Seattle Seahawks roster projection: Version 4.0
By Lee Vowell
We are two preseason games in and some unexpected Seahawks have made big splashes. Though the core players stay the same, some different role players will make the 53-man roster in my latest projection.
Final roster cuts in the NFL need to be made by 1 pm PT on September 3rd. Many familiar faces will be back to lead the Seahawks into the 2017 season, of course. Players like Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas. George Fant, however, will not miss the season after tearing his ACL in preseason week two.
That said, here’s my latest guess at what the 53-man roster for Seattle will look like come September 4th. (I have highlighted in bold the players who are new to my projection.)
Offense
Quarterbacks (2):
Starter: Russell Wilson
Backup: Trevone Boykin
Summary: Boykin did a great job in the first preseason game, and less so in the second. Still, he played OK. Austin Davis did not play very well in the second preseason game. It’s difficult to see Davis making the team at this point.
Running Backs (5):
Starter: Thomas Rawls
Backups: Eddie Lacy, C.J. Prosise and Chris Carson
Fullback: Marcel Reece
Summary: Rawls appears to be the starter currently. He did not play in the second preseason game, but this only makes it more clear Seattle sees him as a long-term answer at the position. The Seahawks held Rawls out not because he was injured, but simply to not have him get injured.
Lacy has not looked very good in the preseason. It could be that his talent is more in wearing a defense down with his size. We would not be able to see this in the preseason due to constant defensive personnel changes.
Carson has been impressive in camp and in both preseason games. I think Alex Collins got a bunch of reps against the Minnesota Vikings because Seattle is trying to see if he is worth keeping. He played well enough, but he fumbled once. This can be a career killer.
Wide Receivers (6):
Starters: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and Paul Richardson
Backups: Jermaine Kearse, Amara Darboh and Kasen Williams
Summary: Wow. Williams has gone from practice squad to a player who might see a lot of reps in the season. There is no way at this time that he is starting, though. Baldwin, Lockett and Richardson (and probably Kearse) have proved more in actual games and offer bigger upsides.
Darboh will make the team but more in hopes he develops into a solid player after his rookie season.
Tight Ends (3):
Starter: Jimmy Graham
Backups: Luke Willson and Nick Vannett
Summary: It was great to see Vannett catch a pass over the middle in week two for a 32 yard gain. He had a chance to break it for longer, too. Vannett was drafted because he can block and catch. He has not had the chance to do much of either yet. If he does well this season, the Seahawks might pass on offering Graham another contract.
Offensive Line (9):
Starters: LT Luke Joeckel, LG Mark Glowinski, C Justin Britt, RG Oday Aboushi, RT Germain Ifedi
Backups: Ethan Pocic, Rees Odhiambo, Jordan Roos and a player yet to be signed
IR: George Fant
Summary: I feel horribly for Fant. This was a player most people saw as having no business in the NFL last season. As the year went on he did a bit better, but he was never great. This offseason he gained muscle and weight and began to become a solid player. Then he was injured against the Vikings and will miss the year.
The Seahawks could go a lot of different ways with line to start the season. Tackle is really thin, however. My guess is Seattle tries to sign a player that is currently a free agent or gets cut in early September. The line I projected above I have simply because it seems to make sense. Aboushi has battled Glowinski for right guard all camp. It seems Seattle could flip Glowinski to his old spot at left guard and move up Aboushi. Jockel could then slide to tackle, a position he has played most of his career.
Another option is to keep Joey Hunt because he can play center. This would allow other backups to just be there for guard and tackle. Odhiambo and Pocic did not look very good in week two, though.