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Tory Horton, Jake Bobo, Montorie Foster
Cut: Emmanuel Henderson Jr (R), Cody White, Ricky White III, Irv Charles, Rashad Rochelle
Notes: This is not a spur of the moment thing from the preseason game; Foster has had a strong summer and the most telling aspect of the Cowboys game was how he was getting second-team run over Ricky White III. Cody White has cleared waivers a million times before, so it’s reasonable to think that the Seahawks could roster Foster through cutdown day and Cody (and Ricky) are on the practice squad.
Tight End (3): A.J. Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Eric Saubert
Cut: Nick Kallerup, Nick Vannett
Notes: I think we should put Kallerup’s rookie season in perspective. He did not play a single snap through Week 8, at which point Eric Saubert had to go on IR and Kallerup got some extended playing time. Elijah Arroyo suffered his own injury during the Atlanta Falcons game and Kallerup played 29 snaps. Once Saubert returned, Kallerup’s snap count dipped and he was a healthy Super Bowl scratch. He doesn’t even play much on special teams. As long as the three guys ahead of him are healthy, I think Seattle is more willing to risk him on waivers this go-round.
Offensive Line (10): Charles Cross, Abe Lucas, Josh Jones, Mason Richman, Anthony Bradford, Olu Oluwatimi, Jalen Sundell, Grey Zabel, Christian Haynes, Beau Stephens(R)
Cut: Federico Maranges, Bobby Hart, Amari Kight, Logan Brown, Bryce Cabeldue
Notes: Now that I’ve been to training camp for a week and watched the first Seahawks preseason game, I think Christian Haynes is closer to safe than cut. Beau Stephens has been mostly with the third-team and ain’t challenging Anthony Bradford any time soon. Bobby Hart, Amari Kight, and Logan Brown all but annihilated their roster chances in the span of a few hours. Cabeldue having all of his snaps come deep into the game is telling for his future. Mason Richman I think is in good position as a G/C.
Defense (24)
Defensive Line (5): Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Rylie Mills, Mike Morris
Cut: J.R. Singleton, Bubba Thomas, Brandon Pili, Uso Seumalo (R), Deven Eastern (R)
Notes: Much like last year, if the Seahawks want to keep a true nose tackle instead of just playing Byron Murphy II or Jarran Reed there all the time—notice that Reed is now listed as a DE in the depth chart—I guess they could have Pili on the active roster again. Otherwise, just do the usual practice squad elevation and determine from there whether elevations turn into a promotion to the 53.
Outside Linebacker (4): Derick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu, Dante Fowler Jr, DeMarcus Lawrence
Cut: Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole, Marvin Jones Jr (R), Jamie Sheriff, Jalan Gaines, Aidan Hubbard(R)
Notes: A week at training camp was discouraging enough for me when assessing the bottom part of the depth chart. The first preseason game only affirmed my fears that, outside of Jalan Gaines, there’s nothing happening here. Any fifth pure EDGE on this team is stashed for special teams only. Seattle will either make a trade or just have Morris be the emergency fifth option.
Inside Linebacker (4): Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, Tyrice Knight, Patrick O’Connell
Cut: Chazz Surratt, Chris Paul Jr, Aaron Smith
Notes: The fourth spot comes down to O’Connell or Surratt, and whichever player is waived is a practice squad signing. Surratt likely has higher special teams value but that’s about it.
Cornerback (6): Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, Nehemiah Pritchett, Julian Neal (R), Terrion Arnold, Noah Igbinoghene
Cut: Shemar Jean-Charles, Jordan Washington (R),Michael Dansby (R),Andre Fuller (R)
Notes: Let’s assume Arnold is on the roster and not suspended for Week 1. Neal is seemingly closer to practicing again so I don’t think he’s an IR candidate. The Seahawks may keep six corners and kind of figure it out with playing time for anyone not named Witherspoon or Jobe.
Safety (5): Julian Love, Ty Okada, Nick Emmanwori, Bud Clark (R), A.J. Finley
Cut: Maxen Hook, Rodney Thomas II, D’Anthony Bell
Notes: One of the fascinating developments is seeing A.J. Finley take the primary second-team safety snaps alongside Bud Clark. D’Anthony Bell’s big nickel role may not be needed that much if Emmanwori is a full go come Week 1. Rodney Thomas II didn’t play any snaps until the second half, which was generally the third-team defense. This is still a very tense competition for fifth safety, but I think Finley is really making a push to stay on the 53.
Special Teams (3)
Kicker (1): Jason Myers
Punter (1): Michael Dickson
Long Snapper (1): Chris Stoll
Cut: No one
Notes: Nothing to debate here.
We go again next Monday after the Tennessee Titans exhibition!