Projecting the Seahawks 53-man roster: Version 2.0

The Seattle Seahawks in 2017 will have lots of talent again, but some units will have less than in recent years. Others, of course, will have more!

There may not be a lot of drama in who the Seahawks have on the roster after cuts happen by 1 pm PT on September 3rd. The majority of the spots are taken. Barring injury or a player looking much better than previously assumed, Seattle is pretty much set.

Here’s a guess at what the 53-man roster will look like on September 4th.

Offense

Quarterbacks (3):

Starter: Russell Wilson (of course!)

Backups: Austin Davis and Trevone Boykin

Summary: Really no surprise among these three, unless the Seahawks decide to cut Davis and go with two quarterbacks.

Running Backs (4):

(Week one) Starter: Eddie Lacy

(Week one) backups: Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins

Summary: I am going with Lacy for being the starter at the beginning of the season. He could stay that way all year or Rawls could usurp him. Either way, I do not see Lacy not starting against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, to open the season.

Seattle could also have a fullback on the team but I think they are still mulling that decision.

Wide Receivers (6):

Starters: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and Paul Richardson

Backups: Jermaine Kearse, Amara Darboh and Cyril Grayson

Summary: Clearly, Baldwin and Lockett, if healthy, will start. Kearse, besides Richardson, could be the third guy. Wilson seems to have too much trust in him. Ideally, the three faster guys will be starters.

Speaking of speed, I think Grayson was brought in with the thinking he had no shot at making the squad but then surprised by how quickly he caught on (literally). Remember, this is the same team who started a guy at left tackle in 2016 who had never played the position. Grayson is not that much of a stretch to stay on the active roster.

Tight Ends (3):

Starter: Jimmy Graham

Backups: Luke Willson and Nick Vannett

The only question about this position is whether Vannett will begin to show the potential the Seahawks want him to. There is a chance Graham leaves next offseason and Vannett fills his role in some form. Willson is not a long-term answer for Graham.

Offensive Line (9):

Starters: LT George Fant, LG Luke Joeckel, C Justin Britt, RG Mark Glowinski, RT Germain Ifedi

Backups: Ethan Pocic, Rees Odhiambo, Oday Aboushi and Jordan Roos

Summary: Fant appears to be the left tackle again this season. The Seahawks are clearly hoping he makes a huge jump into year two. Ifedi’s move to the outside is at least familiar territory to him. Britt could be gone after this season as Seattle does not spend capital on the offensive line. In that case, Pocic fills his role. One question is whether Joey Hunt will stick instead of Roos. If Seattle really is thinking there is a chance Britt leaves, Hunt could take his place in 2018 leaving Pocic room to change positions.